Judges of the Superior Court

PRESIDENT JUDGE KATE FORD ELLIOTT

President Judge Kate Ford Elliott was born June 8, 1949, in Pittsburgh.  She attended the University of Pittsburgh, where, in 1971, she earned a B.A. in Education; Duquesne University, M.S. in Education, 1973; Duquesne University School of Law, J.D. 1978.

A member of the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and American Bar Associations, Judge Ford Elliott is also Past Chairperson of the Allegheny County Appellate Practice Committee, a member of the ABA Judicial Administration Division, former Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Futures Commission on Justice in the 21st Century established by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, and is a member of the PBA Commission on Justice Initiatives.

Judge Ford Elliott serves on the Executive Committee of the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeals and is Chair of its Education Committee.  She is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a member of the National Association of Women Judges, and the American Judicature Society.  She has served on the Executive Board of the ABA Committee of Appellate Staff Attorneys and is a frequent lecturer on issues of Appellate Practice and Procedure.  She was elected Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 1989 and retained in 1999.  Judge Ford Elliott became President Judge of the Superior Court on January 9, 2006.

JUDGE CORREALE F. STEVENS

Judge Correale F. Stevens graduated from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree and was inducted into the National Political Science Honorary. He earned his J.D. degree at Dickinson School of Law, where he was an associate editor of the Dickinson Law Review.

Judge Stevens was engaged in the private general practice of law, and served as Hazleton City Solictor.

He was named Outstanding Young Pennsylvanian by the state Jaycee organization and served on the executive board of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association as well as on the boards of numerous charitable organizations.
 

Judge Stevens was elected to four successive terms in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, and in 1987 he was elected District Attorney of Luzerne County. He won both nominations to the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas and served as a trial judge for seven years until his election to the Superior Court in 1997. He was retained in 2007 for another ten year term.
.

JUDGE JOHN L. MUSMANNO

John L. Musmanno was born in Stowe Township, Pa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Jefferson College in 1963, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1966, where he was an assistant editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review.

Judge Musmanno is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations.

He received the President's Award, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association in 1991, and the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County award in 1993. He served on the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board 2001-2005 and presently serves on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline as President Judge.

He maintained a private law practice, 1966-81, was elected district justice, 1970-81; elected judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, 1981, where he served in the Family, Criminal and Civil divisions. He was re-elected in 1991; and was the administrative judge, Civil division, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, 1990-97. In November 1997, he was elected to the Superior Court and retained in 2007

JUDGE JOAN ORIE MELVIN

Judge Joan Orie Melvin was born in Pittsburgh. She attended the University of Notre Dame, where she received a B.A. in Economics in 1978, and Duquesne University School of Law, where she was awarded a J.D. in 1981. From 1981 to 1985 Judge Orie Melvin served as corporate counsel and was engaged in a private law practice, concentrating in civil litigation before she was appointed Magistrate for the City of Pittsburgh Municipal Courts, in 1985. She was then named Chief Magistrate in 1987 for the City of Pittsburgh Municipal Courts. In this position Judge Orie Melvin established Pennsylvania’s first Domestic Violence Court. She also implemented innovative community service programs for defendants convicted of non-violent offenses in City Court and extended a similar program to Housing Court. 

In 1990, Judge Orie Melvin was appointed Judge to a vacancy on the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and later was elected to a full term in 1991. There, she served in the civil, criminal and family divisions.

Judge Orie Melvin is a member of the American Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Allegheny County Bar Association. She is also a member of the American Judicature Society and the Federal Circuit Bar Association. She is a  past member of the Pittsburgh Chapter of the American Inns of Court and the Allegheny County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Advisory Board. She is past President of the Allegheny County Prison Board. She currently serves on the Board of Directors of Passavant Hospital and Soldiers & Sailors Military Museum and Memorial.  She also served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Vincentian Home and as a member of the United Way Community Problem Solving Troubled Youth Committee and STOP Violence Task Force.

Judge Orie Melvin was the recipient of Carlow College's Woman of Spirit Award; Duquesne University School of Law Women's Law Association Woman of the Year; the YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh - A Tribute to Women Leadership Award in Government/Public & Civic Service; Anne B. Anstine Excellence in Public Service Award-2004; the Berks County Bar Association Liberty Bell Award-2005; and the Pennsylvania Business & Professional Women-Women in Government Award-2005.

