MIFFLINBURG - Mifflinburg attorney Michael T. Hudock has announced his candidacy for judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Union and Snyder counties.
The position became available when President Judge Harold F. Woelfel announced his retirement, rather than seeking retention for another term.
"I hope to bring to the bench the same dedication and zeal Judge Woelfel demonstrated throughout his long career," Hudock said in a press release issued Monday.
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Michael T. Hudock
Hudock lives in Lewisburg with his wife of 36 years, Cathy Hudock, a cardiac rehabilitation nurse at Evangelical Community Hospital. They have three daughters, all of whom followed their father into the practice of law.
According to the release, Hudock has a varied law practice and has extensive experience at both the trial and appellate level, including practicing before the Superior and Supreme Courts of Pennsylvania. Hudock is also admitted to practice in the Federal District Court and the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
"I have more than 33 years experience in the types of matters handled by a judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Not only have I represented thousands of clients, but I have made numerous tough decisions in difficult situations," he said. "This experience in representing clients and in making tough decisions makes me uniquely qualified to serve as a judge."
Hudock has also taken on civic responsibilities, both on behalf of his community and the legal profession. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court appointed him to serve as a hearing committee member for the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He has served for over four years as a Hearing Committee member of the Commonwealth's attorney discipline system the panel that judges other attorneys accused of wrongdoing or otherwise violating the ethical standards of the profession.
"Having seen the damage done to our legal system by the Kids for Cash scandal in Luzerne County and criminal conduct by other judges, I believe that, as judge, every decision I make and every action I take must be done to build respect for and maintain the honor of our system of justice," Hudock said.
Hudock also serves as First Assistant District Attorney in Snyder County, where he has been an assistant district attorney for more than 10 years. He also serves as solicitor for Mifflinburg Borough, the Mifflinburg Borough Planning Commission, and the Union County Industrial Development Authority.
Additionally, Hudock has served as solicitor for the Union County Board of Commissioners, solicitor for the Mifflinburg Area School District, solicitor for the Hartley Township Municipal Authority, and solicitor for the New Berlin Zoning Hearing Board. He also served as the Union County Public Defender and as an Assistant District Attorney under Graham C. Showalter.
His civic engagement includes past involvement in organizations such as the Jaycees and Kiwanis, and service as a former president of the Union County Bar Association. He also served as a referee for youth soccer at the high school and college levels for nearly 20 years.
Hudock has maintained his private law practice in Mifflinburg for 34 years, focused on the types of law typically dealt with by a Common Pleas Court judge: property law, family law, elder law, criminal law and municipal law, according to the release.
He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree, Magna Cum Laude, from Millersville State College in 1974. He went on to earn his Juris Doctorate from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Law in 1977, where he was selected to serve as a research assistant in Banking Law and the Uniform Commercial Code for Professor Edward L. Symons Jr.
