Judge Hopkins retiring, but he won’t stop working
By TAYLOR BROWN
tbrown@yourmvi.com
As Magisterial District Judge Larry Hopkins nears retirement, he has a few things planned: fishing with his grandson, joining the YMCA and getting back to work.
His official last day will be Monday, when judge-elect and current Charleroi Regional Police Chief Eric Porter takes the bench.
On his first day off the job in 18 years, Hopkins will head back to work and hear a case in Canonsburg as a senior district judge.
He will be the only senior magisterial district judge in Washington County for at least the next year and will serve in the position until 2028 unless he decides to officially retire before then.
Hopkins was elected to the bench in 2002, following the retirement of Larry Celaschi Sr. When Celaschi retired, Hopkins knew he wanted to take a shot at running for the position.
He brought with him 26 years of work as a police officer and 10 years of a constable, but learned the ropes from Celaschi, whom he worked alongside on the police force.
“He had his own style,” Hopkins said. “He was particular and he was spot on. I liked that, and tried in some ways to mimic it, but I eventually found my own way of doing things, too.”
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