JUDGE MAUREEN LALLY-GREEN

Judge Maureen E. Lally-Green was born in Sharpsville, Mercer County.  She graduated from Duquesne University with a B.S. in Secondary Education, Mathematics (1971) and its School of Law (1974) (Law Review).  In 1998, Judge Lally-Green was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to the Superior Court, and confirmed by the State Senate.  In 1999, Judge Lally-Green was elected for a term of ten years.

Judge Lally-Green has been an associate with a private law firm in Pittsburgh (1974-75), counsel to Commodity Futures Trading Commission (Washington, D.C.) (1975-78), counsel to the former Westinghouse Electric Corporation (1978-83), a consultant to Justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (1985-87; 1988-98), and a Professor of Law at Duquesne University's School of Law (1983-98).  She continues as an adjunct professor of law at Duquesne's Law School (teaching Appellate Practice and Procedure and federal Employment Discrimination) and annually teaches in various law-related programs.  She is published in various law reviews.

The Judge is, among other things, a member of:  the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee (appointed by the Court and serves as its Chair); the Board of Directors, Ireland Institute of Pittsburgh; the Board of Directors, Epilepsy Foundation of Western/Central Pennsylvania;  the Board of Trustees, Auberle, McKeesport, Pa. (and serves as its Secretary); the Board of Regents, St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa.; the Board of Directors, St. Thomas More Society of Allegheny County; the Board of Directors, Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA; the Board of Directors, Mercy-UPMC Hospital; the National and International Associations of Women Judges; the Pennsylvania Bar Association; the Allegheny County Bar Association; Western Pennsylvania Women’s Bar Association; and the Executive Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession. 

 She has served, among other things, as:  Chair and Vice Chair of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee (appointed by the Court); Secretary and Member of the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Commission on Race, Gender and Ethnic Fairness (appointed by the Supreme Court) (until December 31, 2007); Chair of the Supreme Court’s Gender Fairness Implementation Committee; Chair of the PBA’s Quality of Work Life Committee; elected member and Secretary of the Board of the Allegheny County Bar Association for 10 years; and member and Chair of the Zoning Hearing Board of Cranberry Township for 14 years.  She is also a former President of the Western Pennsylvania Partners of the Americas. 

 She has been recognized for her achievements:  Anne X. Alpern Award, the highest honor given by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession (2006); St. Thomas More Award, St. Thomas More Society (2002); Duquesne University Law School Distinguished Alumna Award (2001); Chatham College's President’s Medal (2000); Fellow in International Development, Kellogg Foundation; and, Duquesne University School of Law Women’s Law Association Woman of the Year.  In 1997, Governor Tom Ridge nominated her for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  Finally, she has been recognized in:  Presidential Who’s Who; Who’s Who in the World; Who's Who in America; Who's Who in American Law; Who's Who Among American Women; Who's Who in Emerging Leaders; and, Who’s Who in Executives and Professionals.

 The Judge and her husband reside in Butler County and are the parents of three adult children.

JUDGE RICHARD B. KLEIN

Judge Richard B. Klein was born in Philadelphia, the son of the late Philadelphia Orphans’ Court Judge Charles Klein and Rosalie Benson Klein.  He received his BA from Amherst College in 1961, graduating Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude.  He graduated with honors from Harvard Law School in 1964.

Judge Klein served for 28 years as a trial judge in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County until his election to the Superior Court in 2001.  He was the youngest judge in the history of Pennsylvania when he first assumed the bench.  Prior to assuming the bench, he was in private practice and served as a Special Assistant Attorney General.

He has been active in numerous education and justice improvement projects.  Judge Klein founded and is chair-emeritus of the Pennsylvania Bar Association “Plain English” committee.  He serves in the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar and is on its ADR and Appellate Advocacy committees.  He is vice-chair of the Pennsylvania Futures Commission.  He is a member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee.  He is a member of the Joint State Government Commission’s Advisory Committee on Alternate Dispute Resolution.  He is an active member of the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Alternate Dispute Resolution, State Civil, and Appellate Advocacy committees, Judge Klein was founding chair of the Philadelphia Bar’s “LUG-PC,” the Lawyers User Group for Personal Computing, and is on the Superior Court technology committee.  He chaired the Jury Selection Committee of the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court.

Judge Klein is also active in comparative international law.  He has served as education leader for legal-study tours to over a dozen countries, most recently, Vietnam, Hungary, Egypt, Greece, China; Russia; Poland and the Czech Republic; and Chile and Argentina.

