The Northampton County Court Administrator's Office recently indicated no decision has been made on the future location of a magisterial district judge office and courtroom.

The new location will consolidate the operations of the district judges that preside in Northampton and Lehigh Township.

A county spokesperson said Feb. 13 the May primary election will list the candidates seeking the district judge post, not the location of the office.

The new redistricting plan goes into effect January 2016. The plan folds the district judge's operations in Northampton with Lehigh Township.

Diane Marakovits has resigned her position as magisterial district judge. Marakovits served Allen Township and North Catasauqua.

She was slated to run against Lehigh Township Magisterial District Judge Robert A. Hawke, who has announced he is seeking re-election to serve a six-year term.

Marakovits in January returned to the Lehigh County District Attorneys Office as senior prosecutor with an $85,280 salary.

The county court administrator's office has filled the Northampton office by naming retired Magisterial District Judge Joan Marinkovits.

The Northampton Magisterial District Judge offices are located at 21st and Main streets, with Center Street as its entrance. The Lehigh Township Magisterial District Judge offices are on Route 248, in a strip mall.

According to the spokesperson, the county would have to provide 60 days notice if it is vacating the present premises.

It is not known if staff personnel will be reduced in number.

The realignment was proposed by a Northampton County Court committee and in 2013 accepted by the state Supreme Court. It sought to reduce the state's 544 district judge offices by 10 percent.