Superior Court Judge Campaigns in Armstrong County

Superior Court Judge Judy Olsen was at the Armstrong County Republican Committee meeting last night. She is campaigning to become one of the seven Supreme Court Justices in Pennsylvania during this year’s elections.

Olsen was elected as a Superior Court Judge in 2009. She has written over 1,000 decisions during her tenure.

In her 15-minute overview, Olsen explained the roles of the various judges elected to Pennsylvania courts.

She pointed out that while federal judges are appointed, Pennsylvania elects our judges, including the Supreme Court.

“If you are going to sit in judgment, you must have had successes and failures and understand what it’s like to bottom out,” she told the capacity crowd in the Armstrong County Commissioners’ Conference Room.

She also announced that the Superior Court will be hearing cases in the Armstrong County Court House for one week in September - a unique opportunity for local residents to see a higher court in action.

She said the Supreme Court was established in Pennsylvania in 1722 and is the oldest in the nation - serving as a model that was modeled by other states.

Olsen said she was acquainted with Judge James Panchik, since they attended the same university in 1982.

Olsen has practiced law for 27 years when she was elected as a Superior Court Judge in 2009. She was the top vote-getter at that time.

She has been married to her husband for 33 years, who also serves as her campaign manager. She has 2 children.