ELECTIONS Wilson to run for Wayne County judge

WANE COUNTY —Attorney Pamela Wilson of Honesdale on Jan. 10 announced she will seek the position of Wayne County Court of Common Pleas judge in the May 16 primary election, saying she is “uniquely qualified for the position.”

Wilson, 47, a Republican and well-known Honesdale attorney, cited her judicial experience serving as Divorce and Custody Master for the county since 2012, her prosecutorial experience as a Wayne County Assistant District Attorney, her work as Solicitor for Wayne County Children & Youth Services, and her broad experience in private practice handling criminal, civil and family matters as her qualifications for serving as judge.

She is cross-filing on both the Republican and Democratic tickets in the May primary.

“I’ve served on the bench as a master deciding divorce and custody cases, I’ve prosecuted criminals and I’ve handled virtually every other kind of case that will come before the court,” Wilson said. “I have all the required experience to serve on the Court of Common Pleas and I’ll be ready to go on day one.”

Wilson is one of two Divorce and Custody Masters appointed by Wayne County President Judge Raymond L. Hamill, who is retiring and will not seek re-election. Masters hear and decide the majority of divorce and custody matters filed in Wayne County. Their decisions can be appealed to Judge Hamill.

While the county’s opioid crisis will be a top priority if she is elected to the bench, Wilson believes the court can be a force for good in many areas of the community.

“I don’t believe drugs are our only problem in Wayne County,” she said. “As Solicitor for Children & Youth Services, I see individuals and families in crisis for a whole lot of reasons. There are many things the court can do to help people get their lives back on track.”

Noting that Wayne County has one of the highest per-capita drug overdose rates in Pennsylvania, Wilson said, “Law enforcement and criminal prosecutions are not a total solution.”

She said she favors a comprehensive approach that combines law enforcement with a drug court that diverts non-violent offenders into rehabilitation programs and a mental health court to help individuals whose addiction may be rooted in diseases such as bipolar disorder.

“We have to step back, look at the whole picture and address all aspects of our drug epidemic,” she said. “We need to cut supply by arresting and prosecuting drug dealers and rogue doctors, reduce the demand and recidivism rate by helping drug offenders get the help they need, and provide treatment for people whose mental health issues may be an underlying cause of their addiction.”

Wilson was born and raised in Beach Lake where she resides with her husband, Brian Kellam, an employee of Fritz Brothers Inc. Wilson graduated from Wayne Highlands High School in 1987. She earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Scranton and went on to earn her law degree from the Widener University School of Law.

After passing the bar, she ran the Honesdale office for North Penn Legal Services, providing pro bono representation to indigent clients involved in civil matters. She then joined the office of Farley & Bernathy in Hawley, where she handled primarily civil litigation. After about a year, she joined Howell & Krause in Honesdale where she spent two and a half years focusing on civil litigation, criminal defense, family law and real estate matters.

In 2005, Wilson was appointed to serve as a part-time Assistant District Attorney under former District Attorney Michael Lehutsky, where she prosecuted a wide range of criminal matters, including child sex crimes. After leaving Howell & Krause, she joined Rutherford, Rutherford & Wilson in Honesdale as a partner, handling primarily estate administration and real estate matters. In 2012, she was appointed to the position of Divorce and Custody Master, and opened her own practice focusing on civil litigation, criminal defense, estate planning, real estate and guardianships.

In addition to serving as Solicitor for Wayne County Children & Youth Services, Wilson serves as a special prosecutor representing Dessin Animal Shelter in animal cruelty cases. A self-described animal lover, she serves on the shelter’s Board of Directors.

Wilson is the secretary of the Wayne County Bar Association, a member of the Wayne County Business and Professional Women, a past board member of the Honesdale Library, and member of the Beach Lake United Methodist Church.