Magisterial District Judge Robert C. Halal is seeking reelection for district court 31-1-07.

He currently presides over Magisterial District Court 31-1-07, one of the busiest district courts in Lehigh County, The district covers Whitehall and Coplay.

The 48-year-old lifelong Whitehall Township resident said he will cross file for the Democrat and Republican nomination in the May primary election.

Halal has been involved with the judicial system for 21 years, serving 16 years as a Pennsylvania state constable before being nominated by state Sen. Lisa Boscola for magisterial district judge and then being appointed to the position in November 2007 by former Gov. Ed Rendell.

Halal was originally certified to perform the duties of magisterial district judge in 2000. He was recertified in 2007 and again in January as required by law.

"I believe that the district judge is the most important step in the judicial process and promise to continue to uphold a high standard of justice as I have proven since November 2007 as the current magisterial district judge," Halal said.

During his career, Halal's court handled more than 25,000 cases including landlord/tenant disputes and civil, traffic and criminal cases.

"I would be privileged to once again be elected as your magisterial district judge, so that I can continue to serve my community with the experience you so well deserve," Halal said in his bid to seek a second six-year term in office.

Because Whitehall has a large commercial base, Halal has presided over numerous shoplifting cases. He also handled many sad cases such as one involving a very young child who suffered serious injuries from a beating and a case involving injury to a person from an object being thrown from a bridge over Route 22. He has also handled homicide arraignments.

Halal serves Lehigh Career and Technical Institute's Occupational Advisory Council for law enforcement and security systems for more than five years. He also annually addresses criminal justice students at Penn State's Lehigh Valley campus.

Halal is a member of the Whitehall Lions Club, Pennsylvania Blue Knights, Egypt VFW, Fullerton Fire Company, Egypt Memorial Park and the District 10 Special Court Judge Association of Pennsylvania.

He and his wife, Denise, have a daughter, Morgan, and two stepchildren, J'nan and Brian. The couple is expecting a granddaughter in July.

Halal is the son of Stella Halal and the late Charles Halal. He is a1982 graduate of Whitehall High School, where he played football and baseball.