Salisbury native, Judge Michael J. Pochron, hung up his judicial robe one last time last week as he retired at the end of 2023 after 12 years as a Lehigh County magistrate in District 31-1-08.

Pochron grew up in Salisbury Township, attended township schools and graduated from Salisbury High School in 1973. He graduated from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science degree in education in 1977.

After graduation, Pochron began his law enforcement career with the Salisbury Township Police Department as a patrol officer in November 1977. He retired from the Salisbury force as a department sergeant and DARE officer after 29 years with the police department. He served in the DeSales University Police Department for four years before being elected as district magistrate in 2011.

Pochron noted he had to make a few adjustments as he moved from 30-some years as a police officer to an officer of the court. “As a judge,” Pochron said, “I had to be a neutral arbitrator. I had to listen to both sides in a dispute and have an open mind as I deliberated.”

Pochron said most of the cases he heard were domestic disputes, rather than criminal charges. “There are a lot of people with difficult problems, and sometimes there are no easy answers. I often wondered what effect the course of these disputes would have on any children that were involved.”

Despite the difficult judgments he often had to make, Pochron said he would choose the same career path if he were starting over. He said the job was made much easier “by having the great staff I’ve had over the years. People in my profession say a good staff is crucial for a successful judicial career.

“Another important attribute in judicial success,” Pochron said, “is the ability to stay even. You have to leave the problems you deal with at work. You can’t take them home with you.”

Pochron said the most trying part of his job had been the cyclical politics of the position. “For six years you are the person in the middle. You can’t be political. But, then, when the end of an election term comes around, you have to be a politician if you want to keep the job.”

Pochron said he hopes to be remembered as having made “fair decisions. Not every side is going to be happy with a decision. But, my job has been to make sure everyone is heard,” Pochran said.

Pochron said he has no firm plans for his retirement. “I expect to be able to play more golf. But, best of all, my wife Carol and I will be spending more time attending the sports games of our eight grandchildren and watching them grow up.”

Kyle B. Miller, another township native, was elected to serve as the next magistrate for District Court 31-1-08 and began his duties at 3000 S. Pike Ave. on the first of the new year.