ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Jim Martin, who served as the Lehigh County district attorney for more than two decades, has passed away, according to Allentown police chief Charles Roca. He was 81.
Lehigh County Coroner Dan Buglio says Martin was pronounced dead at his home in Upper Saucon Township on Saturday at 3:41 p.m.. He died of natural causes.
Martin was appointed Lehigh County district attorney in January 1998 and was elected to six four-year terms before retiring in January 2024.
Before becoming district attorney, Martin worked part-time as an assistant public defender and was an assistant DA.
Martin had more than 30 years of experience as a prosecutor and more than 49 years as a trial attorney.
“During his more than two decades in office, he served the citizens of Lehigh County with honor, dedication, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to justice. His leadership and service had a profound and lasting impact on Lehigh County and its law enforcement and criminal justice communities,” Buglio said.
Martin told 69 News during his tenure, 305 defendants were charged with criminal homicide, and 289 were convicted.
During his time as DA, Martin spearheaded several initiatives to fight crime and advocate for victims, including:
Impaneling the county’s first investigative grand jury.Establishing the Child Advocacy Center, the Elder Abuse Task Force, and domestic violence court.Founding the Lehigh County Homicide Task Force to work with local police departments.Entering into a partnership with DeSales University and the David M. Petzold Memorial Foundation to create a state-of-the-art digital forensic lab.
Of all his accomplishments, Martin said he was most proud of the Regional Intelligence Center, or RIIC, a powerful hub for intelligence data for investigators.
“From his faithful service to the City of Allentown and Lehigh County, Mr. Martin was a pillar of the community and a staunch advocate for justice,” Roca said in a statement. “As Chief of Police for the Allentown Police Department, I stand in solidarity with our law enforcement community in acknowledging Mr. Martin’s dedication to the rule of law, victims’ rights, and foundational work in making all of our communities safer.”