Philadelphia Judge M. Teresa Sarmina.

Over the past few months, five longtime judges on the First Judicial District have resigned from the bench, most recently Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge M. Teresa Sarmina, whose last official day with the court is Sunday.

Along with Sarmina, Judges Rosalyn Robinson and Amanda Cooperman stepped down over the summer after decades on the bench. The three recent departures were joined by Judge Lisa Rau, who is set to step down from the bench in early October, and Judge John Milton Younge, who was appointed to a federal judgeship in late July.

The departures raise the total number of open seats on the FJD bench to 11. Although six of those vacancies are slated to be filled in the upcoming judicial election, the recent departures are set to leave five seats open come January.

Robinson and Cooperman both submitted letters of resignation to Gov. Tom Wolf in the spring. Robinson’s resignation became effective June 30, and Cooperman’s was effective July 1.

Robinson was elected in 1997, and spent 22 years on the bench. Before becoming a judge, she worked as an assistant district attorney in Philadelphia and as deputy general counsel in the governor’s office.

In her resignation letter, Robinson said she enjoyed the challenge and opportunity of the position, and that she submitted her resignation with “profound feelings of emotion and devotion.”

Robinson served in Civil Court, and handled a range of cases, including catastrophic motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice cases, and clergy sex abuse cases.

Cooperman spent more than 23 years on the bench, after being elected in 1995. She served on the Family Court. Before joining the bench she worked as an assistant district attorney and a civil attorney.

“It has been the greatest honor and privilege of my career to have served the people of this great state and, especially, the citizens of my beloved Philadelphia,” Cooperman said in her resignation letter.

Sarmina spent more than 21 years on the bench, and handled some of the city’s most high-profile criminal and civil cases.

On the criminal side, she oversaw the trial involving Monsignor William Lynn—the first Catholic Church administrative official convicted of endangering the welfare of children abused by other priests. More recently, Sarmina commuted the death sentence issued to Edward Bracey, who was convicted of murdering Philadelphia Police Officer Daniel Boyle in 1991.

In the civil division, she handled complex litigation cases, and oversaw the Salvation Army building collapse case, which resulted in the longest trial in Pennsylvania history and a record-breaking $227 million settlement.

In an interview Friday, Sarmina said she loved being a trial judge and was proud to serve the city and state, but that, after more than two decades, it seemed time for a change. Aside from maybe a little travel, she said she does not have any immediate plans.

“I’ve had a lot of cases. I’ve worked very hard, and I feel like I’ve accomplished a lot,” she said. “It just seemed like a good time. My health is good, and I enjoy travel.”

The Legal was unable to find contact information for Robinson or Cooperman.