Judge Klein is co-author of the West Book, Trial Communication Skills, written with Julius Fast, author of the original Body Language book.  He has written and lectured widely, on topics such as Appellate Advocacy, Legal Writing, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Trial Techniques, Technology, Ethics, etc.  He served as an adjunct Lecturer in Law at the James Beasley School of Law of Temple University for fifteen years, teaching Trial Advocacy and Legal Writing.

JUDGE JOHN T. BENDER

Judge Bender received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the School of Journalism at the Pennsylvania State University and in 1976, he was awarded a J.D. degree from Duquesne University Law School.

Judge Bender served as a law clerk to President Judge Emeritus William F. Cercone while attending law school.  He later was employed as a law clerk to former Justice Rolf Larson.  Judge Bender served as an Allegheny County Assistant District Attorney before entering into the private practice of law. For over 25 years Judge Bender primarily represented individuals in criminal and civil proceedings.  In 1997, Judge Bender was elected to the position of District Justice in Magisterial District 05-2-04.  He was then elected to a ten-year term on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 2001.  His chambers are located in Pittsburgh.

JUDGE MARY JANE BOWES

Judge Mary Jane Bowes was born on July 18, 1954, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from Georgetown University in 1976 and, upon graduation, was selected for the James Fulton Internship with Congressman H. John Heinz III.  While attending the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Judge Bowes participated in legal internships with the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office and Neighborhood Legal Services in Homewood.  She received her law degree in 1979. 

 After graduating from law school, Judge Bowes served as a law clerk to Chief Justice Henry X. O’Brien of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and to Judges Harry Montgomery and John P. Hester, both of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.  From 1986 to 1998, she was engaged in the private practice of law.  Her extensive legal experience included work in the areas of personal injury, insurance defense, real estate, corporate and commercial litigation, and social security disability matters.  In 1994, Judge Bowes founded her own firm, specializing primarily in construction and commercial litigation.  While in private practice, she was chosen as arbitrator in numerous matters in both federal and state court arbitration programs as well as in private arbitrations.  She received an AV Peer Review Rating by Martindale Hubbell.  Judge Bowes was elected to membership in the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County in 1996.  She joined a publicly-traded environmental remediation company as Corporate Counsel in 1998.

 Judge Bowes is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, and served on its Professional Ethics and Appellate Practice Committees.  She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and is past Co-Chair of the Appellate Advocacy Committee.  In 2008, she was awarded a Special Achievement Award by the Pennsylvania Bar Association for her work on that committee.  She previously served as co-president of the Women’s Bar Association of Western Pennsylvania and is past president of the St. Thomas More Society. 

 In addition to her duties in court, Judge Bowes has been a continuing legal education course planner and lecturer for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, American Inns of Court, and numerous county bar associations. She has published several articles on diverse subjects pertaining to the Superior Court.

 Active in community affairs, Judge Bowes chairs the St. Anthony Charitable Foundation, and sits on the Board of Trustees of the Allegheny County Medical Society Foundation.  She is a former Board member of the Allegheny County Finance and Development Commission, which comprised five municipal authorities, St. Clair Memorial Hospital, Duquesne University, and numerous other charitable and civic organizations.  In 1997, she was honored by Governor Tom Ridge with Pennsylvania’s Best 50 Women in Business Award.  She was named Woman of the Year in 2007 by the University of Pittsburgh Law Women’s Association for her work on the Color of Justice Program.

 Judge Bowes was elected to a ten-year term on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 2001.  Her chambers are in Pittsburgh.

JUDGE SUSAN PEIKES GANTMAN

Judge Susan Peikes Gantman is a cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, where she received her Bachelor of Arts and Masters of Arts degrees in 1974. Judge Gantman graduated from the Villanova School of Law in 1977. Following graduation from law school, Judge Gantman served as law clerk to the Honorable Richard S. Lowe, of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Gantman has also served as Solicitor for the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth and the Montgomery County Housing and Community Development. Her career includes additional public service as an Assistant District Attorney for Montgomery County, where she worked in the major crimes unit.

In 1981, Judge Gantman entered private practice. Her extensive legal experience includes litigation, domestic law, juvenile law, Orphans’ Court actions and appellate practice. In 1991, Judge Gantman joined the law firm of Sherr, Joffe & Zuckerman, P.C. as Partner and Chair of the Domestic Relations Section. In 1998, she became a senior member and served as Co-chair of the Family Law Section of the law firm of Cozen O’Connor.

