What's at stake
Judicial races don't generate much buzz, but this year what they lack in intensity they make up for in volume. A total of eight seats on the Allegheny County's Common Pleas are up for grabs, thanks to a slew of retirements this year, and 22 candidates are seeking to fill them. Combined with an earlier eight-seat contest in 2021, well over one-third of the county's bench will have turned over in just the past four years.
While judges run in party primaries, the job is considered non-partisan, which means candidates can file to "cross-file," running as both Democrats and Republicans. That could give a candidate a second shot at a spot on the bench in November. A half-dozen candidates on the ballot this May have cross-filed; the others ran exclusively as Democrats.
What does this job do?
Allegheny County Common Pleas Court handles cases involving everything from criminal charges to child custody disputes, addressing civil disputes and the disposition of wills. Its 43 judges are divided into four divisions — criminal, civil, family and orphans' court. Assignments are made by the court's president judge, so while judges can express an interest in a particular area of law, there is no guarantee of where they will be assigned.
Term & salary
Judges are paid $227,411 a year and serve 10-year terms, after which they must survive an up-or-down retention vote by voters.
Candidates are listed in alphabetical order.
Simquita Bridges
Bridges — who prefers to be called Quita — was chosen to fill a vacancy on Common Pleas Court earlier this year and was confirmed by the state Senate. With 26 years of professional experience, she’s a longtime Allegheny County deputy district attorney and most recently worked for the state Attorney General’s Office. There, she oversaw attorneys in criminal prosecutions for Western Pennsylvania. Outside of legal work, she previously served on the board of the Boys & Girls Club of Western Pennsylvania and is currently a board member at the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Sewickley
Education: B.A., business, Austin Peay State University; MBA, University of Central Missouri; J.D., Duquesne University
Current occupation: Common Pleas Judge
Related experience: Former assistant chief deputy attorney general and former deputy district attorney in Allegheny County, where she supervised assistant district attorneys
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats, and criminal justice reform groups who put together a progressive “Slate of 8” judicial candidates
Links: Website | Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram | LinkedIn
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Julie Capone
Until working full-time on her judicial campaign, Capone spent her entire career as an Allegheny County assistant district attorney. She was the inaugural member of the DA’s elder abuse unit and has overseen its work for 20 years. She has held leadership positions with the Allegheny County Bar Association, previously as its judicial chair and currently as a member of the board of governors. Capone was also recently inducted into the Allegheny County Academy of Trial Lawyers, a body with a goal “to improve the civil litigation process,” according to its website.
Running as: Democrat/Republican
Place of residence: O’Hara Township
Education: B.A., psychology, Duquesne University; J.D., University of Pittsburgh
Current occupation: Allegheny County assistant district attorney (currently on leave of absence for judicial bid)
Related experience: Allegheny County assistant district attorney in the elder crimes unit. Member of the Allegheny County Bar Association and past chair of its Judiciary Committee. Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County inductee.
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by more than a dozen local, state and federal Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and former Auditor General Eugene DePasquale. She also has the support of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee and several local laborer and teachers unions.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $22,650
Total spent: $13,664.20
Alyssa Cowan
A former social worker-turned-lawyer, Cowan was chosen to fill a vacancy on Common Pleas Court earlier this year and was confirmed by the state Senate. She has more than 20 years of experience in Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C., and internationally, presenting at world conferences on family law. She’s also represented dependent children in county courts and has worked on federal child welfare legislation. In addition to legal work, she teaches graduate-level social work courses.
Running as: Democrat/Republican
Place of residence: Allison Park
Education: B.A., anthropology, American University; MSW, University of Pennsylvania; J.D., Temple University
Current occupation: Common Pleas Judge
Related experience: Former supervisory assistant county solicitor at the Allegheny County Department of Human Services/Children, Youth and Families. Former assistant attorney general in the child protection section of the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia; adjunct professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by several federal, state and local Democrats, including U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato. Supporters also include Planned Parenthood Pennsylvania Advocates, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats, the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, and criminal justice reform groups who put together a progressive “Slate of 8” judicial candidates
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Anthony DeLuca
A former Allegheny County prosecutor, DeLuca is now in private law practice, where he divides most of his work between criminal defense and labor law. DeLuca, who is distantly related to the late Penn Hills state legislator of the same name, ran for Common Pleas judge in 2021 and 2023. He says he’s running again because the county’s bench lacks expertise in labor and union law, and because of his experience with and interest in mental health concerns. As a prosecutor, DeLuca worked with defense attorneys and medical experts to help establish the county Mental Health Court.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Mt. Lebanon
Education: B.A., English, Boston College; J.D., University of Pittsburgh
Current occupation: Managing partner with DeLuca, Ricciuti & Konieczka
Related experience: Former law clerk for Superior Court Judges Frank J. Montemuro and Maureen Lally-Green, former Allegheny County assistant district attorney
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by a number of unions and the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, as well as the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, and the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club
Links: Website | Facebook | X/Twitter
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle; DeLuca carries nearly $300,000 in campaign debt from two previous runs for judge.
