Lauren Eichelberger has become Perry County’s first woman to be appointed as district attorney and will lead the prosecutor’s office following her swearing-in ceremony on Nov. 19 at the courthouse in New Bloomfield.
“Thank you all for being here and for the support,” Eichelberger said to family, friends, colleagues and other court officials gathered for her oath of office.
Eichelberger formerly was the first assistant district attorney, and she has been with the prosecutor’s office since 2015. Under Pennsylvania law, when there’s a vacancy at district attorney, the first assistant becomes the DA until an election can be held for the position.
Eichelberger is from New Bloomfield, where her parents still live. She graduated from East Pennsboro High School in 2004 and then attended Marymount Manhattan College for a dual major, receiving degrees in fine arts and English. She graduated from Villanova Law School in 2012 and clerked for the Perry and Juniata judges in 2013.
She met husband Michael Steadele at the courthouse, and they have two children together. She also teaches dance at the Pennsylvania Regional Ballet.
“I’ve been lucky to keep that first love in my life even after shifting my passions into the legal realm,” she said.
Eichelberger ascends to the job after former DA Andrew Bender was elected this year to be the next judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the 41st Judicial District, which encompasses both Perry and Juniata counties.
Bender and others sang Eichelberger’s praises following her taking the oath. District attorney is not an easy office, Bender said, but he had not doubt she was more than capable to lead the office.
“At the end of the day, it’s worth it, and I wish you all the luck in the world,” he said.
President Judge Kenneth Mummah said he wasn’t quite sure what to make of Eichelberger when he first met her, but through her clerkship and then as an attorney and prosecutor, he came to respect her.
“Lauren has great drive, personality and commitment to the law,” Mummah said.
She got to where she is today by being passionate about that law and defending victims of abuse and assault, he said. The entire court applauded her role as the first woman to serve as the district attorney, but Mummah said that’s only part of who she is.
“She’s not here because she’s a woman,” the judge continued. “She’s here because she’s a damn good attorney and prosecutor.”
Jim T. Ryan can be reached via email at
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