Service To Humanity Award

2026 Recipients

Judge John C. Uhler (Ret.) '66

Judge John C. Uhler (Ret.) '66 has devoted more than half of his 56-year professional life as a public servant. He has served as an assistant United States attorney, elected district attorney, common pleas judge 19th judicial district, president judge and private trial attorney. Throughout, Uhler has been an outspoken advocate of the importance of professionalism, ethics and civility as the pivotal foundation for respect for the law, the rule of law and the need for an independent judiciary. He has made numerous presentations to the community and his colleagues educational programing supporting his advocacy.

In addition to his extensive trial work, Uhler served as a juvenile court judge  for 25 years and created the award winning Juvenile Mental Health Court (JUMP), a specialty court specifically designed to integrate the child and family with mental health professionals, family counselors,  educational counselors, and probation officers. These parties would collectively appear before him in juvenile court on a weekly basis throughout the program. The child's successful completion of JUMP would result in the expungement of his/her Juvenile record.

Uhler was a contributor to the first "Juvenile Court Judge's Delinquency Bench" book and was an appointed member of the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice, which investigated the circumstances that led to corruption in the Juvenile Court of Luzerne County.

Named the 2011 Child Advocate of the Year by the Children's Rights Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Uhler was described by one nominator as "a man who demonstrates judicial leadership of the highest integrity."

Uhler's concern for juveniles was not limited to the courtroom. It also included substantial efforts to keep youth out of his juvenile court. He recognized anecdotally that about 95% of the children who appeared in his court had horrific truancy concerns.

Excessive unexcused absences are a first indicator that a child is giving up and losing his/her way. That lack of direction likely leads to further penetration in the juvenile justice system. Coupled with school discipline issues the truancy path becomes known as the "school-to-prison pipeline."

John's response was to address the truancy issue head-on by developing a model youth truancy reduction program for York County's 16 school districts and numerous charter schools. The initiative became a model for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In the midst of two notorious high-impact trials overseen by Uhler, it became apparent that a community project was essential to improve respect for the law, the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. Uhler was aware that the deplorable conditions, lack of space and safety issues in the old courthouse created an environment that failed to promote the public's confidence and respect for the justice system. He recognized that the community needed to understand and take ownership of the courthouse project before positive progress could be made.

Uhler's incorporation of the National Center for State Courts as a primary educational tool proved to be the right approach. After years of hard work, a new seven-story building project smoothly moved forward, with a vacant floor intentionally included to allow for further expansion.

The judicial center, now more than 20 years old, has been identified as one of his legacies. Uhler continues to be an active board member of the York County Bar Association and Foundation and the Crispus Attucks Association.

While at Bucknell Uhler was a member of Delta Upsilon fraternity and Omicron Delta Kappa, a dorm counselor, and president of the student faculty congress, among other activities. He graduated with a BSBA in accounting and JD from the Dickinson School of Law in 1969. He and his late wife Susan are the parents of A. Kristen Uhler-McKeown and Gretchen C. Scott, and grandparents to Trey and Cameron.