What we know about Judge Dan Shimshock, Pa. district courts

MASONTOWN, Pa. — Four people were shot, including a police officer, during a Wednesday attack at a magistrate's office in Fayette County.

Here is what we know about the magistrate and the office:

• District Judge Dan Shimshock presides over District 14-3-02, which includes Fairchance, Masontown, Point Marion and Smithfield, and Georges, Nicholson, Springhill and German Townships.

PHOTOS: Four shot, including police officer, at Fayette Co. judge's office

• Shimshock was first elected as a Republican in 2015. His term ends in 2021. He replaced Randy Abraham, who did not seek reelection.
• At a news conference Wednesday, the district attorney confirmed that Shimshock and his staff were not a target of the shooting.

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• Prior to his election, Shimshock was a supervisor for German Township and taught math at Fayette County Area Vo-Tech. He graduated from California University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor's in mathematics and master's in computer science education.
• District courts are the lowest level of the judiciary in Pennsylvania. They handle landlord-tenant issues, small civil claims cases, summary offenses and ordinance violations. They also conduct preliminary hearings and arraignments for misdemeanor and felony cases.
• Magistrates are not required to have law degrees, but must be certified before taking office.

Cox Media Group