Amy Marcinkiewicz

A longtime television journalist has announced her retirement as well as her bid for a district judge's seat.

Amy Marcinkiewicz spent 25 years reporting on Butler County's news for WPXI-Channel 11 in Pittsburgh. She announced Tuesday her retirement from the television station and her decision to go all-in to serve the community in a different capacity.

Marcinkiewicz announced her candidacy for Magisterial District Judge in Evans City (District 50-3-06). The district covers the townships of Adams, Connoquenessing, Forward, Jackson, Lancaster and the boroughs of Callery, Connoquenessing, Evans City, Harmony, Mars, Valencia and Zelienople.

“The position of district judge is non-partisan. I am permitted and will cross-file with both parties for the May 18 primary,” said Marcinkiewicz.

She said, “My job as a journalist uniquely prepares me for this position. The role of a magisterial district judge are things I already do as a journalist. I research, learn the law, interact with people, listen and get to the true story in any situation, always remaining completely unbiased.”

She said, “I often stand side by side with first responders, firefighters, police at news scenes. State troopers, local law enforcement and local leaders trust me to quickly and accurately get crucial information out to you.”

Marcinkiewicz said the countless hours in courtrooms covering everything from death penalty murder cases to complex civil matters have given her excellent working relationships with everyone she's met on the job, from administrators to advocates.

“I require myself to be fair, balanced and 100% authentic,” she said.

Marcinkiewicz was an Emmy award-winning journalist. She covered Butler County community news for more than 25 years with WPXI-Channel 11.

She grew up in St. Louis, where her father worked at a printing press and her mother was a waitress picking up extra money to help put her three children through school.

Her older brother is a retired St. Louis city police officer. Her younger brother is a tool and die maker.

Marcinkiewicz was the first in her family to go to college. She worked multiple jobs to help pay for it. She attended the Missouri School of Journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia, and received her bachelor of journalism degree in 1990.

Her career took her throughout the United States, landing in Pittsburgh in 1995.

In 2015, while juggling a full-time career and family, she went back to college and received a master's degree in education with a focus on special education from Westminster College in New Wilmington.

Amy and her husband, Brad, celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in 2020. They live in Jackson Township with their two daughters, Emma and Tess.

Marcinkiewicz is active in many nonprofit organizations that specialize in advocating for, empowering and supporting people living with disabilities.