Barley Snyder’s Judge David Ashworth (Ret.) Testifies at Pennsylvania House Hearing

Lancaster, Pa. – Hon. David L. Ashworth (Ret.), counsel at Barley Snyder and former president judge of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, recently testified before the Pennsylvania House Minority Policy Committee during a public hearing examining the ongoing uncertainty surrounding sentencing guidelines for second-degree murder in Pennsylvania. 

Drawing on 26 years of judicial experience on the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, including service as president judge from 2020 through 2025, Judge Ashworth offered perspective on the practical challenges courts may face as policymakers consider new sentencing frameworks and potential resentencing requests. His testimony addressed the demands such proceedings can place on the court system and the difficult impact they may have on victims’ families asked to revisit long-resolved matters.

"Judge Ashworth brings a rare combination of judicial experience, practical judgment, and longstanding service to the Lancaster County legal community,” said Managing Partner Jennifer Craighead Carey. "We are proud to see him contribute his experience and perspective to discussions that have significant implications for the Commonwealth's justice system."

Judge Ashworth joined Barley Snyder in 2026 as a member of its Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Service Team following his retirement from the bench. He now focuses his practice on the mediation of civil disputes, including medical malpractice, product liability, personal injury, commercial and construction matters. Before his judicial service, he spent more than two decades in private practice as a trial attorney and founding partner of Wagman, Ashworth, Kreider and Wright in downtown Lancaster. 

A member of the Lancaster County legal community for more than 45 years, Judge Ashworth is a National Judicial College-certified mediator and a NAM Hearing Officer. He currently serves on the national board of All Rise, formerly known as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals. 

For more information about Judge Ashworth and Barley Snyder's mediation services, please visit: https://www.barley.com/capability/adr/

About Barley Snyder
Barley Snyder is a law firm based in Pennsylvania with more than 120 attorneys practicing from offices located in Lancaster, York, Reading, Harrisburg, Lebanon, Malvern, Hanover, Gettysburg and Schuylkill Haven, Pa., and Hunt Valley and Columbia, Md. The firm serves businesses, individuals and organizations in all major areas of civil law including business, employment, immigration, employee benefits, finance & creditors’ rights, intellectual property, litigation, estate planning and administration, real estate, tax, construction, environment and energy, health care, education, municipal authority, hospitality, senior living, cybersecurity and food and agribusiness. www.barley.com | @BarleySnyder