The Honorable William H. Platt

The Honorable William H. Platt, passed away surrounded by his family on October 21, 2025.

He was the beloved husband of Maureen (Hart) Platt for 55 years.

Judge Platt was born on January 25, 1940, in Emmaus, Pennsylvania, to the late Henry and Genevieve (McElroy) Platt.

He was a graduate of Emmaus High School (1957), Dickinson College (B.A., 1961) and the University of Pennsylvania School of Law (J.D., 1964). He served in the United States Army Military Police Corps. from 1964 to 1966. He returned home to join the private practice of Howard Yarus, Esquire from 1967 through 1976, a firm which ultimately became Yarus & Platt. During that time, he was appointed and served as Lehigh County's Chief Public Defender.

In 1976, at the age of 36, he was appointed by the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas to be the District Attorney where he served as Lehigh County's first full-time DA until 1991. In 1991, he opened the Allentown office of Eckert Seamans Cherin and Mellott, a Pittsburgh-based national law firm, where he was the Coordinator of its White Collar Crime Practice Group.

In 1996, he was sworn in as Judge of the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas where he served until December, 2010. Judge Platt was named President Judge of that Court twice.

In January, 2011, Judge Platt was selected by the Justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to serve on the Pennsylvania Superior Court. He served on that Court until December 31, 2018.

In 2023, Judge Platt was honored by the Penn Carey School of Law, receiving the James Wilson Award for Lifetime Achievement.

He was a member of the Lehigh and Pennsylvania Bar Association for 52 years, and served the Bar Association of Lehigh County as a long-time member of the Board of Directors and as its President in 2016. He was the Chairman of the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1986 to 1992, and a member of the Committee beginning in 1982.

Judge Platt was a past president and lifetime honorary board member of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, a past president of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys' Association, a member of the National District Attorneys' Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, the Education Committee of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, and the Lehigh County Bar Association. He was a member of the Executive Board of the Minsi Trails Council, B.S.A.

Judge Platt's devotion to public service and the practice of law did not define him. He was even more passionate about his family, especially his wife Maureen. He is survived by his wife, daughter Meredith Platt Molchany (Greg), sons William Platt II (Susan) and James Platt. He was a loving grandfather to Sydney, Mackenzie, Brody and Emma, with whom he shared a very special bond. He is also survived by his brother Ken (Judy), sister Gail (Fred), nephews, Mike, Steve and Mark, and niece Jenny.

Judge Platt was an avid fan of cars and the Phillies. He was a longtime season ticket holder during the regular season and Spring Training in Clearwater, Florida.

Judge Platt will be remembered by family and friends as a man of discipline and compassion. His wisdom and intellect touched many people in all aspects of his life. He was respected by all who knew him and will be sadly missed.

A memorial will be held on November 7 at 4:00pm at the Historic Lehigh County Courthouse, 501 Hamilton St, Allentown, PA 18101. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice. Schantz Funeral Home, P.C., Emmaus is handling arrangements.