Amanda Green-Hawkins
An attorney for more than 20 years, Green-Hawkins is currently a union lawyer with United Steelworkers. She’s worked at state and federal agencies, and she says she’s been able to adapt and learn the law in various jurisdictions, including Tennessee, New Jersey and the U.S. Virgin Islands. She’s been involved with a number of community and social service organizations, such as Pittsburgh United, the Jubilee Kitchen, and the Women’s Law Project. Although the county bar association did not give her a recommendation, she earned endorsements from several progressive groups and unions.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: City of Pittsburgh
Education: B.A., history, Duke University; J.D., Northeastern University
Current occupation: Associate counsel for United Steelworkers
Related experience: Former Allegheny County Councilor. Member of the AFL-CIO’s Union Lawyers Alliance. Former member of the Democratic National Committee, rules and bylaws committee. Member of the Pittsburgh Community Task Force on Police Reform, 2020.
Supporters/endorsements: Endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, several labor and educators unions, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats, the progressive 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, and criminal-reformers who endorsed a “Slate of 8” judicial candidates
Links: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Jaime Hickton
Hickton has worked in the field of law for 20 years, including 11 as an attorney; she is the founding partner of a Pittsburgh law firm. Her campaign website says her roles included “advocating for fairness, ensuring justice, prosecuting child abusers and earning trust through public service.” She’s involved in several community organizations, including as a board member of Planned Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh Action Against Rape. She also notes she’s “the first in her immediate family to attend college.”
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Whitehall
Education: B.A., political science, Seton Hill University; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: Founding partner of Hickton + Stein Law Group and special solicitor in juvenile dependency matters at Washington County Children & Youth Services
Related experience: Former Allegheny County assistant district attorney, with a focus on child abuse and juvenile units. Former independent private practitioner. Member of the juvenile justice and delinquency prevention committee of the state Commission on Crime and Delinquency. Whitehall Borough Democratic Committee member.
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio, the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats, the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, and the progressive 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, among others.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Elizabeth Hughes
Hughes is a Penn Hills native and a health law attorney focusing on pediatric and women’s health. She’s also worked for 20 years in private practice and local government. Her experience led her to practice within each division of Common Pleas Court, with 10 years in the Family Division. She said she’s led initiatives to address implicit bias and promote cultural competency within the legal system, and she considers herself a mental health advocate.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Churchill
Education: B.S. in psychology, Clarion University of Pennsylvania; J.D., University of Pittsburgh
Current occupation: Senior associate counsel for UPMC, including three hospitals
Related experience: Former assistant county solicitor, former president of the Allegheny County Bar Association, and a former Duquesne University adjunct law professor. Twelve years on the Pa. Disciplinary Board Hearing committee. Winner of the 2024 Philip Werner Amram Award for “substantial commitment to the ideals of the Allegheny County Bar Association and to the betterment of the greater community.”
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by state Rep. Emily Kinkead.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Lauren Leiggi
A 2021 law school graduate, Leiggi has represented clients at every stage of the trial process, but she’s focused on clients who are immigrants. She serves as lead attorney for a public defender’s office unit that provides legal assistance to non-citizens, coordinating cases that involve both criminal and immigration law. She says she hopes to fill “a void in Allegheny County” on the bench regarding such concerns. Leiggi was rated “not recommended” by the county’s Bar Association; she attributes that to the fact that while she’s worked in the legal profession for a decade, she’s done so under her own law license for only the past few years.
