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LEWISTOWN - Once Tim Searer decided on a career on the bench, he was determined to make a difference in the courtroom.
A Lewistown native, Searer served as the President Judge in the Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas from 1994 to 2013, where he handled a wide variety of cases including, civil, criminal, family and orphans court.
On Friday afternoon, colleagues, friends and family came together to celebrate the portrait unveiling for Searer.
Before the reveal of his portrait, Searer said, "The history of Mifflin County court is on that wall. I'm pleased to have my portrait on that well beside the other judges that have served in this judicial district."
Searer said county officials used to hang the portrait after the judge passed away. Now, they want to do them once the judge retires.
"I take a little credit for that," Searer said. "We changed that during my tenure as President Judge."
The portrait for the honorable President Judge David Barron was hung in December 2023. Judge Aaron Gingrich currently holds the title of President Judge.
Searer was pleased with how his portrait - an oil painting made by a company based in Las Vegas - turned out. There was one caveat to it being made: Searer had never had his photo taken wearing a robe.
"I wanted the portrait to be of me during the period I was on the bench," Searer said. "It worked out pretty well. They took a picture of me in a suit and tie, put some books behind me and put a robe on me."
The artists had to dress him up in a robe because Searer never had his picture taken wearing a robe. "It matches the other pictures in the courtroom," Searer explained.
He earned his bachelor's degree from Penn State in 1977 and his Juris Doctor from Duquesne University School of Law in 1980. He was admitted to practice in Pennsylvania in 1980, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in 1985 and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1991. He also had his private legal practice in Mifflin County from 1980 to 1994.
Prior to joining the bench, Searer served as the district attorney for Mifflin County from 1988 to 1994; and was the county solicitor from 1984 to 1988. Currently, he is 'of counsel' with the Pittsburgh law firm, Tucker Arensburg, P.C.
Over the years, Searer has remained active in community and civic affairs. He is a past president of the Lewistown Kiwanis Club and former board member of the United Way of Mifflin-Juniata. He is also a member of Trinity United Church of Christ and a past president of the Church Council.
Currently, he is also president of the Mifflin County Sports Hall of Fame.
As a freshman at Lewistown High School, Searer earned a varsity letter in baseball and was a member of a Panther team that won the 1970 District 6 championship. He went on to earn three more baseball letters at Penn Highlands High School and was named team Most Valuable Player as a junior.
"Sports mirrors life and play such an important role in society," Searer says. "It teaches youngsters lessons and traits that follow them throughout their lives. It teaches both through successes and failures."
He also played basketball at Penn Highlands and earned two varsity letters. After graduating in 1973, Searer went on to be a four-year letterwinner as a member of Penn State's baseball team and participated in three NCAA Regional Tournaments.
Searer and his wife, Susan, have two daughters, Erin and Emily, and a son, Elliot. They live in Lewistown. His hobbies include golf and reading.
"My family is here," Searer added. "This was something that I was really looking forward to."