ST. MARYS — Magisterial District Judge Mark S. Jacob has announced his candidacy for re-election for District 59-3-03, which is comprised of the City of St. Marys and Fox, Jay and Benezette Townships.
Jacob will be running on both the Democrat and Republican tickets in the primary election on May 16.
Jacob is a lifelong resident of St. Marys and has practiced law in Pennsylvania since 1984. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice administration, with honors, from Mansfield University and his Juris Doctor degree in law from Ohio Northern University, receiving the Dean’s Award. He served an internship working as a crime scene investigator in Rochester, N.Y., and later worked as a patrolman with the Canton Borough Police Department. He is finishing up his first term as magisterial district judge this year.
Jacob has extensive court experience, having participated in hundreds of hearings in the areas of both civil and criminal law, and is well versed in the rules of evidence and court. As an attorney, he built a reputation of being an advocate for crime victims, volunteered services to the elderly, was appointed Guardian ad litem in numerous cases and served as the court appointed juvenile court master and chairman of the Elk County Board of View. In his first term as district judge, he has utilized video arraignments in the 59-3-03 district, saving thousands of dollars for municipalities, and has focused on community service in appropriate cases, especially in juvenile cases, in order to create an awareness of community organizations and volunteerism in local youth.
He has taught business law for Penn State at DuBois, school law for the Pennsylvania School Boards Association and was a member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He has been certified every year of his first term by the Pennsylvania Minor Court Judiciary Board and attends continuing legal education programs to keep current on changes in both civil and criminal law.
Jacob has been involved in many community activities as well. He has served as a volunteer board member for the St. Marys Ambulance Service, Community Education Council, Community Nurses Inc., Elk County Children and Youth and St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce. In the past he has provided free legal services to various church and civic organizations, is an usher at Queen of the World Church and wishes to continue his service to the community as magisterial district judge.
He is the son of the late Robert E. Jacob and Jane O’Sullivan Jacob.
