The Lehigh County legal and law-enforcement communities are mourning the reported death of James “Jim” Martin, the former Lehigh County district attorney who became the longest-serving district attorney in the county’s history.
Martin served as Lehigh County district attorney beginning in January 1998, when he was appointed by the county commissioners. He subsequently won election to six four-year terms, serving the county for more than two decades before leaving office at the beginning of 2024.
News of Martin’s death has prompted tributes from people who worked with him throughout his long career in the criminal justice system. He was a prominent figure in Lehigh County law enforcement and spent decades prosecuting criminal cases, working with police agencies and developing programs intended to improve public safety and services for victims.
During his tenure, Martin oversaw a large district attorney’s office and supervised more than 125 people, including prosecutors, administrative personnel, county detectives and specialized investigative units. His office also managed a multimillion-dollar budget.
Martin’s career extended well beyond the Lehigh County courthouse. He had decades of experience as both a prosecutor and trial attorney and previously served as president of the Bar Association of Lehigh County. He also held leadership positions with the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute.
Among the initiatives associated with his administration was the establishment of Lehigh County’s first Investigating Grand Jury in 2001. That same year, he helped establish the Child Advocacy Center of Lehigh County, bringing law enforcement, child-services personnel and health-care professionals together to assist victims of child abuse and sexual assault.
Martin also helped develop the county’s Municipal Emergency Response Team, while other initiatives during his tenure included programs addressing bad-check restitution, digital forensics and drug-related public-safety concerns.
In January 2023, Martin announced that he would not seek another term as district attorney. At the time, he said he intended to complete the remainder of his term, which ended in January 2024. He described becoming the longest-serving district attorney in Lehigh County history as one of the achievements of which he was proud.
The cause of Jim Martin’s death has not yet been publicly confirmed in the reliable reports available at the time of publication. Early reports announcing his death have not provided sufficient information about the circumstances surrounding his passing.
Martin was 77 when he announced his retirement from the district attorney’s office in 2023.
For Lehigh County, his death marks the passing of a major figure in the local criminal justice system. His more than 25 years as district attorney made him a familiar presence in courthouses, law-enforcement agencies and communities throughout the county.
As former colleagues and members of the legal community remember Jim Martin, his legacy will be closely associated with his unprecedented tenure as Lehigh County’s district attorney, his work with law enforcement and prosecutors, and the programs established during his years in office.
Further details about funeral arrangements, his family and the circumstances of his death are expected to become available as relatives and officials release additional information.
