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Lovecchio to retire after 11 years on the bench

Judge Marc Lovecchio. SUN-GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Marc E. Lovecchio, a Court of Common Pleas judge, announced he will retire at the end of this year to focus on giving back to the community in ways he cannot on the bench.

Lovecchio, 62, took the bench in 2010 after working at Campana, Lovecchio and Morrone, P.C. since 1988, when he moved to the area.

“It has been an honor to serve as a judge for the past 12 years,” Lovecchio, who mostly handles criminal cases, said. “Those involved in our system of justice… are largely dedicated, honest and selfless individuals.”

As he reflected on those 12 years, Lovecchio said the most meaningful part of his job was helping people change their lives in the criminal cases he handled.

Lovecchio also valued how well jurors remain focused and conscientious while trying to come to the right conclusion of each case.

“When you’re dealing with human behaviors and you’re trying to correct those behaviors, there’s a measure of difficulty to it.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re not making any impact and that’s not true,” Lovecchio said. “It’s not always easy, sometimes you need to make the hard, right decision than the easy, wrong decision.”

Lovecchio was a member of the Princeton University Class of 1980, and graduated the University of Pittsburgh School of Law cum laude in 1984.

Once he has left the bench, Lovecchio wants to help rectify some of the systemic problems of the civil, family and criminal systems of justice elsewhere in the process.

“We have become the dumping ground for many societal problems and are ill-equipped to deal with them,” Lovecchio said. “We lack time, resources, personnel and options.”

Lovecchio said that problem has been compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, which created a backlog in the system.

Some of the issues include mental health, poverty, lack of education, substance use disorders, trauma, transiency, lack of employment and opportunity, child victims of dysfunctional families, delays and lack of trust in the system.

After his retirement, Lovecchio intends on practicing law with McCormick Law Firm.

Lovecchio, whose father was a doctor and son currently is, first studied law to handle matters of medical malpractice. While he never got that opportunity in his private practice, now he hopes to handle matters such as medical malpractice, conflict civil litigation, worker’s compensation, estate law and more.

Additionally, he wants to establish an arbitration or mediation practice with the firm to not only help the firm, but also help with the backlog of civil cases caused by the pandemic.

He also wants to participate in community coalitions to support alternative methods to deal with these issues, and continue publicly speaking to share his experience and suggestions.

Lovecchio also plans on passing on his lifetime of experience by teaching at the collegiate level.

However, a more personal factor plays into Lovecchio’s decision. While giving back to the community, Lovecchio wants to focus on his family and mentor his son, who is a public defender in Alaska.

“Life is short,” Lovecchio said. “I will be 63 when I retire. I have given 16 eulogies in my life. I want to spend time with my growing family. I need to be a better person not consumed by the days of seeing the worst in human behavior.”

As Lovecchio redirects his attention to other methods of making a difference, he voiced support for the people who will continue to do the work he has done for the past 11 years.

“We have a wonderful array of active and senior judges here in Lycoming County. Someday I might take senior status,” Lovecchio said. “New blood is not always a bad thing. I fully expect my replacement to be outstanding and to continue to improve our system.”

Lovecchio praised his colleagues and the support staff in his office — especially his secretary and law clerk. He especially highlighted the multi-faceted role adult probation officers play in the court system in wearing many hats, from law enforcement to mental health and employment counseling.

“I’m a firm believe that you’re only as good as the people you work with,” Lovecchio said.

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