After her swearing in, new Blair County Judge Ilissa Zimmerman is welcomed to the bench by Judge Timothy Sullivan in Courtroom No. 1 at the courthouse on Tuesday afternoon. Mirror photo by Patrick Waksmunski

HOLLIDAYSBURG — Blair County’s newest judge is pledging to put her longtime legal experience to use as she takes on her new role.

Ilissa Zimmerman, 63, Duncansville, who fills a vacant seat on the county bench, put on a black robe Tuesday during a ceremony in which she repeated the oath for her appointed position through December 2023.

“When I was asked if I was willing to serve as a judge, the truth is, I hesitated,” Zimmerman said at the ceremony. “But then I considered my time in the public defender’s office, my time in civil and family practice and my 32 years in the DA’s office, and I thought: This experience might qualify me,” she said, prompting laughter from an audience of fellow judges, colleagues, family and friends.

Fellow county judges who have worked with Zimmerman assured her that her work for the county — including her most recent role as a part-time prosecutor and as the county’s divorce and custody master — will be beneficial as she takes on her new job.

“You’re certainly qualified and we look forward to working with you,” Judge Timothy M. Sullivan told Zimmerman.

“You come to the bench with broad experience,” Judge Wade A. Kagarise said.

“You’ve been a gem for us,” Judge Jackie Atherton Bernard said of Zimmerman’s service to the county’s judicial operations.

Senior Judges Jolene G. Kopriva and Hiram A. Carpenter also welcomed Zimmerman.

“You know a heck of a lot more about being a judge than I did 33 years ago when I became one,” Carpenter said.

President Judge Elizabeth Doyle said after the ceremony that Zimmerman won’t be able to immediately preside over criminal cases because of her work in the DA’s office.

But Zimmerman is a welcomed addition to share in the county’s heavy workload of civil matters, as well as divorce and custody cases.

“We do have plenty of work,” Doyle said. “And her schedule, I think it will play to her strengths.”

Zimmerman said she’s willing to handle a workload of divorce and custody cases requiring judicial attention.

“I think that’s where my skills can best be applied,” she said.

Zimmerman has been the county’s divorce case master for 17 years, since Kopriva recruited her for that role. She has been the county’s custody case manager for eight years, when Doyle asked her to take on that job.

Zimmerman, as well as Doyle, thanked and recognized state Sen. Judy Ward, R-Blair, and Gov. Tom Wolf for the appointment.

Ward, after learning that the governor’s office wanted to appoint a Democrat to the position because the appointee would be filling a seat vacated by Judge Daniel J. Milliron, a Democrat, recommended Zimmerman to fill the vacancy. While eight other attorneys applied to fill the vacant post, Zimmerman was the candidate who secured the support of the state’s Rules and Executive Nominations Committee, of which Ward is a member. Zimmerman’s name was also on the list of judicial nominees recently confirmed by the state Senate in a 49-1 vote.

Zimmerman, shortly after taking her oath, pledged to be a judge who listens to the parties who come before her, so she can gain an understanding of their positions and priorities.

“My job,” she said, “will be to correctly apply the law.”

As for seeking office beyond her appointment, Zimmerman said she had no plans at this time. If she develops interest in serving beyond December 2023 when her appointment ends, she would have to run for office in 2023.

“It’s not my plan right now to seek a 10-year term,” she said.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.