NEW BERLIN – The Town of New Berlin welcomed its new judge, Peter Bida Jr., after he won the recent election.

Town of New Berlin Clerk Deborah Barker said Bida will be sworn into office on January 1, with a four year term ahead of him.

Barker said Bida went to Albany for state mandated judicial training during the week of December 2nd through the 6th, and that he resides on Bida Road in South New Berlin.

Town of New Berlin Supervisor Robert Starr said Town of Norwich Judge James Fox has been covering the New Berlin Town Court since February, and will officially pass over the torch on the first.

“There are some basic requirements for local judges like the town is required by law to have a town justice, and the judge has to be elected within the geographical jurisdiction,” said Starr. “The judge also has to win an election, and in the case of our new justice, he won through write-ins.”