Christine J. Kutch has announced her candidacy for Magisterial District Judge of District 46-03-02. Kutch’s name will appear the Democratic and Republican ballots in the voting precincts of Clearfield Borough, Lawrence Township, Curwensville Borough and Pike Township. The Primary Election will be on May 17, 2011.
In regard to the office, Kutch said, “It is the responsibility of the holder of an elected position to be accessible to all members of the public, to communicate detailed duties of the office and to be accountable for the activity within it,” Kutch added. “All of this information should be readily accessible to the public in documented form.”
“In preparation for the responsibility to be your District Judge, I have reserved the Web site, http://www.clearfielddistrictcourt.org/. Should I be elected, this website will be fully operational within 30 days of my taking office. Such information on the site shall include all information coming through the office that is not privileged, confidential or otherwise prohibited by law. I shall maintain and update the content of the site personally and regularly. I will provide the other three District Judges in Clearfield County, web pages on the same site to report the activity in their respective offices should they choose to do so,” Kutch said.
“It is imperative that all information be accessible in the manner in which the public is processing it. While many of us are traditionalists, and prefer to hold a book instead of a Kindle, or ask a question to a person instead of Google, the reality is that the majority of the population retrieves and processes information via computer. Society is so deeply engrossed in technology that pumping gas and ordering a hot dog cannot be done without a computer program,” she said.
“The Web site is an effort to adapt to technological change and the new habits of the public; I still would ensure that there is an actual person to assist you in the office and greet you on the telephone during regular hours of operation,” Kutch added.
Kutch is a 1992 graduate of the Clearfield Area High School. In 1998, she graduated from The Pennsylvania State University with a B.A. in Journalism. Immediately thereafter, she and her then five-year-old son moved to Carlisle to attend The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University where she earned her Juris Doctorate in 2001.
After her first year of law school, Kutch worked for the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency in collaboration with the Pennsylvania Deputy Sheriff Training Academy. Under the leadership of the director, she served as the testing and grading administrator, and as a review lecturer on criminal and civil procedure. The following summer she clerked for Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas Judge John K. Reilly, Jr. and the Clearfield County District Attorney’s Office.
“Since returning to Clearfield, I have had the opportunity to acquire experience in the legal, educational, sales and governmental arenas; I survived periods of inconsistent employment accompanied by sporadic or minimal income while raising a child. I made such sacrifices so I could raise my son in this relatively safe community. Due to these experiences, I have a greater understanding of situations and hardships of an accurately diverse cross-section of the public. It has also imparted an uncommon dexterity in communicating with those of diverse backgrounds,” Kutch said.
Kutch is employed by a Harrisburg-based corporation that operates the Legal Services Initiative, which is a component of the Statewide Adoption and Permanency Network. She is placed in the offices of Clearfield County Children, Youth and Family Services to facilitate adoptions and ensure the permanency of the dependent children.
“With all of my legal experience combined, I have a working knowledge of the Pennsylvania statutes and case law governing matters of children, crime, property, contracts, bankruptcy, insurance, personal injury, divorce, estates, international law, and so on,” Kutch said.
“Now that my son is entering adulthood, it would be a pleasure to reciprocate to the community that promoted and provided a safe environment for my son. As district judge, I will afford every person who enters the office the opportunities to speak and to be heard; to impartially adjudicate cases within the dictates of the law; to equip defendants with the knowledge of the abundant area resources to rehabilitate themselves; and to keep the public informed, via www.clearfielddistrictcourt.org, of all activity and funds coming through the office,” she said.
Kutch resides in Clearfield with her son, Taylor, 18, and her companion of 17 years, Tim Ryan. They are members of St. Francis Catholic Church, Clearfield.
Kutch invites you to follow her on Facebook and to visit her Web site for additional information.