Copyright Mechanicsburg Patriot News
WILLIAMSPORT — Voters in Lycoming County sent a resounding message that they did not want President Judge Nancy L. Butts to serve a fourth 10-year term. The unofficial results from Tuesday’s election were 19,115 against retention and 9,435, or only 33 percent, for. By being defeated, Butts cannot serve as a senior judge when her current term expires at the end of the year. There will be a vacancy on the bench in the county until the 2027 elections unless the governor, with the consent of the Senate, makes an interim appointment. There was a concerted effort led by outgoing Sheriff R. Mark Lusk against retention. The Lycoming County Republican Committee, following a Lusk presentation, voted 43-0 to oppose retention. In a campaign mailer, Lusk stated: “Judge Butts – a catch and release judge,” making our communities less safe. She must NOT be retained for another term.” Several anti-retention rallies were held during which attendees criticized her bail decisions in sexual abuse cases. Butts did not respond to a request for comment on the election results or her plans. Following the county Republican committee’s vote against retention, she issued this statement: “For 30 years, I’ve had the honor of serving the people of Lycoming County as a judge, always with fairness, independence and integrity. “During that time, I helped establish some of the most effective problem-solving courts in Pennsylvania, including drug court, mental health court, veterans court and have presided over our DUI court since 2008. “I’ve also helped to institute a reentry program that has saved taxpayers millions and reduced overcrowding in our county prison. “I earned a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling to better understand the challenges facing individuals in our courts and continue to pursue education on best practices in justice reform.” Instead of seeking retention, Butts could have declared her candidacy for re-election and sought a party nomination in the spring primary to get her name on the November ballot. Other judges have done that, a spokesperson in the Office of Pennsylvania Courts said. This is only the second time since a retention vote for judges became an option that a Lycoming County jurist has been ousted. The late Judge Thomas Wood was not retained in 1973 after presiding over several controversial cases, including one on fluoridation and a challenge to building today’s Williamsport Area High School. The lack of a fifth judge could affect the scheduling of several high-profile criminal cases, including a double homicide in Williamsport and a business CEO accused in a workplace killing. Court administrator Adrianne J. Stahl declined to talk about specific cases but said scheduling issues will be addressed between now and the end of the year.