Throughout her career, Judge Gantman has been a tireless advocate on behalf of children and other victims of abuse. During her years in practice, Judge Gantman appeared as a frequent lecturer and instructor, conducting numerous classes and seminars for the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Montgomery County Bar Association, and the Department of Public Welfare. Judge Gantman is currently a frequent lecturer on issues of Appellate Practice and Procedure for the Pennsylvania Bar Association, Montgomery Bar Association and the Lawyers’ Club of Philadelphia. She has also served on the Board of Directors for Women’s Philanthropy, the Federation of Allied Jewish Appeal, and Women of Vision. Judge Gantman has been recognized by the Montgomery County Office of Children and Youth for her achievements and outstanding service.  She was presented with the Margaret Richardson Award given  by the Montgomery County Bar to a person who has advanced the role of women in the legal field and furthered women’s legal rights.   She is a current member of the National Association of Women Judges. Other honors include the Bond of Faith and the Juvenile Advisory Association Award.

Judge Gantman is a member of the American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association and Montgomery County Bar Association.  She is also a member of the Pennsylvania Bar’s Commission on Women in the Profession, the Appellate Practice Committee, the National Association of Women Judges, and the Montgomery County Bar Foundation Taxis Circle.  She is a Fellow of the Pennsylvania Bar Foundation and a Master of the Villanova University School of Law Inns of Court.

Judge Gantman’s election to a ten-year term on the Superior Court was confirmed in January 2004. Her Chambers are located in Montgomery County.

JUDGE JACK A. PANELLA

Judge Jack A. Panella was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 2003, and sworn into office as an appellate judge on January 9, 2004.  He now presides over appeals from civil, criminal and family law cases. He is also the statewide Administrative Judge for Wiretap & Electronic Surveillance in Pennsylvania.

His election to the appellate court followed twelve years as a trial judge.   He was initially sworn in as a trial judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County in October 1991, and was subsequently elected to a ten-year term commencing January 1, 1994.  He presided over civil and criminal trials and was also the Administrative Judge for Asbestos Litigation, which involved complex mass tort litigation.

Judge Panella was admitted to practice law in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1980.  He was selected to serve as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Michael V. Franciosa, a position he held until August 1982.  From 1982 to 1991, he maintained his law practice as a sole practitioner.  He had a diverse private practice with an emphasis in civil and criminal litigation.  His clients included Larry Holmes, the former world’s heavyweight boxing champion, and the late Albert Loquasto, a former champion professional race car driver.

 After the completion of his judicial clerkship, Judge Panella returned to public service in December 1982, when he was appointed an Assistant County Solicitor for Northampton County, a position he held until he was appointed County Solicitor in May 1987.  He was the youngest attorney in Northampton County history to be appointed County Solicitor. He served in that capacity until his appointment to the Northampton County Bench in 1991 by Governor Robert P. Casey.  He then became the second youngest judge in the history of Northampton County.

Judge Panella is a member of the American Bar Association as well as the Pennsylvania and Northampton County Bar Associations. He is also a member of the American Judges Association.

In 2004, he was appointed by Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy to the Commission For Justice Initiatives in Pennsylvania (CJI), a committee organized to coordinate and recommend judicial outreach and specialized court programs.  He is the Chair of the Public Education and Community Outreach subcommittee of the Commission.  As part of his responsibilities for the CJI, Judge Panella conceived and wrote a popular short film on the history and operation of the Pennsylvania Judiciary.

While a trial judge, he was a member of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges.   He was Chair of the Commonwealth Partners Program, which involves statewide meetings attended by judges and legislators to discuss and resolve issues of mutual concern.  In recognition of the success of this program, Judge Panella was given the President’s Award from the Conference of State Trial Judges in 2002.  In his capacity as a trial judge, Judge Panella was also a member of the Judicial Ethics Committee of the Conference.

On August 26, 1997, Judge Panella was appointed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to be a judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.  In June 2000, he was elected President Judge by his fellow judges.  The Court of Judicial Discipline is a constitutional court, which hears charges filed by the Judicial Conduct Board against judicial officers.  His four-year term expired in August 2001.  In 2005, he was appointed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to the Judicial Conduct Board, which is the investigatory and prosecutorial arm of the judicial discipline system in Pennsylvania.  In July 2007, he was elected Chair of the Judicial Conduct Board.

