Published: May 09, 2009 10:35 pm      

Cambria County judge candidate: Margaret O’Malley

Margaret O’Malley

Age: 49.

Residence: Westmont.

Law office: 216 Franklin St., Johnstown.

Education: A graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School. Received bachelor’s degree from Penn State and a law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Background: Has been a lawyer for 25 years in the firm of Yost and O’Malley. Approved by the U.S. District Court for Western Pennsylvania as a mediator, early neutral evaluator and arbitrator. Co-chairwoman of the Cambria County Bar Association’s civil litigation committee. A director of AmeriServ Financial Inc., Conemaugh Health Initiatives Inc., Arcadia Performing Arts Inc. and Art Works in Johnstown.

Marital status: Single.





The six candidates for Cambria County judge were asked to answer nine questions from county government reporter Sandra K. Reabuck. The answers appear below.

The questions asked were:

1. What characteristics make a good country judge?

2. Why do you think you would be a good judge?

3. Are Cambria County judges too lenient in sentencing defendants in serious crimes? We hear about judges in other counties imposing stiff terms in such cases as armed robberies, vehicular homicides and embezzlements of large amounts of money, but not so much in Cambria.

4. Do you have specific suggestions for any improvements in the county court system?

5. Are too many people excused from jury duty in Cambria County? If so, what would you do to change the situation?

6. Are there too many plea bargains for criminal defendants? It seems that there are only a half-dozen trials in any one year.

7. We get a lot of calls about custody and divorce cases and unfairness by the courts in them. Should the court look at revamping how domestic relations cases are handled?

8. Are the fees too high in divorce/custody cases in Cambria County? A person has to pay $100 to get a custody issue decided and $500 for divorce or equitable distribution issues.

9. Do you think partisan elections are the best way to fill judicial seats, or should judges be appointed?





1. A good county judge should have a thorough understanding of evidence, procedure and the relevant statutory and case law; a calm judicial demeanor and above all, a commitment to fairness, dignity and respect for those who come before the court.

2. A judge is a public servant and must see her work as an opportunity to serve others. Twenty-five years of representing people gives me an in-depth knowledge of the problems that ordinary folks face in dealing with the courts. My broad experience has prepared me to be judge. I am committed to serving the taxpayers of Cambria County fairly and honestly.

3. The punishment should fit the crime. We need to protect our citizens from dangerous criminals. Judges are required by law to consider state sentencing guidelines, but there are ranges of sentencing options within those guidelines that can help keep dangerous violent criminals, particularly repeat offenders, off of our streets.

Judges also need to recognize when someone, such as a non-violent first time offender, can be rehabilitated to be a productive citizen, and consider sentences including community service to benefit the citizens of Cambria County.

4. As the only attorney in Cambria County approved by the federal courts as a certified mediator, early neutral evaluator and arbitrator, I want to bring the benefits of mediation to Cambria County. Mediation is faster, cheaper and far less painful than proceeding through the court system. Working with a mediator, parties come to a mutual agreement, settling the case themselves rather than taking the extra time and expense of having a judge or jury settle the case for them.

5. In the 25 years that I’ve been trying cases before juries, we have always had enough potential jurors willing and able to serve.

Jury duty is one of our most important civic duties. We need to be sensitive to the needs of potential jurors, and ensure that jury duty is a positive experience.

6. Trials are very expensive for the taxpayers. If a plea bargain results in proper punishment of a criminal, then justice is served, and the taxpayers save money. A judge should not, however, be too soft on criminals to avoid the need for a trial.

7. I will make my courtroom a place where all law-abiding citizens will feel that they are treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

Such an atmosphere creates a sense of trust. That trust is the bedrock on which the judicial system rests.

I want to bring the benefits of mediation to custody and divorce cases. Mediation helps people resolve issues for their children and themselves, and reach an agreement that works for everyone.

8. We need an affordable way to resolve these highly personal, emotional cases. I would offer the alternative of submitting these disputes to mediation, to reduce the time, expense and emotional trauma to the people involved.

9. County judges should be elected by the citizens that they will serve. I am against taking the power to select our judges away from the voters and giving it to a select few.