Magisterial District Judge Andrew “AJ” Serina has officially announced his candidacy for the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill County.
Serina, 51, has served as Magisterial District Judge in District Court 21-3-03 since 2022, where his courtroom handles the highest caseload in the county, managing over 13,000 cases in two years.
In his role as Magisterial District Judge, Serina has presided over criminal preliminary hearings, civil complaints, landlord-tenant disputes, truancy matters, and summary traffic citations. He also approves search warrants and performs wedding ceremonies for the public.
Serina’s candidacy comes as a natural continuation of his decades-long commitment to justice. Prior to his judicial appointment, Serina served for 16 years as an Assistant District Attorney for Schuylkill County. His tenure was marked by prosecuting high-profile cases, including capital murder trials, drug trafficking operations, and domestic violence cases. His work extended beyond the courtroom, collaborating with Pennsylvania State Police and federal agencies like the DEA on complex multi-jurisdictional cases.
“I am deeply honored to seek this position and continue serving the people of Schuylkill County,” said Serina. “My extensive courtroom experience and commitment to fairness have prepared me to meet the challenges of the Court of Common Pleas with integrity and diligence.”
Serina holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law, a master’s degree in criminology from Indiana University of Pennsylvania, and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Muhlenberg College, where he earned All-Conference Academic Team honors as a football player.
Beyond the courtroom, Serina has served as a volunteer board member for the Highway Safety Network and has coached high school and youth sports for years. He is also a passionate advocate for autism awareness, inspired by his family’s personal experience with his oldest child diagnosed with autism at an early age.
A resident of Andreas, West Penn Township, Serina and his wife Maria have three children – Andrew (16), Alexa (14), and Aiden (12).
A Republican, AJ Serina will cross-file on both the Republican and Democratic ballots in the upcoming election.