President Judge Fredric J. Ammerman has announced that he is seeking retention for an additional term as Clearfield County Judge. He has been judge since 1994 and previously served as district attorney.
Ammerman, 59, indicated he strongly believes “a county judge is first and foremost a public servant elected to serve all the people. All citizens should have access to the courts and equal treatment regardless of their status in society.” He also noted his strict policy during his 21 years as judge to not accept any campaign contributions from lawyers.
Ammerman pointed to his record of initiating new programs within the court system, in addition to the normal trial and administrative responsibilities. These include Clearfield County’s Community Service Program, Teen Court, the Victim/Witness Program, Clearfield County’s first Drug Task Force, as well as efforts to collect money due through the criminal system.
He pointed out that he has consistently promoted efforts to make County Government services available in the DuBois/Sandy area. In 2004, he established a branch of the Domestic Relations Office in DuBois with three, full-time employees. This office continues to operate and offers full support office services. The branch office was established at no cost to county taxpayers. In addition, Adult/Juvenile Probation officers travel from Clearfield to the DuBois Support Office on a regular basis to hold office hours for their DuBois area clientele.
Ammerman started in 2003 holding child support hearings in DuBois at the office of Magistrate Pat Ford. Support hearings continue to be held in DuBois by the court to date.
Upon becoming president judge, Ammerman reorganized the Collections Department and increased collections efforts. Criminal collections were increased by 60 percent, which included a significant increase in collection of restitution money for victims of crime. Since then many additional millions of dollars have been collected over previous levels. Ammerman has also emphasized providing services to children and families and established a play area in the courthouse for children waiting for court proceedings.
Ammerman has also served as the administrative judge of Region Unit II for the past four years. Judicial units are established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and Unit II includes Blair, Clearfield, Centre, Clinton, Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata and Perry counties. Ammerman has been elected twice to the position, both times by a unanimous vote of the judges of the eight Unit counties.
Ammerman continues to be actively involved within the community, being a co-founder of the Clearfield to Grampian Rail Trail. Over the last 20 years, he has served as either president or vice president of the Clearfield County Rails to Trails Association.
Ammerman is the co-founder of the Clearfield Skate Park and had previously served for nine years as a member of the board of directors of the Clearfield YMCA. He has also been a volunteer coach for the Clearfield Soccer Association, was vice president of the Clearfield Soccer Booster Club and has provided many programs at the courthouse for Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, as well as elementary school students. He belongs to numerous area clubs and organizations.
Ammerman is the son of the late Clearfield attorney Dave Ammerman and Joyce “Ffitzie” (Smith) Courson of Brookville. A native of Curwensville, he graduated from Juniata College in 1979 and the Dickinson School of Law in 1982. Ammerman and his wife, Dona, reside in Clearfield with their daughters, Julia and Lauren.