A Centre County judge has presided over cases for months. Why she’s still on the ballot
All but one of the candidates who appear on the municipal election ballot are either incumbents seeking another term or would-be newcomers.
The outlier is Centre County Judge Julia Rater, who has been on the bench for months after she emerged victorious from the only contested countywide race in the May primary.
She was appointed to the position by Gov. Josh Shapiro to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of former Centre County President Judge Pamela Ruest. The appointment, Centre County Court Administrator Kendra Miknis wrote in an email, expires Jan. 1.
That means Centre County voters are still responsible for electing her to serve a 10-year term. A write-in candidate could technically win the position, an exceedingly unlikely outcome.
Rater stands to be sworn in twice in less than five months, a pair of ceremonies that would typically only happen in a decade. The position has a 2023 salary of $213,422.
She defeated fellow cross-filed candidate Gopal Balachandran in the primary election. The former McQuaide Blasko attorney campaigned on her 27-year career that focused on family law and civil litigation experience.
Centre County operated with only three of its four full-time judges once Ruest retired and before Rater was appointed. Ruest continues to work as a senior judge, though her schedule dropped to about 10 days per month.
Polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday. They close at 8 p.m.