Aurelis Figueroa announced her candidacy for Magisterial District Judge #52-2-01, a position that oversees five wards in the City of Lebanon, in a February press release.
Figueroa has lived in Lebanon for over 20 years. Her professional experience includes construction drafting and project management (including work in Lebanon City as part of the Elm Street Program) and work as a a real estate agent and mobile notary public. She is fluent in Spanish and English.
The Magisterial District Judges, 512 in total, are the first level of the judicial system in Pennsylvania. They are involved in small civil lawsuits, traffic tickets, and the early stages of criminal cases, among other proceedings. The position offers a salary of over $93,000.
Judges are elected for six-year terms and do not need a legal background before holding the position, though a four-week certification class is a requirement for those without this experience.
The #52-2-01 position serves the 4th, 5th, 8th, 9th, and 10th Wards in Lebanon and has been vacant since Thomas Capello resigned midway through his term at the end of 2019.
Read More: City MDJ Thomas Capello to resign in January
In addition to her professional experience, the release notes Figueroa’s extensive experience as a member on the Harrisburg Area Community College Advisory Board, Lebanon Family Health Services Latino Health Fair Committee, and True Life Ministries, all over the course of multiple years. She has also served as Multi-State Program Coordinator for Youth Advocate Programs through the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention for the U.S. Department of Justice, as well as other youth-oriented positions in Lebanon.
Figueroa is currently a board member on the Lebanon Valley Council on the Arts and a founding member of the Hispanic Business of Association of the City of Lebanon.
Read More: Hispanic Business Association taking shape in Lebanon City
The release states: “The values [Figueroa] demonstrates in the community translate well to fair judicial administration, respect for every person who appears before her; humane alternatives to excessive fines; and cultural competency when imposing fair but firm decisions based on the law.”
As of publication, at least three other candidates for the position have announced campaigns ahead of the May 18 primary election.
Read More: James Capello announces run for Magisterial District Judge in the City of Lebanon
Read More: Anthony Magaro announces run for Magisterial District Judge in the City of Lebanon
Questions about this story? Suggestions for a future LebTown article? Reach our newsroom using this contact form and we’ll do our best to get back to you.
Free news isn’t cheap. If you value the journalism LebTown provides to the community, then help us make it sustainable by becoming a champion of local news. You can unlock additional coverage for the community by supporting our work with a one-time contribution, or joining as a monthly or annual member. You can cancel anytime.