Judge Panella’s first book, The Pennsylvania Sexual Violence Benchbook was published in December 2007.

Judge Panella’s other community activities, past and present, include Solicitor and Board Member for United Cerebral Palsy of the Lehigh Valley, and President and Board Member of the Boys and Girls Club of Easton. He is also a past member of the Boards of Easton Hospital and Northampton Community College, as well as the Advisory Board for Turning Point.  He was an officer of the Clinton Budd Palmer Inn of Court for four years.

Judge Christine Donohue was born December 24, 1952, in Coaldale, Pennsylvania and was raised in Lansford in Carbon County.  She graduated from East Stroudsburg University in 1974 with a B.A. in Political Science.  She earned her Juris Doctor at Duquesne University School of Law, 1980 and served on the Duquesne Law Review.  Judge Donohue has resided in the City of Pittsburgh since 1977.

 Prior to taking the bench in January 2008, Judge Donohue was listed in Best Lawyers in America, Pennsylvania Super Lawyers and the Top 50 Attorneys in Pittsburgh.  She is an elected Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, International Academy of Trial Lawyers, Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County and the American Board of Trial Advocates.  She is a past president of the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association.  Judge Donohue was a shareholder in Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, P.C. and was the practice manager of the commercial litigation department in its predecessor firm, Klett Rooney Lieber & Schorling, P.C.

 Judge Donohue is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations.  She was on the Board of Governors of the Allegheny County Bar Association from 1988-1990 and was also the Chair of the Young Lawyers Division in 1989.  She is a Charter Member of the Allegheny County Bar Foundation.  She served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association from 1986-2007.  She has been twice recognized, most recently in 2008, in Pennsylvania Law Weekly as one of the State’s “Women Leaders in the Legal Profession”.

 Judge Donohue is a former judge on the statewide Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline, a former chair of the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners and she served for six (6) years on the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. 

 Judge Donohue taught ethics for attorneys at the Duquesne University School of Law.  She has served on the Board of Directors of the Hill House Association, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western Pennsylvania, Turtle Creek Valley Mental Health/Mental Retardation, Inc. and is currently a member of the Board of Directors of the National Aviary of Pittsburgh. 

 Judge Donohue was elected to the Superior Court in November 2007.  Her chambers are in Pittsburgh.

Judge Jacqueline (Jackie) O. Shogan was born on June 5, 1953, and raised in the Pittsburgh area.  A graduate of Gateway High School in Monroeville, Judge Shogan went on to Temple University to receive a B.S. in Nursing, summa cum laude, in 1975.  She subsequently obtained an M.S. in Nursing from the University of Virginia.  Judge Shogan practiced for over 10 years as a staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, and clinical instructor at several major teaching hospitals.  She also published in nursing and critical care journals and served on the faculty of Duquesne University.

 Judge Shogan had a longstanding interest in public policy and the legal system.  She returned to school to obtain a J.D., with high honors, from Duke University School of Law in North Carolina, graduating in 1990.  While at Duke, Judge Shogan was elected to the Order of the Coif and received the Bidlake Legal Research and Writing Award, the American Jurisprudence Award for Achievement in Federal Appellate Practice, and the Most Effective Advocate Award by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.

 Upon graduation from law school, she practiced in the areas of civil litigation, health law, and administrative law.  Because she hoped to eventually pursue a judicial career, she then spent four years as an attorney on the staff of Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr., of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania.  Judge Shogan received extensive experience in criminal law during that time.  She returned to private practice at the end of 2001 as a member of the complex civil litigation group at Thorp, Reed & Armstrong, LLP.  Judge Shogan also served as an arbitrator and mediator prior to being elected to the Superior Court in 2007.

 In addition to her judicial duties, Judge Shogan teaches appellate practice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.  She also has a certificate in writing from the National Judicial College.  Judge Shogan was honored as a “2007-2008 Woman of the Year” by the Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly.  She is also a recipient of the Celebrate & Share “Women of Achievement Award.”

