Judge Richard M. Cappelli
Judge Richard M. Cappelli was elected to a ten-year term on the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in November of 2013. Judge Cappelli is currently assigned to the Court's Criminal Trial Section. Prior to his election to the bench, Judge Cappelli served as a Magisterial District Judge for 21 years and during that time served as President of the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania.
Judge Cappelli has served as Chairman on the Ethics Committee of the SCJAP, on the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and as liaison to the Pennsylvania Bar Association for the SCJAP. Judge Cappelli co-authored and edited the Bench Book for magisterial district judges now in its fifth edition. This Bench Book is widely recognized as a must-read for all newly elected magisterial district judges.
Judge Cappelli was honored with the Themis Award of the SCJAP and also the Outstanding Service Award from the Widener University School of Law. He also received The Columbus Memorial Association's "Person of the Year" Award.
He served as a master in Juvenile Court. He also served a municipal solicitor and zoning solicitor, and was appointed Child Advocate for Delaware County and created the Special Prosecution Unit for the County's DA's Office.
Judge Cappelli graduated from Widener University School of Law. Prior to law shcool he earned his undergraduate degree in economics from St. Francis University of Pennsylvania. He is married to his wife Cindy and has two children Andrew and Amy.