Judge David Ashworth has been a staple of the Lancaster County legal community for more than 45 years. A retired judge of the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas, he was elected to the bench in 1999 and retained for two additional terms, serving from 1999 through January 2026, and presiding over the Criminal Court, Civil Court, Drug Court, and Discovery Motions Court. In 2020, his fellow judges in Lancaster County elected him the county’s president judge for a five-year term, during which he oversaw the administrative functions of the court system and the county’s 19 district judges, while continuing to hear cases. He also led the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas’ Adult Drug Court program since its debut in 2005 until 2025. 

At Barley Snyder, Judge Ashworth focuses on mediating civil disputes, including medical malpractice, product liability, personal injury, commercial matters and construction cases. He is a National Judicial College–certified mediator, having completed advanced mediation training through one of the nation’s leading education providers for judges. The certification reflects demonstrated proficiency in communication, problem-solving, and managing complex disputes, both on and off the bench.

Prior to his judicial service, Judge Ashworth spent more than 20 years in private practice as a trial attorney and founding partner of Wagman, Ashworth, Kreider and Wright in downtown Lancaster, where he handled personal injury and product liability matters on both the plaintiff and defense sides. His experience advocating for clients on all sides of a dispute, combined with his years on the bench, gives him a practical understanding of litigation strategy, risk assessment and judicial decision-making, allowing him to bring a balanced, informed and pragmatic approach to resolving complex matters through mediation.

For 15 years, Judge Ashworth served as a senior adjunct professor at Franklin & Marshall College, teaching a community-based learning course on the court system, treatment courts, and substance use disorder/addiction. He is active in the community, having served on numerous boards and as President of the Rotary Club of Lancaster. He currently serves on the national board of All Rise, formerly known as the National Association of Drug Court Professionals.

A testament to his dedication and legal acumen, Judge Ashworth has received numerous awards throughout his career. He is the recipient of the coveted Lancaster Bar Association’s Judge Louise Gatling Herr Memorial Award which honors attorneys for their outstanding commitment to charitable causes and community service. In 2024, he received the inaugural Pennsylvania Association of Drug Court Professionals President’s Award in recognition of his service and commitment to the success of treatment courts in the state and nationwide.

His hobbies include Tang Soo Do karate in which he has earned a 3^rd degree black belt, teaching sailing as a U.S. Coast Guard licensed OUPV Captain/Certified Sailing Instructor, and competing in Triathlons.      

Judge Ashworth has been married since 1978 to the former Kathleen Bantz, and they are the proud parents of three daughters, three granddaughters and four grandsons.