“I knew I’d be asking them to push their boundaries,” she said.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Point Breeze
Education: B.A., gender, sexuality and women’s studies, University of Pennsylvania; J.D., Temple University Beasley School of Law
Current occupation: Attorney in the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender
Related experience: Law clerk, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, legal intern with Philadelphia City Solicitor’s Office and Philadelphia Defender Association
Supporters/endorsements: Leiggi is backed by a number of progressive groups, including pro-LGBTQ groups, the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, and criminal justice reform groups who put together a progressive “Slate of 8” judicial candidates
Links: Website | Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram
Fundraising (as of 12/31/24):
Total raised: $658
Total spent: $9.90
Amy Mathieu
Mathieu is a civil lawyer who represents people who have experienced discrimination, civil rights violations, and sexual assault and abuse. She says that experience representing “real people” against major institutions — ensuring they feel understood and connecting them to therapy and other resources — qualifies her to be a fair and equitable judge, protect civil rights, and expand accessibility in the courtroom. She would hope to be in the civil division, where her experience would be useful.
The Allegheny County Bar Association did not recommend Mathieu. Mathieu says committee members questioned her ability to set aside advocacy and be an impartial judge. She argues her dedication is what makes her a good lawyer for her clients and has no bearing on her ability to rule objectively on the law.
Party: Democratic
Place of residence: North Side
Education: B.A., politics & philosophy and economics, University of Pittsburgh; J.D., University of Pittsburgh
Current occupation: Civil rights attorney, HKM Employment Attorneys
Related experience: Mathieu has amassed seven years of experience in private practice, working on commercial and construction litigation, personal injury litigation, and representation of survivors of sexual assault and abuse. She was a clerk for Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Christine Ward, and she helped to start the county’s name change court, which is meant to reduce barriers for trans people in the legal name change process.
Supporters/endorsements: Mathieu’s supporters include the LGBTQ+ Victory Fund, the Pittsburgh Federation of Teachers, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats, and criminal justice reform groups who put together a progressive “Slate of 8” judicial candidates
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $5,950
Total spent: $340.59
Daniel Miller
Miller may be the closest thing to a household name in this year’s judicial elections: He’s been a state House of Representatives member for more than a decade and served as the Democratic whip, corralling and coordinating votes on behalf of leadership. A key focus in office and his private law practice has been disability and mental health issues — he hosts a well-attended annual summit on those issues. Miller says those issues play out through the justice system as well, which is why he’s running: In Harrisburg, “a lot of the discussion we do is removed from what people are living in the day-to-day struggle. In court, you have the opportunity to make a difference on the ground.”
Running as: Democrat/Republican
Place of residence: Mt. Lebanon
Education: B.A., history and B.S., secondary education, Western Connecticut State University; J.D., Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law
Current occupation: State representative for the 42nd District, which includes Baldwin, Castle Shannon, Mt. Lebanon and parts of Upper St. Clair. Part-time work as a lawyer for a firm focused largely on special-education matters.
Related experience: Miller worked in the Allegheny County Public Defender’s Office, mostly on juvenile court matters, and later worked in the county Law Department representing its Office of Children, Youth and Families in court. Prior to being elected to the state House, he served as a township commissioner in Mt. Lebanon. Vice-chair of Democratic Judiciary Committee and chair of subcommittee on crime.
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Miller is backed by a broad swath of Democratic officials at the federal, state and local level, including U.S. Reps. Chris Deluzio and Summer Lee, Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, and the Allegheny County Democratic Committee. The Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council and an array of unions support his bid, as does a coalition of progressive advocacy groups backing a “Slate of 8,” the Working Families Party and the Steel City Stonewall Democrats.
Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter/X | Bluesky | Instagram
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $102,975.00, of which $100,000 was contributed from Miller’s pre-existing House campaign committee
Total spent: $1,610.89
Bryan Neft
While Neft is making his first run for the Common Pleas bench, he has run before for statewide judicial seats on the Commonwealth and Superior appellate courts. Those bids were unsuccessful, but Neft has received appointments to the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which polices lawyers for bad conduct, and a state board that administers funds to legal-service groups that provide pro bono and other assistance. In his own practice, perhaps his most important case involved a lawsuit filed to prevent the merger of Children’s Hospital with UPMC: A settlement in the case ensured that patients covered by Highmark insurance would have access to the facility.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Mt. Lebanon
Education: B.A., political science, University of Pennsylvania; J.D., Boston University
Current occupation: Member of the law firm SpilmanThomas & Battle
Related experience: More than 30 years experience working for law firms in Pittsburgh and West Virginia, primarily in civil cases with a focus on commercial litigation. Law clerk to former Superior Court Judge Bill Cercone.
