Local Attorney Joins Race for Magisterial District Justice Seat

A sixth candidate is throwing a hat in the ring for Coopersburg Magisterial District Justice. 

Upper Saucon resident Andrew Shaw, managing attorney of the Bethlehem law firm Goodman & Shaw, announced late Thursday night. "“I am dedicated to an impartial, efficient and accessible judiciary that serves the needs of all of our neighbors and their small businesses," wrote Shaw in his press release. "I possess the legal education and experience together with the temperament, integrity, fairness, energy, and commitment needed to perform the duties of a Magisterial District Judge.”

According to the press release, Shaw has been a resident of Upper Sauocn Township for five years, after moving to the area to be closer to his wife Vanessa's family. He has served as a volunteer coach in the Southern Lehigh Soccer League and a member on the Lehigh Carbon Community College paralegal advisory committee. He has a son at Liberty Bell Elementary and two preschool-aged children. 

Shaw writes he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics and political science in 1994 from the University of Wisconsin - Madison and with a juris doctorate degree in 1998 from The Ohio State University where he served as an associate editor of the Ohio State Law Journal.

Shaw is the most recent candidate to announce a run for the seat. The others are former Narcotics agent Sherie Datis, Upper Saucon resident Cathleen Hendrzak, Coopersburg Constable Mike Zweifel, Coopersburg police Chief Daniel Trexler and Bethlehem police officer Scott McEllroy. All six candidates are cross-filed for the primaries this May.