Thomas Capehart has announced his candidacy for judge of Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.

Capehart, a registered Republican, said he is running as a further extension of his longtime commitment to community service.

“My active involvement in our community, coupled with my nearly 30 years of experience across a broad spectrum of the law, makes me uniquely qualified to effectively deal with the issues that come before the court,” he said.

Capehart is a graduate of Emmaus High School. He graduated from Dickinson College with a Bachelor of Arts degree and the University of Akron School of Law with his Juris Doctorate. He is admitted to practice in all Pennsylvania courts, as well as the eastern, middle and western districts of the United States District Court and the Third Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals.

Capehart is a partner with Gross McGinley, LLP, a 33-lawyer general practice firm based in Allentown. During his legal career, he has provided a range of legal services in litigation, business, real estate, divorce/matrimonial law, municipal law and wills, trusts and estate matters. Capehart’s work has earned him the highest possible ethical rating from a national attorney review organization, as well as a distinguished peer rating for high professional achievement.

“Throughout my legal career, I have striven to provide fair and ethical legal advice to my clients and worked to treat opposing counsel and parties with respect. As judge, this is a commitment I will continue so that everyone who comes before the bench knows they will be afforded fair and impartial justice,” Capehart said.

“I am committed to following the law and applying it to the facts of the each case,” Capehart said, in explaining his philosophy. “I will ensure fair hearings for all by following the laws as written and will not legislate from the bench.”

Capehart, a lifelong resident of the Emmaus community, dedicates significant time to civic groups, such as East Penn Chamber of Commerce, as a board member and past president; Board of the Lehigh Conference of Churches, which provides housing and food for the underprivileged; and Emmaus Lions Club, whose primary mission is to help the blind and visually impaired. The Lions Club awarded him the Melvin Jones Award for dedicated service. He has also served as a PIAA football official for nearly two decades, officiating high school football in the EPC and Colonial Leagues.

“It would be an honor to serve Lehigh County as the next judge of the Court of Common Pleas. Having spent my life here, having raised my children here and having given my time in making our community stronger, I am well prepared to serve the people of Lehigh County.”

Capehart lives in Upper Milford Township with his wife, Michelle. They are the parents of two children, Matthew and Laura.