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by unions, including IBEW Local 5 and Steamfitters Local 449, as well as the 14th Ward Independent Democratic Club, and state legislators, including Reps. Dan Frankel, Anita Kulik, and Mandy Steele.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Jacqulyn Obara
Obara may be the only judicial candidate this year who came to the law by way of an industrial hygiene lab, where a colleague suggested the chemistry major study patent law. That led to her working in a family law firm and ultimately serving as clerk for Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Flaherty, a former Pittsburgh City Controller. Obara’s work as a divorce hearing officer entails handling procedural but sometimes contentious family court matters such as setting alimony, distributing assets, and determining the validity of prenuptial agreements. She says she hopes to serve in the family division if elected: “It’s an area of the court that has direct and lasting impact, and we need people who want to do it and know the practice.”
Running as: Democrat/Republican
Place of residence: Elizabeth Township
Education: B.S., chemistry, Duquesne University; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: Divorce hearing officer for Common Pleas Court, family division
Related experience: Eighteen years as a Common Pleas Court law clerk for Judge Thomas Flaherty, working both in criminal and family divisions. Private practice experience including family cases and business law.
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Endorsed by the Fraternal Order of Police and a number of building-trades unions, State Sens. Jay Costa and Nick Pisciottano, and Pittsburgh City Controller Rachael Heisler.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Fundraising (as of Dec. 31, 2024):
Total raised: $18,217.43 including $10,000 of her own money
Total spent: $4,203.48
Carmen L. Robinson
Robinson refers to herself as a “different type of candidate.” Now a criminal defense attorney, she spent the first 15 years of her professional life as an officer with the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, reaching the rank of sergeant. She says her law enforcement career, coupled with her judicial experience as a clerk and time as a trial lawyer, gives her a unique perspective and an open mind that would be an asset on the bench.
The Allegheny County Bar Association did not recommend Robinson. She says members raised concerns that her history as a defense attorney might prejudice her against the District Attorney’s Office, which she often opposes in court. Robinson says she has no issues with the DA’s office but that her job as an attorney is to zealously defend her clients, adding: “I don’t hold grudges, I represent clients.”
Party: Democratic
Place of residence: Hill District
Education: B.A., administration of justice and English, University of Pittsburgh; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: criminal defense attorney, Gray & Robinson; CEO & general counsel, PLS Transportation; general counsel, J & R Transit LLC; adjunct professor, Duquesne University Thomas R. Kline School of Law
Related experience: Robinson spent 11 years as a judicial law clerk, which included holding an externship with the late Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judge Max Baer and working for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas judges Dwayne Woodruff and Kim Berkeley Clark in the family division. She also spent 15 years as a police officer.
Supporters/endorsements: Robinson’s endorsements include the Allegheny County Democratic Black Caucus.
Links: Website
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Matthew Rudzki
When former Sharpsburg mayor Rudzki ran for magisterial district judge in 2022, he promised to deliver “restorative, fair, and accessible” justice to those who appeared in his courtroom in Fox Chapel. Now, he says he wants to bring that philosophy to a higher court. Rudzki says he looks for ways to address the root problems of defendants who come before him, often referring them for mental health evaluations or programs that address drug and alcohol abuse. He says alternatives to traditional punishments such as jail time help to get charges reduced, withdrawn, or dismissed while maintaining defendants' dignity and keeping them accountable for their actions. As a magisterial district judge, Rudzki implemented the use of therapy dogs and a night court program, minimizing interruptions for working adults and teens in school during traditional court hours.
Party: Democratic
Place of residence: Sharpsburg
Education: B.A., history and German, Washington & Jefferson College; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: Magisterial district judge
Related experience: Rudzki spent four years as mayor of Sharpsburg and previously served on Sharpsburg Borough Council. He was also a general practice attorney, working on municipal and school law, and taught in Austria as part of a Fulbright Fellowship.