 Judge Shogan has been involved in her community for many years.  For the past six years, she has served as a member and officer of the Board of Directors of Neighborhood Legal Services, which provides pro bono legal assistance in civil matters to the indigent in southwestern Pennsylvania.  She is a past member and officer of the Board of Directors of Easter Seals Western Pennsylvania and of the Board of Trustees of St. Edmund’s Academy in Pittsburgh.  Judge Shogan is currently a member of the Allegheny and Westmoreland County Bar Associations, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, the Bar Association of the Third Federal Circuit, the Women’s Bar Association, and the National Association of Women Judges.  She holds leadership positions in a number of these organizations.  Judge Shogan is also a fellow of the Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Foundations.

 Judge Shogan and her husband, Jeff Shogan, live with their family in the Pittsburgh area.

JUDGE CHERYL LYNN ALLEN

Cheryl Lynn Allen was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 2007.  She is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of Schenley High School, Penn State University, and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

            Judge Allen began her career as an elementary school teacher in the Pittsburgh Public Schools.  After graduating from law school, she worked as an attorney for Neighborhood Legal Services, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and the Allegheny County Law Department.  She also maintained a small civil practice.

            In the spring of 1990, Judge Allen earned a merit selection appointment to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, where she served in the Criminal Division.  Judge Allen was elected to a ten-year term in November of 1991 and was assigned to the Juvenile Section of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.  The voters retained Judge Allen for a second ten-year term in November of 2001, and she continued to serve in the Juvenile Section until April 2, 2004.  While serving in Juvenile Court, Judge Allen was appointed to the Supreme Court Juvenile Court Judges Commission.  On April 12, 2004, Judge Allen returned to the Criminal Division, where she served until her matriculation to the Superior Court.  Judge Allen was also an Associate Professor at Point Park University from 2001-2006.

Judge Allen has volunteered extensively throughout her career.  She currently serves on the boards of the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation, Hosanna House, Cornerstone Television, Waynesburg University Board of Trustees, and the National Regional Church CARE Advisory Board.  She is a former Board Member of Child Watch and CASA (Court Appointment Special Advocates). 

In addition, Judge Allen has been instrumental in the creation and implementation of treatment programs such as the Academy’s Alternative Summer School Program and the Alternative to Detention program through Youth Enrichment Services.  Judge Allen also worked with the Juvenile Law Project to implement the Birth Parent Mentoring Program.

            Judge Allen has received numerous awards and recognition for her efforts on behalf of children and families.  Her most recent awards include:

• New Pittsburgh Courier’s Women of Excellence Awards, 2008
• The Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly Women of the Year, 2008
• Bidwell United Presbyterian Church Phenomenal Woman’s Award, 2008
• Camp Fire USA Incredible Kid Day Breakfast of Champions, 2008
• Celebrate & Share Woman of Achievement Honor Award, 2008
• 3 Rivers Youth Nellie Leadership Award, 2006
• YWCA of Greater Pittsburgh 2006 A Tribute to Women Award

            Judge Allen is married to Jimmie Skipwith and is the mother of 3 sons, Frederick, Justin and Jason, and the grandmother of six.  Raising her sons to be responsible and productive young men is one of her proudest accomplishments.  Judge Allen is the eldest of five siblings, born to Robert and Corrine Allen.

JUDGE ROBERT A FREEDBERG

Education:  Lafayette College (B.A. with Honors-1966); Columbia University School of Law (J.D. 1969). 

Elected:  Judge of Court of Common Pleas of Northampton County 1979, retained 1989 and 1999.  President Judge of Court of Common Pleas 1991-2008.  Appointed Judge of Superior Court of Pennsylvania in 2008.  Law Clerk to Judge Clinton Budd Palmer 1969-1970.  Private Practice 1970-1980; Assistant District Attorney-Northampton County 1973-1979; Assistant City Solicitor-Easton, 1976-1980.  

Member:  Pennsylvania and Northampton County Bar Associations.  Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges-Chair of President Judges Committee; Education Committee. 

Served as President of B’Nai Abraham Synagogue, Chair of President’s Advisory Board of Good Shepherd Home, Member of the Board of Directors of United Cerebral Palsy of Lehigh Valley, Member of Board of Directors of Lehigh Valley Legal Services, current member of Judicial Council of Pennsylvania. 

Awards:  Honorary Doctor of Law Degree from Lafayette College-2002.  Liberty Bell Award of Lehigh County Bar Association-2002.  St. Anthony’s Youth Center Humanitarian Award-2007.

JUDGE JOHN M. CLELAND

Judge John M. Cleland was born in Kane, Pa.  He received a Bachelor of Arts in History from Denison University in 1969, and a Juris Doctor with honors from The National Law Center of The George Washington University in 1972.

