Visiting judge begins role in Greene
WAYNESBURG – Hiram Carpenter was eager to get to work Monday morning when he arrived at the Greene County Courthouse to begin his new role as interim judge.
The visiting senior judge from Blair County sees many similarities in this corner of the state compared to his home county with its rural landscapes and busy caseloads.
“I think it’s a good challenge for me,” Carpenter said from inside his judge’s chambers Monday afternoon. “It’s a breath of fresh air and something new.”
Carpenter spent 23 years as judge in Blair County before retiring in 2012 and spending another year on the bench there to ease the transition. He will temporarily fill in for former President Judge William Nalitz, who retired in December and is now serving as a visiting senior judge in Washington County.
Carpenter expects to work at Greene County Courthouse two weeks a month until at least the end of July, although that timeline could expand for several reasons. If one of the three candidates vying for judge in the May primary wins nominations on both the Republican and Democratic tickets – their general election victory would be nearly inevitable – that person could be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate to fill the vacancy for rest of the year.
“You have a need,” Carpenter said, “and you’re probably going to have that need for the rest of the year.”
The visiting judge didn’t rule out the possibility of continuing his role in Greene County for the remainder of the year, but said being away from family for so long might make that a difficult task.
He and his wife, Dana, who is staying with him in the area during his visit, have six adult children ranging in age from 20 to 31, some who still live in Blair County.
Carpenter, 68, grew up in Coraopolis and attended Dickinson College in Carlisle before obtaining his law degree from George Washington University in 1973. While studying law, he spent time commuting from the school in Washington D.C. to Washington County as a member of the U.S. Army Reserves with the 630th Transportation Company.
During his six years in the Reserves, he met former Greene County Judge H. Terry Grimes, and the two formed a friendship.
He tried many high-profile cases during his tenure, including a civil trial for a priest abuse scandal against the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown.
Greene County President Judge Farley Toothman said Carpenter’s experience is invaluable and he and the courthouse staff are looking forward to working with him. Toothman was the only full-time judge for nearly four months after Nalitz’s retirement, although Senior Judge Gerald Solomon is also assisting with cases.
“He’s not only a seasoned jurist, but he’s worked as a senior judge in many places,” Toothman said of Carpenter. “We look forward to gleaning his insight from the experience he’s gained over his career. There is a lot to learn from someone with his experience and congeniality.”
Carpenter admitted it might take some time for him to learn the nuances and “well-established patterns” within the Greene County Courthouse, but he’s looking forward to putting his experience to work and getting to know the area.
“It’s a new experience for me,” he said. “Certainly, your county looks busy, specifically with Judge Toothman trying to do the job of two. Honestly, the people here couldn’t have been nicer, and we’re busy.”