In this Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 photo Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Debra McCloskey Todd attends a ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd officially takes reins as Pennsylvania’s first female chief justice
Chief Justice Max Baer’s death in late September 2022 elevated Todd to the court’s top spot because she has served longer than any of her colleagues.
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The Associated Press
Matt Rourke / AP Photo
In this Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2016 photo Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Debra McCloskey Todd attends a ceremony at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia.
Pennsylvania state Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd will be formally installed as chief justice in a ceremony set for Friday afternoon in a downtown Pittsburgh hotel.
The daughter of a steelworker who grew up in Ellwood City, Todd has been serving for months as the first woman to be the court’s top-ranking jurist. She administered the oath of office to Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro in Harrisburg on Tuesday.
Chief Justice Max Baer’s death in late September 2022 elevated Todd to the court’s top spot because she has served longer than any of her colleagues.
A Democrat, Todd was elected to the high court in 2007 after eight years on Superior Court, where she handled civil and criminal appeals from county courts. The 65-year-old graduated from Pitt Law, and she has worked as a lawyer for 18 years, including five years as a litigator for USX Corp.
Todd lives in Pittsburgh and has three children.
A collection of interviews, photos, and music videos, featuring local musicians who have stopped by the WITF performance studio to share a little discussion and sound. Produced by WITF’s Joe Ulrich.
