Candidate for
Judge; Magisterial District Court; District 15-2-03; Republican, Democratic Party

Born in the Bronx, NY, Bill Kraut has had a distinguished legal career since 1976, when he first came to practice law in Chester County. Bill maintained a private law practice over the past three decades. During that time Bill was chosen by 4 different Chester County president Judges to sit as a divorce and custody master in our courts. He has heard thousands of the county's toughest cases. Since 2007 Bill has been the full time Magisterial District Judge for Westtown, West Goshen and Thornbury townships. During that time the court has had over 36,000 filings and collected in excess of $5,644,000.00.

Bill is the current president of the Chester County Magisterial District Judges Association. He has served on statewide MDJ committees. In the mid-nineties Bill was appointed by the Chester County Commissioners to be the solicitor to Chester County Children and Youth and Families. Many times in his career Bill has been chosen to be chairman of private arbitrations by trial lawyers both in and out of this county to decide their cases.

Over Bill's 36 year legal career, he has been engaged in the general practice of law and has experience in a broad spectrum of law, including domestic law, business and banking law, real estate, and Orphans Court practice. He has represented individuals and businesses; acted as an advocate, a client representative, court master, arbitrator and a mediator. Bill's extensive experience in hearing cases for the court and privately show that the court and many of his fellow attorneys have faith in his abilities. During his career Bill has heard thousands of cases in a highly charged environment and provided decisions for those cases. Including an average of 6,400 cases a year at the District Court.

Bill and Denise Englander Kraut have been married over 30 years. Denise is retired from the Interboro School District where she taught for 34 years and was the Chairperson of the History Department.They have two sons: Adam age twenty-six, and is currently in law school. David Noah is twenty-two. He is currently a senior at IUP.

JUDGE WILLIAM D. KRAUT

Office Address: Residence Address: 601 Westtown Road, Suite 110 903 Shady Grove Way West Chester, PA 19380 West Chester, PA 19382 Telephone: (610) 436-5757 Telephone: (610) 399-9594 Fax: (610) 431-5755 Fax: (610) 696-8201 EMAIL: wkraut@chesco.org EMAIL: wdkraut@gmail.com

PERSONAL Born: February 12, 1947, Bronx, New York Marital Status: Married to Denise Englander Kraut, 1982 Children: Adam Jeremy Kraut (26), David Noah Englander Kraut (22) EDUCATION Legal: Delaware Law School of Widener University, Wilmington, DE Juris Doctor Degree, 1975 College: Belknap College, Center Harbor, New Hampshire Bachelor of Arts, 1969. Major: History Columbia University, New York, NY 1964-1965

RELEVANT PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2007 to Present Magisterial District Judge + District Court 15-2-03 covering the Townships of West Goshen, Westtown & Thornbury. The Court handles approximately 6,200 cases a year and generates close to $1,000,000. Among the matters heard are preliminary hearings in criminal cases (from murder to DUI), summary criminal cases, traffic violations ,non-traffic citations, landlord-tenant matters, under-age citations, fines and penalties by government agencies and civil actions up to $12,000.00. The court sets and accept bail, issues arrest warrants, and sign search warrants for law enforcement.

1976 to Present Partner - Kraut and Kraut, West Chester, Pennsylvania. Present General legal practice concentrating in the areas of domestic, juvenile, business law, real estate, banking, and arbitration of civil disputes.

2002- 2008 Adjunct Professor - Rosemont College

1994 to 1997 Solicitor, County of Chester, Department of Children, Youth and Families - provided legal advice and representation to CYS on issues relating to children and families.

1981 to 1994 Chester Co. Court of Common Pleas, Child Custody Conciliator served President Judges Marrone, Stively, Sugerman and Wood as hearing officer and conciliator in custody, visitation and contempt of Court cases.

1980 to 1981 Chester Co., Court of Common Pleas, Divorce Master - appointed by President Judge D. T. Marrone, as the first special master for divorce cases. Acted as a hearing officer and made recommendations to the Court on support, alimony, property distribution and divorce.

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS AND AFFILIATIONS Member of the Bar, United States Supreme Court Member of the Bar, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Member of the Bar, United States District Court (Eastern District of PA) Member of the Bar, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Chester County Bar Association twice found qualified to serve as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Chester County by Bar Association plebiscite Member Special Court Judges Association of Pennsylvania Chester County Magisterial District Judges Association- Current President SERVICE TO THE LEGAL SYSTEM President Chester County District Judges Association 2012-2013 Serve as independent arbitrator for attorneys throughout the region Former Chairman and Founder of Family Law Section of the Chester County Bar Association Former Chairman, Chester County Bar Association Fee Dispute Committee. Former Chairman, Chester County Bar Association Committee on Alternative Dispute Resolution Pennsylvania Bar Association Committee on Mediation and Conciliation Pennsylvania Supreme Court Domestic Relations Rules Subcommittee on Counseling and Mediation Testified before the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Aging Lecturer, Pennsylvania College of the Judiciary taught custody law to Pennsylvania judges Lecturer, American Law Institute/American Bar Association - Alternative dispute resolution. Author, Villanova Law Review, Volume 29, No. 6, November, 1984 - "Domestic Relations Advocacy -- Is There a Better Alternative?" Pennsylvania Supreme Court MDJ Weighted Caseload Committee COMMUNITY SERVICE Toys for Tots Campaign - 1988 to 2002 Selective Service System Local Board (Chester County). 1992 to 2007 (presidential appointment) Planning Commission Member, Westtown Township - 1990 to 1999 Zoning Hearing Board Member, Westtown Township - 2003 - 2007 (Chairman 2006) Board Member, Chester County Health & Welfare Council - 1984 to 1986 Chester County Legal Aid Pro Bono Program - 1987 through 2007. Provided free legal services to the poor. Speaker to various school districts throughout Chester County - 1985 to Present Boy Scout Merit Badge Advisor Troop 14