Pennsylvania judge who won $291M Powerball jackpot plans to stay on the bench
For many who enjoy the fantasy of winning a major lottery jackpot, one of the first things they plan to do is quit working.
Not James Stocklas. A senior district judge in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, he really did purchase a winning $291 million Powerball ticket, but he plans to stay on the bench, LehighValleyLive.com reports.
“You got to do something in life,” he said. “I won’t work as often, but if the court is in a jam, if they need somebody, I’ll fill in. It’s in my blood.”
Stocklas plans to share the prize with two others who went in on the ticket with him, according to earlier LehighValleyLive.com and WFMZ stories. Each member of the trio will get about $40 million, after taxes, in a lump-sum distribution.
Stocklas played the lottery while he was on a fishing trip in Florida Keys. He returned to Pennsylvania on Thursday, then realized at breakfast on Friday that he had the winning ticket for Wednesday’s drawing in his wallet.
After confirming that they had won, the trio took a chartered flight back to Florida later that day to claim their prize.
Stocklas plans to share his $40 million with family, including his brother Bob who also won a Powerball prize—of $7—last week.