Supporters/endorsements: Rudzki is “recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. He has the backing of the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, the Steel City Stonewall Democrats, and various elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Chris Deluzio. Rudzki was also endorsed by criminal justice reform groups who put together a progressive “Slate of 8” judicial candidates
Links: Website | Facebook | Bluesky | Instagram
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $9,777.94
Total spent: $2,124.37
Michele Santicola
As a magisterial district judge, Santicola oversees minor criminal cases, landlord-tenant disputes, and other small-money civil cases. But she also has experience on the other side of the bench — Santicola began her career as a deputy attorney general and later practiced as a defense attorney. She says her versatility in the courtroom and 30 years of experience practicing law equip her with the breadth of knowledge and experience necessary to be a Common Pleas judge. She also cites her time as a hearing examiner for the Liquor Control Board, ruling on admissibility of evidence and witness credibility as well as writing opinions, as a training ground for a judgeship.
Party: Democratic/Republican
Place of residence: Moon Township
Education: B.A., Duquesne University; J.D., Penn State Dickinson School of Law
Current occupation: Magisterial district judge
Related experience: Member, Moon Township Board of Supervisors (2017-2020); hearing examiner, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (2012-2016); defense lawyer (2004 - 2012); state deputy attorney general (1995 - 2004)
Supporters/endorsements: The Allegheny County Bar Association “highly recommended” Santicola. She also received endorsements from the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, Fraternal Order of Police Lodges 1, 47 and 91, the Pennsylvania Laborer's Union (LiUNA), and the Pittsburgh Building Trades Council, among others.
Links: Website | Facebook
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Heather Schmidt Bresnahan
After more than 20 years in family law representing clients in custody and divorce cases, among others, as well as working for the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office as both a staff person and later a clerk, Schmidt Bresnahan says she has the requisite experience and knowledge of the courtroom that a judge needs. She is interested in stabilizing the county family court division, which she says currently has a high turnover rate for judges, as well as reducing court backlogs — cutting the time it takes for judges to deliver a ruling — and expanding programs that help widen court access.
Party: Democratic
Place of residence: Dormont
Education: B.A., political science and international studies, Point Park College; J.D. Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: Family law attorney, Schmidt Bresnahan Law Group
Related experience: Former clerk and staffer in the Allegheny County District Attorney's office, former member of Dormont Borough Council, former clerk for a county deputy district attorney
Supporters/endorsements: Schmidt Bresnahan is “recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association and was endorsed by the Allegheny County Democratic Committee, labor groups including the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council, U.S. Rep Chris Deluzio and a number of state and local elected officials.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Bluesky
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $34,450, including $25,500 of her own money
Total Spent: $16,227.13
Craig Stephens
Stephens spent more than 20 years as an attorney for Allegheny County, working on case matters ranging from real estate assessments to child welfare. He says that history, plus 10 years as a magisterial district judge and time as an elected commissioner in Scott Township, have prepared him for a seat on Common Pleas Court. He implements such restorative justice practices as community service and diversion programs in his current work, and he says he would bring similar strategies to the bench. If elected, Stephens says he hopes to serve in the family division and to make the county court system more efficient.
Party: Democratic
Place of residence: Scott Township
Education: B.S., Duquesne University; J.D., Duquesne University
Current occupation: Magisterial district judge
Related experience: As a magisterial district judge, he has presided over approximately 50,000 cases; former assistant solicitor for Allegheny County Law Department.
Supporters/endorsements: The Allegheny County Bar Association “highly recommended” Stephens. He was also endorsed by criminal justice reform groups who put together a progressive “Slate of 8” judicial candidates.
Links: Website | Facebook | Instagram
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $1,900
Total spent: $1,767.19
Michael Sullivan
Sullivan has a history of working on domestic violence cases during his time in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office. As a defense attorney in private practice, Sullivan continues to work on behalf of domestic violence victims seeking protection-from-abuse orders, and he offers pro bono services to victims of domestic violence who are charged with a crime.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Mt. Lebanon
Education: B.A., political science, Allegheny College; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: Attorney at Krolikowski Law
Related experience: Worked in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office from 2002 to 2024, and served as an assistant and deputy district attorney there; later worked in at the Venango County District Attorney’s Office. He got his start as a law clerk at the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation in Pittsburgh. He now practices as a defense attorney with Krolikowski Law.