After serving as a law clerk to United States District Judge Barron P. McCune in Pittsburgh, Judge Cleland returned to his hometown to engage in the general practice of law.  In 1984 he was a merit selection appointment to the Court of Common Pleas of McKean County.  He was elected to a full term in 1985 and, after waiving retention, was re-elected in 1995 and 2005.  He was appointed to the Superior Court in 2008.

He has been involved in a variety of projects in the areas of judicial education, juvenile dependency and delinquency, court computerization, media relations, sentencing, reform of the district justice system, orphans’ court rules, and court administration.

 Judge Cleland is a member of the Juvenile Court Judge Commission.  He has served as a Trustee of the University of Pittsburgh, and as Advisory Board Chair of the University’s Bradford Campus. He is an invited participant in the Harvard University Kennedy School of Government’s Executive Session for State Court Leaders in the 21st Century.

Since 2005 he has been involved in efforts statewide and nationally to address the interplay between the judicial and public health systems, including leading work to develop guidelines for courthouse biohazard preparedness, to create continuity of operations templates for Pennsylvania’s trial courts, and to write a bench book for judges on public health law.

He has been awarded the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges President’s Distinguished Service Award and the Golden Crowbar Award, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford’s Presidential Medal of Distinction, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Clarity in Writing Award.

JUDGE JOHN T. J. KELLY, JR.

Judge John T. J. Kelly, Jr., is a graduate of LaSalle University (B.S., 1956) and Creighton Law School (LL.B., 1961). He is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and Nebraska.

Before coming to the bench, Judge Kelly served as Deputy Secretary, of Labor and Industry (1980-1985); trial lawyer, Philadelphia Public Defenders Association (l972-l978); Assistant to the Lieutenant Governor of Pa., Assistant to the President of the Pa. Constitutional Convention (1967-1971); and Assistant Attorney General, Chief Counsel Department of Public Welfare (1963-1966). He has also been a private attorney, political consultant, and campaign director.

Judge Kelly is a member of The Pennsylvania Society, The Brehon Society, YMBA Society, American Bar Association, Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the Nebraska Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, and Knights of Columbus. He was honorably discharged from the United States Army (1952-1954).

Judge Kelly was elected to the Superior Court as the nominee of both the Republicans and the Democrats in 1985 and was retained for a second term in 1995. He was appointed to a four year term on the Judicial Inquiry and Review Board commencing on December 9, 1988. His chambers are in Philadelphia.

JUDGE ZORAN POPOVICH

Judge Zoran Popovich was born on February 4, 1931, in Akron, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Pittsburgh in 1954 and his LL.B. from the University of Pittsburgh Law School in 1957. He was on active duty with the United States Air Force from 1951-53. Judge Popovich was elected to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County in 1973. In 1980, he was appointed to the Superior Court, and he was elected to a full ten-year term in 1985.

PRESIDENT JUDGE EMERITUS STEPHEN J. McEWEN, JR.

Judge McEwen commenced service on the Pennsylvania Superior Court in 1981, and was President Judge from 1996-2001. In 1996 he was appointed by Governor Tom Ridge to the Court of Judicial Discipline, and was elected President Judge of that Court.

Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy appointed him in October 2005 to serve as co-chair, with Chief Justice Emeritus John P. Flaherty, of the Pennsylvania Judicial Independence Commission.

Judge McEwen pursued his study of the law at St. Joseph's College and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, was in 1986 awarded the degree of Master of Laws by the University of Virginia Law School, and has received Honorary Doctorates from DeSales University, Widener University Law School, and the University of Scranton.

Judge McEwen, a trial lawyer for 23 years, was the elected District Attorney of Delaware County from 1967-1976, and thereafter served as General Counsel for the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association. He was a Professor of Trial Advocacy at Villanova University Law School for 10 years, and recently served as Editor of the “Appellate Judges News” section of the ABA Judicial Division Record and on the Editorial Board of the ABA Judges Journal.

Judge McEwen is a Past President of the Council of Chief Judges of State Courts of Appeal, is on the Board of Advisors of the ABA United Nations Development Project, and is a member of the American Law Institute. During the summers of 2000-2002, he was a USAID lecturer in Bulgaria, and in July 2004 was appointed by the Republic of Bulgaria to serve as Honorary Consul.

