Magisterial District Judge Robert A. Hawke has announced he is seeking re-election for District Court 03-3-01.

Hawke has 32 years of court experience and has been a dedicated and successful district judge in Northampton County for the past five years, according to a news release.

Hawke has been elected to serve on the Special Court Judges Association Vehicle Code Committee from 2012 to the present and, from 2013 to the present, the Special Court Judges Association Legislative Committee, where he currently serves as vice chairman.

Hawke has also served as president of the Northampton County Magisterial District Justice Association since 2011.

Hawke began his career in 1984 as a police officer in Lehigh Township and served for 10 years on the Lehigh Valley Regional DUI Task Force, for which he received an award from the Pennsylvania DUI Association in 1998, which reads, in part, " ... Dedicated to the sobriety checkpoint program of Lehigh Township, in recognition and appreciation of your untiring efforts and dedication in the battle against impaired driving."

Hawke was assigned as the detective investigator at the time he retired from the Lehigh Township Police Department in 2010.

He is a member of various professional and community organizations.

In 2002, Hawke was awarded "The Chapel of Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Award" in recognition of his service to all people regardless of their race or creed.

This is Hawke's second campaign for elected office.

He has strong views about the responsibilities imposed on the persons who appear before him in his court.

"I believe the best way to be re-elected is to do a good job as magisterial district judge. I will do my best to continue to uphold the law, execute with fairness and be nonbiased in my decisions," he said.

Hawke, 54, attended Kutztown University, graduating in 1983, with a bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a minor in science.

He resides with his wife and two children in Lehigh Township.