Supporters/endorsements: Young Democrats of Allegheny County, South Park Democrats of Allegheny County, state Rep Emily Kinkead, Fraternal Order of Police Lodges 1 and 91, and the Allegheny County Constables Association
Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter/Bluesky | LinkedIn | Instagram
Fundraising (as of 12/31/24):
Total raised: $10,600
Total spent: $0
Sarra Terry
Born in Millvale, Terry has primarily handled criminal defense cases since 2012. In her practice, she primarily handles DUI cases and cases involving violations of the Controlled Substances Act. She says she is particularly interested in promoting career training and reentry programs, strengthening mental health support, building stronger community partnerships, and expanding trauma-informed practices.
Running as: Democrat/Republican
Place of residence: Ross Township
Education: B.A., Cape Fear Community College and University of North Carolina at Wilmington; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: Special counsel at Dickey, McCamey & Chilcote
Related experience: Served as a judicial law clerk in the Family Division of the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas for 12 years, and held a private practice for two years. Special counsel at Dickie, McCamey & Chilcote since 2012.
Supporters/endorsements: Planned Parenthood; the Allegheny-Fayette Central Labor Council and Pittsburgh Regional Building Trades Council; Lt. Gov. Austin Davis, state Sens. Jay Costa, Wayne Fontana, and Nick Pisciottano; Pittsburgh City Councilors Erika Strassburger and Anthony Coghill
Links: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Dennis Very
A McCandless resident, Very has a background in civil litigation matters and has worked with municipal clients in school districts, cities, townships and boroughs. He has also focused on individual rights, small business interests, and overdevelopment cases.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: McCandless Township
Education: B.B.A., finance, University of Notre Dame; J.D., University of Dayton School of Law and Duquesne University School of Law
Current occupation: Practicing attorney, senior counsel, Leventry, Haschak & Rodkey
Related experience: Very has a 30-year career in civil litigation. After getting his start as a law clerk with the Allegheny County Law Department in 1992, he worked with nationally recognized law firms, as well as briefly as a manager of legal affairs and chief compliance officer with Arsenal Resources, a natural gas operator. He has practiced with Leventry, Haschak & Rodkey since 2023.
Links: Website | Facebook | LinkedIn
Fundraising: None yet reported for this cycle
Hilary Wheatley
Wheatley first ran for magisterial district judge in 2021, after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police was a “wake-up call” for herself and the justice system. She won her seat in the South Hills suburbs, running as an experienced lawyer and a parent in a crowded field of candidates. She says if elected to the Common Pleas bench, she would hope to serve in the civil division because her experience would be useful. “There is no training or apprenticeship. … You’re given a gavel and the power to make or break people’s lives.”
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Mt. Lebanon
Education: B.A., psychology, Ohio State University; J.D., Penn State Dickinson School of Law
Current occupation: Magisterial district judge handling preliminary and summary criminal matters, traffic violations, and civil disputes. “Of counsel” role with Papernick & Gefsky.
Related experience: Law clerk, York County Court of Common Pleas. Attorney in private practice since 2003, with a focus on real estate practice, civil litigation, and consumer law.
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Backed by a number of local elected officials, including state Sen. Nick Pisciottano, County Councilor Bethany Hallam, and municipal officials in Pittsburgh and the South Hills.
Links: Website | Facebook
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $11,900, including $10,000 of her own money
Total spent: $6,027.65
Ilan Zur
Zur has supervised the Violent Crimes and Firearms Division as deputy district attorney in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s office. Today, he lives in Squirrel Hill with his family. He initially moved to Pittsburgh in 1990 to attend Carnegie Mellon University. He is particularly focused on justice for victims of gun violence.
Running as: Democrat
Place of residence: Squirrel Hill, Pittsburgh
Education: B.S., industrial management, Carnegie Mellon University; J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law
Current occupation: Prosecutor in the Allegheny County District Attorney’s Office
Related experience: Zur has been a prosecutor in the district attorney's office for 26 years. He started there in 1998 as an assistant district attorney after interning at the Allegheny County Public Defender's office and a personal injury law firm.
Supporters/endorsements: Rated “highly recommended” by the Allegheny County Bar Association. Pennsylvania Laborers' District Council, Operating Engineers Local 66, City Controller Rachael Heisler, state Rep. Abigail Salisbury, and Pittsburgh City Councilors Erika Strassburger, Theresa Kail-Smith, Anthony Coghill and Bob Charland
Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram
Fundraising (as of 12/31/2024):
Total raised: $10,500
Total spent: $0
