ALLENTOWN, Pa. – Lehigh County will say goodbye to one of its judges in 2026, leaving the position open for replacement.
Governor Josh Shapiro has received and recorded Michele A. Varricchio’s resignation from the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas, effective Jan. 5, 2026, according to a press release from the county.
In turn, the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas has requested the appointment of a new judge to fill the position. Varricchio’s current term was scheduled to expire Jan. 2028, and her position will not be on the ballot until 2027.
Varricchio, an Allentown native, has served the Court of Common Pleas since 2008, and she was assigned to the Civil/Family Division and guardianship matters. She is the Administrative Judge of the Civil Division and is the Supervisory Judge of Arbitrations and of Mortgage Foreclosures.
For nearly 10 years, she has sat in Courtroom 1B, built in 1914, of the Historic Courthouse.
Before to her election to the Court of Common Pleas, she was appointed in 1992 by Governor Robert Casey as a Magisterial District Judge for District Court based in Allentown. She was elected to that position the following year and served in that role, as well as presiding over the Allentown Parking Court, for 15 years.
She is a life member of both the National and the International Association of Women Judges.
Outside of the courthouse, Judge Varricchio is the mother of three adult children.
Her son David served in the US Army National Guard for over 10 years and is now a practicing attorney and a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Charlotte, NC.
Her daughter Melissa is the owner of Kore Coffee & Flowers, a fresh-cut flower farm in South Whitehall.
One of the highlights of her career was presiding over the swearing-in ceremonies of the 2023-2024 Legislative Session, where she administered the oath of office to her other son, Senator Nick Miller.
“As her son, I will always treasure the day she swore me in as State Senator, a moment that joined our family’s history with Pennsylvania’s history,” said Senator Nick Miller said. “As a public servant, I am deeply grateful for the example she has set and the foundation she has built for the future.”
Judge Varricchio noted that her proudest moments came not only in serving the public and upholding justice but also from sharing in her family’s and community’s milestones, especially in Lehigh County.
She extends a special thank you to her past and present colleagues on the bench, the members of the Bar Association of Lehigh County, her legal assistant, judicial clerk, court monitor, and court crier.
“My mother’s career has been defined by her dedication to law and order, her compassion for families, and her commitment to the people of Lehigh County,” added Miller. “She has focused on fairness, integrity, and the needs of our community. Her more than thirty years of service have left a lasting legacy of trust and leadership.”
Judge Varricchio is a member of the Board of Directors of the Lehigh Gap Nature Center and a member of Lehigh Valley Audubon Society. She looks forward to returning to a more active role in the community after retirement.