Richard Cappelli

Background

About Richard Cappelli

Richard Cappelli graduated from Widener University School of Law in 1981 and had maintained a private law practice concentrating in Personal Injury, Wills and Estates as well as business counseling until 2014. In 1983 he was appointed to the first full time child advocate in Delaware County. As a Child Advocate, he created the Special Prosecution unit for the District Attorney’s office for the investigation and prosecution of child abuse cases. From 1985 to 1992 he served as master in Juvenile Court. He also served as Municipal Solicitor for Trainor Borough and Zoning Solicitor for Aston Township and Yeadon Borough. He has served the Delaware County Bar Association as a Director and has served on the Municipal Solicitors Committee and District Justice Committee. Cappelli was a Magisterial District Judge in Delaware County serving the townships of Concord, Bethel, Chadds Ford and Thornbury from 1992 to 2014. He has been an active member of the Judiciary since his appointment in 1992. In 1993 he was elected President of the Delaware County District Judges Association. Shortly thereafter he was elected president of District Eleven of the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania. He was elected vice president of the State Association and served as president of the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania in 2003. He has served on the Ethics committee as chairman as well as co-chairman. He has also served as the liaison to the Pennsylvania Bar Association for the SCJAP. Cappelli co-authored and edited the Bench Book for Magisterial District Judges. He has moderated numerous orientation and education programs for new judges and has lectured at a number of CLE programs on the practice before the District Courts. He currently also serves on the Widener University of Law Alumni Board In 2014 he was sworn in as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for Delaware County, PA, and currently sits in the Criminal Division.