Protesters called for the immediate resignation of embattled Register of Wills Sherry Magretti Hamilton on Monday morning, hours ahead of a court hearing to determine her penalty for contempt of court.
Hamilton faces a potential jail term and fines when she is sentenced by Westmoreland County Common Pleas Court Judges Harry Smail Jr. and Jim Silvis for violating two court orders.
Diane Starnick of Greensburg said the protest was organized last week after Hamilton disclosed to local Republican Committee members she would resign from politics after she completed serving out the remainder of her third term in office that runs through the end of 2027. Hamilton vowed to remain in her post that heads the courthouse office that oversees the filing of adoption, guardianship, wills, estate and marriage license records.
“It’s unbelievable that people were made aware about this before they voted for her,” Starnick said.
Filing backlogs dating back to 2019 and allegations that her office had fallen behind on routine work, she failed to fill out her staff and only sporadically came to work led to court orders issued in November 2022 and again last January that required Hamilton to meet specific work goals.
The judges in May ruled Hamilton violated those court orders and in doing so stripped her of authority to run the office and temporarily appointed Greensburg attorney Jim Antoniono as a conservator who is paid $170 an hour to effectively serve as the lead officer of the register of wills office.
Hamilton continues to draw her nearly $90,000 a year annual salary and serves as an office employee.
The protesters suggested Hamilton forfeit her salary and should resign.
“You’re an incompetent fool. Get out of our government,” said Chris Baldonieri of Latrobe.
