DV Journal

Delaware County District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer has thrown his hat in the ring to run for a spot on the Court of Common Pleas bench.

Stollsteimer, along with attorney Mike Power, received the Delaware County Democratic Committee’s endorsement Saturday as judicial candidates.

Stollsteimer, 61, of Haverford, was reelected to his second term as DA in 2023. He ran for state attorney general in 2024. He was defeated in the Democratic primary by Eugene DePasquale, the former auditor general. DePasquale went on to lose to Republican Dave Sunday.

As district attorney, Stollsteimer formed the Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods that helped reduce the homicide rate. He also pushed the county council to take control of the county jail and created diversionary programs for low-level offenders, helping to reduce the number of inmates.

Stollsteimer also touts his creation of the environmental crimes unit and his participation in a lawsuit targeting opioid distributors, winning millions to help those who are addicted.

Michael Power (via Facebook)

“I want to thank the Delco Democrats for their endorsement, and I look forward to continuing my service to our community as a judge of the Common Pleas next year,” said Stollsteimer.

Stollsteimer’s record as DA is not without controversy. Despite polls showing widespread support for increased enforcement of immigration laws, Stollsteimer announced that his office would not work with Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) officers to arrest illegal immigrants “living peacefully in Delaware County.”

Stollsteimer worked his way through college and graduated from Temple University Beasley School of Law. He was a Delaware County assistant DA, then joined the U.S. Department of Justice as the policy analyst and Special Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) gun violence reduction initiative in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. In 2004, Stollsteimer was appointed Assistant United States Attorney. In 2006, Gov. Ed Rendell appointed him as the state safe school’s advocate for the Philadelphia School District. He then worked for the state treasurer.

Power attended Emory College, then went to Temple for law school. He opened his own firm in 1995, specializing in consumer fraud claims, lemon law, and warranty litigation.

Active politically, Power served as treasurer of the Delaware County Democratic Committee for eight years, as well as treasurer for various PACs and candidates.

“It is such an honor to receive this endorsement,” said Power, a Thornbury resident. “In these trying times, we see the vital role that judges play in protecting the rights and property of our residents, and I promise to bring an even temperament and a genuine sense of fairness to the bench. I will never forget the values I’ve gained from representing everyday people with everyday problems. These values will guide me as a judge.”

From a press release

With the Historic Chester County Courthouse as a backdrop, Judge Lou Mincarelli who is a current member of the Chester County Court of Common Pleas announced his candidacy for an elected term on the county bench.   Prior to becoming the 67th judge in the 231 year history of the Chester County court, Mincarelli served the citizens of Pennsylvania as a victim advocate,  as an Assistant District Attorney,  and as a defender of the less fortunate as a partner in private practice

Judge Minceralli was nominated by Governor Tom Wolf and confirmed with overwhelming bipartisan support by the Pennsylvania Senate to fill a vacancy on the court. “My time as judge has given me an even greater understanding of justice, impartiality, and duty.  Should I be fortunate enough to be elected to a full term on the bench, I will be ready to serve on day one and my legal and life experiences as a jurist, attorney, husband, father, and community volunteer have prepared me for this position.”, Mincarelli said.

“The foundation of who I am starts with the values of hard work and dedication,” Mincarelli said.  “These core beliefs were instilled in me by my parents at an early age. I am proud of the fact that I worked full time to put myself through law school at night. While studying law at Temple University, I worked as a Victim Advocate in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office. In this capacity, I learned first-hand the effects that crime has on victims and their families.

After law school, he was a prosecutor in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office under the legendary Lynne Abraham and was tasked to run a ground-breaking Community Court Program. This program was focused on stopping repeat offenses by mentally ill and chemically dependent criminal defendants. “I have been on the front lines in the fight against the growing opioid epidemic and mental health crisis,” Mincarelli said. “I later went on to the Trial Division where I spent several years assigned to the Major Trials Unit prosecuting criminals for violent crimes.”

In 2010 Mincarelli was one of the founding partners of the firm McCullough, McLaughlin, Mincarelli, and McCloskey Attorneys at Law. “I represented clients from various backgrounds and life situations,” he said. “I helped some of the most vulnerable members of our society, as well as some of the most affluent. Some of my clients have been professional athletes, prosecutors, police officers, deputy sheriffs, doctors, and other professionals. Other clients have included the homeless, the mentally ill, the chemically dependent, and children born to parents that are incapable of giving proper care.  I have been honored and humbled to represent each and every one of them.”