Click Here for Judge McEwen's Curriculum Vitae

JUDGE ROBERT E. COLVILLE

       Judge Robert E. Colville was born in Pittsburgh in 1935.  After graduating from North Catholic High School in 1953, Judge Colville joined the United States Marine Corps, and, upon discharge attended Duquesne University, obtaining his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963.  From 1959 to 1963, he was Teacher and Head Coach of the North Catholic High School football team. 

         Judge Colville served the City of Pittsburgh for fifteen years as a Patrolman, Homicide Detective and Chief of Police.  While serving as a Police Officer, Judge Colville enrolled in evening classes at Duquesne University School of Law where he earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1969.  In 1976 he was elected District Attorney of Allegheny County, a position he held until 1997 when he was elected a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County.   Judge Colville now serves as a Senior Judge for the Superior Court, being assigned to that position by the Supreme Court in March of 2006.

         Judge Colville is a member of the Allegheny County Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the American Bar Association.  He served on the Supreme Court’s Criminal Procedural Rules Committee; Chaired the Allegheny County Victim/Witness Services Committee and the Allegheny County Drug Initiative; served on the Board of Trustees of Community College of Allegheny County.  Judge Colville is also a member of Pennsylvania Mental Health Court’s Commission for Justice Initiatives, and serves on the Wrongful Convictions Advisory Committee of Pennsylvania.  He is a member of the distinguished Duquesne University Century Club and received the “Outstanding Law Alumnus” Award from the Duquesne University Law Alumni Association.

         Judge Colville and his wife, Janet, have six children and five grandchildren and make their home in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

JUDGE JAMES J. FITZGERALD III

Born in 1939 in Winchester, Massachusetts Justice James J. Fitzgerald III came to Philadelphia in 1958 to attend the University of Pennsylvania as an undergraduate.  There he studied economics, served as vice president of his senior class, president of the Kite and Key Service Society, rowed varsity crew for three years, rowed in two Olympic trials in 1960 and 1964, and met his wife, Carol.

After earning his law degree from Villanova University Law School, Justice Fitzgerald went to work in the Office of the District Attorney.  There, alongside other young advocates, he fulfilled his lifelong dream of becoming a trial lawyer.  For twelve years he honed his skills and broadened his knowledge, trying every kind of criminal case imaginable. He was in charge of thirty-three ADAs as Chief of the Felony Waiver, Municipal Court, and Police Advisory Units.

Following a bold run for Philadelphia City Controller, Justice Fitzgerald served as Chief Counsel to the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board, followed by a four-year stint with a private law firm trying civil cases, and four years as Executive Vice President for Government Affairs at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce. 

Justice Fitzgerald’s longtime love for the courtroom and the law resulted in his being elevated to the bench of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in 1989.  In 2002, he was appointed Administrative Justice of the Trial Division by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court where he was in charge of and coordinated the activities of 66 commissioned judges, 12 senior judges, 1,000 employees, and a $46 million dollar budget.  He launched electronic filing initiatives for the civil section, trial division; established and supported the judicial pro bono publico program; established the juror appreciation day program and disposed of over 10,000 felony cases including numerous homicide cases.

On February 13, 2007, Justice Fitzgerald was nominated by Governor Edward G. Rendell to serve as a Justice on The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.  After his unanimous confirmation by the Pennsylvania Senate, he was sworn in by Justice Ronald D. Castille as an interim Justice. He served as Liaison Justice for the Supreme Court Mental Health Task Force.  On January 7, 2008 he was appointed by Chief Justice Castille as Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Judicial Independence along with Chief Justice Emeritus John P. Flaherty.  Currently, Justice Fitzgerald is serving as a Senior Judge on The Superior Court of Pennsylvania.

Justice Fitzgerald and his wife Carol have three grown children and three grandchildren.

 Justice Fitzgerald’s other associations and activities have included being President of the J. Willard O’Brien Villanova Law Inn of Court; Chair for Strategic Planning Committee for Jenkins Law Library; Member of Administrative Governing Board, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania; Member of Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee; Vice President of Philadelphia Flag Day Association; Member of Brehon Law Society; Former Treasurer of St. Thomas More Society; Board of Trustees at Springside School.

Awards Justice Fitzgerald has been honored with are from the Brehon Law Society Award for Lifetime of Achievement in the Law and the Award for Judicial Excellence; Philadelphia Flag Day Association’s Annual Citizens Award; the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society Award; and the Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania.