Orso Runs for Judge

Lycoming Law Association member Joseph Orso III recently announced a run for one of the two open Lycoming County Common Pleas Court seats.

Orso discussed his effort with the Williamsport Sun-Gazette, which published his comments:

Asked why he is seeking the position, Orso said, "I believe I am uniquely qualified after spending 21-plus years as a courtroom lawyer."

Most vital to Orso is what he called a "crisis with drug offenders."

"The drug court we have is effective," he said, "and it is imperative as judge to balance the rights of the accused with the rights of any victim involved."

Orso said he has a broad-based background in law, including as solicitor of the Borough of South Williamsport and extensive experience in domestic and family law-related cases.

"I view the bench as one more step in my adult life of community involvement," he said.

When he is not practicing law, Orso said he has been a Little League Baseball coach for 20 years and coaches the St. John Neumann Regional Academy boy's baseball team. He is on the board of directors of the Lycoming County United Way and YMCA and is a member and past president of the Kiwanis Club of Williamsport.

As a member of these organizations, Orso believes he can deal fairly with both children and adults. "It allows me to have the pulse of the community," he said. "As a judge, I believe that is important."

Orso is a graduate of Bishop Neumann High School and the Pennsylvania State University and while there studied at University of Exeter in Exeter, England. He is a graduate of the Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle.

Orso went to work in 1987 at Mitchell, Mitchell and Gray, where he worked closely with now-county Judge Richard A. Gray.

Since 1990, he has been with Casale and Bonner, where he has been a partner since 1995.

Orso is married to Mary Kay Orso, a registered nurse at Williamsport Hospital emergency room. They have two children, Emily, a senior at St. John Neumann Regional Academy and a son, Joseph, who is in the eighth grade at the school.

His father, Joseph Orso Jr., was elected to minor judiciary, or as district magistrate. He said that gave him another perspective on the law.

"I observed through him the satisfaction he obtained serving as a judge," he said. "I hope to have the same satisfaction."