Two Judges Join Lycoming County Bench

McCoy and Lovecchio Sworn in

Lycoming County welcomed two new judges at a ceremony on Monday, January 4, 2010.  Judges Joy McCoy and Marc Lovecchio were sworn in by President Judge Nancy Butts at the Community Theater League before a crowd that included county government leaders, as well as members of the bar, family members and the general public.

The event marked the first time since January 1981 that two newly elected Lycoming County judges took office at the same time.

Judge Nancy Butts was also given the oath of office of President Judge, an office she assumes as the senior member of the bench.  Former President Judge  Clinton Smith administered the oath.  He commented that he knew of no other time that a judge was able to give the oath of office of President Judge to one of his former clerks.

Under the state Constitution, when two judges take office at the same time, seniority is decided by the casting of lots.  Judge Lovecchio came out ahead, and was the first to take the oath, administered by Judge Butts.  In his brief remarks, Judge Lovecchio recognized his mother, aunts, wife and children who were present.  He also thanked a number of folks who assisted in his election, and in his transition to the bench.  His wife and mother assisted in his robing.

Judge McCoy also took the oath from Judge Butts.  Her husband assisted in her robing.  In comments following the robing, she thanked her family and others who assisted in her election.  Her husband and children were present for the ceremony.

After the ceremony, the Lycoming Law Association sponsored a reception in the lobby.

Judge Lovecchio was born in Philadelphia in 1958.  He grew up in Monroe County, Pa. and graduated as the valedictorian of his high school class at Notre Dame High School in East Stroudsburg. He received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1980 and graduated cum laude from the University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1984. While in law school, he served as the managing and topics editor of the Pittsburgh Law Review. He graduated from law school with honors and a Juris Doctorate.

Judge Lovecchio spent his first three years of practice with a large Pittsburgh law firm before moving to Williamsport where he has spent the last 22 years in the firm that is now known as Campana, Lovecchio & Morrone. He has been a managing partner for fifteen years.

Active in the community, Judge Lovecchio is a member, volunteer, and CCD teacher/presenter at Mater Dolorosa Church and Ascension Church. He is a member of the National Eagle Scout Association and a certified USSF soccer referee. He has coached high school soccer over the past twenty years. He is the creator, volunteer president, and Director of Coaching for Balls Mills Soccer club. He is the past President and was a longtime board member of the Williamsport Regional YMCA.

Judge Lovecchio was previously a Board member for the former Susquehanna Legal Services, Community Alliance for Progressive Positive Action (CAPPA) and the Center for Independent Living. In 2008, he was the recipient of the Making a Difference Award for Dedication and Unwavering Commitment to the Center for Independent Living.  He was a member of the implementation team for Lycoming County’s first Drug Court as well as a member of Lycoming County’s first Juvenile Drug Court. He is the creator, developer, and court-appointed Master for Lycoming County’s first Underage Drinking Court.

A member of the Lycoming Law Association since 1987, Judge Lovecchio is a longtime member of the Bench Bar Committee. 

  Born in Williamsport in 1967, Judge McCoy is a 1985 graduate of Williamsport Area High School. She received her undergraduate degree from Elmira College in criminal justice in 1989. She spent a year studying law at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland.

Judge McCoy was first employed at McNerney, Page Vanderlin & Hall as a college intern in 1988 and became an associate attorney with the firm upon her graduation with a law degree from Franklin Pierce Law Center in Concord, N.H. in 1993. She became a partner at the firm in 1998.

Judge McCoy has been a member of the Lycoming Law Association since 1993. She was chair of the 2009 Law Day Committee and the 2002 recipient of the Equal Justice to Access Award.  She served on the Executive Committee of the Law Association from 2004 through 2008.  She also served for a number of years on the Bench Bar Committee, as the bar's family law representative.

The members of the Lycoming Law Association congratulate their colleagues on their ascension to the bench.