Serina, 50, has been serving as Magisterial District Judge in that district since July 2022, when he was appointed by then-Governor Tom Wolf to replace the retired James R. Ferrier.
Serina will crossfile on both the Republican and Democratic tickets.
“I’ve always enjoyed living in and working for the people in Schuylkill County,” said Serina in making his announcement, “and my six months service on the bench has only strengthened my enjoyment in and dedication to serving the folks who share my and my family’s home.
“My nearly 20 years as a prosecutor have uniquely prepared me for my work in the courtroom, interacting with law enforcement, crime victims, litigants and citizens. I take pride in trying to uphold the laws of the commonwealth, and I’ve learned that the most important point to adhere to is to treat people with respect,” he noted.
Serina added that his professional experience is especially important since Magisterial District 21-3-03 has the highest caseload in Schuylkill County.
Serina served as a Schuylkill County assistant district attorney from 2002-2022 and held a number of special positions in the district attorney’s office. Those included the domestic violence prosecutor under the Violence Against Women Act, supervisor of all electronic interception and surveillance, and the Drug Task Force prosecutor.
He has extensive courtroom experience, having tried approximately 80 cases, including homicides, capital murders, drug trafficking offenses, sex crimes and corrupt organization cases. In addition to the county Court of Common Pleas, he has litigated cases before both the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme courts, and federal district court.
Serina has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Muhlenberg College, a Master’s degree in Criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, where he achieved a 4.0 grade-point-average, and a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.
Serina was an adjunct professor at the Lehigh Carbon Community College for two years, teaching courses in juvenile delinquency and evidence/criminal procedure, has been a lecturer in law enforcement, and has drafted several educational/procedural documents for county police departments, while assisting departments as an oral examiner in hiring and promotions.
Active in the local community, Serina is currently a youth flag football coach in Schuylkill Haven, an assistant volleyball coach at Marian Catholic High School, where his wife is the head coach, and he has served as an assistant volleyball coach at Nativity B.V.M High School and as advisor to the Marian Mock Trial team.
He, his wife Maria and their three children - sons Andrew and Aiden, 14 and 10 respectively, and daughter 12 year-old Alexa, reside in Andreas.
District 21-3-03 includes the boroughs of Auburn, Cressona, Deer Lake, Landingville, New Ringgold, Orwigsburg, Port Clinton and Schuylkill Haven and the townships of East and West Brunswick, North and South Manheim, Walker and West Penn.