YORK COUNTY, Pa. -York County Court of Common Pleas President Judge Stephen P. Linebaugh announced that Judge Thomas H. Kelley has retired from commissioned service as a Judge of this Court, effective today.
“Judge Kelley had informed the Court more than a year ago that he intended to return to private practice as an attorney by the end of this year. Judge Kelley’s duties and caseload will be distributed among the remaining Judges of this Court. We thank Judge Kelley for his twelve years of service on the Bench and we wish him continued success in this next chapter of his legal career.”
Kelley was elected to his second 10 year term on the bench in 2013. He was an assistant district attorney under then York County District Attorney Stan Rebert and a former York city councilman.
In 2001 as an assistant DA Kelly was part of the trial team that prosecuted former York City Mayor Charlie Robertson and two former white street gang members in the murder of Lillie Belle Allen during the 1969 race riots in the city. At that time Robertson was a city police officer and had shouted “White power” during a rally the night before Allen was killed.
Robertson was eventually acquitted, but the two other men were found guilty.
With Kelley’s departure, York County will go into 2016 with a shortage of Court of Common Pleas Judges. President Judge Linebaugh announced earlier this week that he will delay his retirement due to the shortage.
