About Bill

William H. Amesbury is a lifetime resident of Wilkes-Barre and serves as a Magisterial District Judge for the South Wilkes-Barre, Rolling Mill Hill and Mayflower sections of Wilkes-Barre. A Magisterial District Judge hears cases in the areas of criminal law, landlord-tenant complaints, civil, traffic and non-traffic cases. Since taking office in 2001, Judge Amesbury's office has received over 35,000 cases. Since his election, Amesbury has been active in the Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania. At the request of the organization's president, he has served on the Legislative Subcommittees for Fish/Game Codes, Judiciary, and has been both Chair and Vice-Chair of the Non-Crimes Code Subcommittee.

Amesbury is a graduate of E.L. Meyers High School. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Lock Haven University, earned a Master of Social Work Degree from Marywood University, and graduated cum laude from the Thomas M. Cooley Law School. He was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar in 1988. Prior to establishing the firm of William H. Amesbury Associates, LLC, he was an associate and later a shareholder in the firm O'Malley and Harris. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania, and the Wilkes-Barre Law Library Association. He has also served as Solicitor for the Hanover Township Board of Commissioners and the zoning boards of Salem Township, Nescopeck and Franklin Township.

In his law practice, Amesbury specializes in elder law, protecting the rights of the elderly, workers' compensation, estate planning, personal injury and insurance defense.

Amesbury has been active in the Wilkes-Barre community for over 30 years. He served as a pro bono solicitor for the Victim's Resource Center and has served as a coach in the South Wilkes-Barre Teener League, St Therese's Little League, Wilkes-Barre Girls' Softball League, Skyhawk Soccer League, CYC Pee-Wee Basketball Program and American Legion Baseball. He received the Charles "Chappy" Zimmerman Award for his involvement with the youth of South Wilkes-Barre and his name has been added to the South Wilkes-Barre Wall of Fame. Presently, Bill is Co-Chair of the Truancy Committee and is on the Luzerne County and Luzerne Intermediate Unit Task Force on Truancy.

Amesbury is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the Family Service Association of Wyoming Valley. He is affiliated with the Wilkes-Barre Lions Club, BPO Elks, Harvey's Lake Rod and Gun Club, and the Ancient Order of Hibernians.

He is married to the former Karen Tarnowski of Nanticoke. The couple has two children, Elizabeth and William. They are members of St. Therese's Roman Catholic Church, Wilkes-Barre.