Indiana County First Assistant District Attorney Gina Force has announced her candidacy for judge on the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas. The seat will become vacant upon the retirement next month of President Judge William Martin.
Force has served in the District Attorney’s office since October of 2016 and was promoted to First Assistant D.A. in January of 2019. She has represented the county as primary and co-counsel at trial here and before the state appellate courts. She has also served as a parent advocate for Children & Youth Services, and in addition to her private law practice, she is a member of the law Day Committee, the solicitor for Plumville Borough, solicitor for the Indiana County Prison Board, and solicitor for VFW Post 1989.
She’s a graduate of Marion Center High School and Penn State, and she received her law degree from Syracuse University, where she graduated Cum Laude. She’s also worked in a summer program as a judicial law clerk in the Woolwich Crown Court in Greenwich, England.
Judge Martin’s seat will be filled by an appointee of Governor Tom Wolf until the election next year.
Force has established a Facebook page, “Gina Force for Judge”, and a website, ginaforceforjudge.com. She will appear on Indiana In the Morning on WCCS at 8:10 this morning.
HERE IS GINA FORCE’S CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCEMENT:
Gina Force, First Assistant District Attorney, Launches Campaign for County Judge
INDIANA: Today, Indiana County First Assistant District Attorney Gina Force announced her plans to seek election as Judge on the Indiana County Court of Common Pleas.
“I feel blessed to take the knowledge and experience I have gained throughout my career and service to the community and continue this service on our courts,” said Force. “In my position as First Assistant District Attorney, I have had the opportunity to work alongside the brave men and women in law enforcement to keep our families, neighbors and communities safe. If elected to serve our county as Judge, I plan to apply the law in a fair and unbiased manner with the same goal in mind.”
“As we have witnessed, the judiciary plays an incredibly important part in our daily lives. It is critical we elect those with the experience and understanding of the role of the judiciary to interpret the law as written. As a textualist, I believe that words have meaning and in running for this judicial seat, I pledge to never legislate from the bench. I look forward to speaking with voters and discussing why my experiences and Indiana County values have uniquely qualified me for this important position.”
After graduating from Marion Center Area High School, Force attended Penn State University where she graduated with High Distinction with a Bachelor of Science in Crime, Law, & Justice and a minor in Sociology. While attending Penn State, she was a member of the Phi Betta Kappa and Golden Key Honor Societies due to her academic success.
Force went on to receive her law degree from Syracuse University College of Law where she graduated Cum Laude. During her time at Syracuse, she participated in the Elder Law Clinic and Phi Alpha Delta. During a summer program, Force worked as a judicial law clerk in the Woolwich Crown Court located in Greenwich, England. Adjoining the Category A Belmarsh Prison, Woolwich Crown Court is unique in that it serves as a higher criminal court, having heard some of the most egregious and high profile cases throughout England, affording Force the opportunity to observe and participate in a number of criminal jury trials. Following law school, Force worked for a local practice before opening her general law practice RYEN-FORCE LAW P.C. in May of 2016. Her private practice has included broad representation in family law, business law, and real estate matters.
Force has served the District Attorney’s office since October of, 2016 and was promoted to First Assistant District Attorney in January 2019. In this role, Force has served as primary and co-counsel on jury and non-jury trials ranging from summary offenses to homicide cases. Throughout her time in the District Attorney’s Office, Force has served as the assistant who performs the legal research and drafting of legal motions, pleadings, briefs and appeals on behalf of Commonwealth at both local and appellate level. This has included representing the Commonwealth in courtroom hearings on all pre-trial, post-trial, and evidentiary motions. Additionally, she has represented the Commonwealth at thousands of preliminary hearings wherein the Commonwealth is tasked with presenting a prima facie case. Force interacts on a consistent basis with local law enforcement agencies by answering general and specific inquiries including the approval of search warrants, arrest warrants, affidavits of probable cause and criminal complaints.
In addition to Force’s service in the District Attorney’s office, beginning in 2016 Force has served as a parent advocate for Children & Youth Services where she is involved in supporting parents and children of Indiana County by working to reunify and strengthen families. In this role, she has served as legal counsel for hundreds of parents and/or legal guardians who have had their children removed from their care. This has involved working with various local Agencies to support parents dealing with mental health issues, drug and alcohol dependency and/or prison or jail time.
In addition to her private law practice and work at the District Attorney’s office, Force is a member of Law Day Committee, Solicitor for the Borough of Plumville, Solicitor for the Indiana County Prison Board and the Solicitor for the VFW Post 1989.
Force has dedicated her legal career to serving the Commonwealth and protecting the integrity of family units within Indiana County. She married her husband Christopher Force in August of 2016 and they welcomed their son, Kash, this August. Both she and her husband feel blessed to call Indiana County their home.
To learn more about the campaign, visit Gina Force for Judge on Facebook and online at www.ginaforceforjudge.com.
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