Judge Joseph M. Cosgrove, retired

Judge Joe Cosgrove (ret.) joined us in 2018. He brings a wealth of experience in all aspects of the legal profession, ranging from the judges’ bench (at both the appellate and trial level) to the executive branch and from intricacies of administrative law to teaching Constitutional Law in the classroom.  Judge Cosgrove’s vast legal background advancing our clients’ claims every day.

*Retired Judge of Commonwealth Court and the Court of Common Pleas

Practice Areas: Appellate, including briefs and oral argument; trial court, personal injury, including medical malpractice, motor vehicle accidents, premises liability and bad faith. 

Admitted to the Bar: 1988, Supreme Court of the United States; 1983, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; 1983 U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania; 1982, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; 1982 Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Law School: Notre Dame Law School, University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 1982; Recipient of the Thomas J. and Alberta White Scholarship White Center for Law, Government and Human Rights University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame, IN, 1981-82.

Graduate School: Marywood College (now University), M.A. Studio Art, 1993; University of Notre Dame, M.A. Theology, 1982.

College: University of Notre Dame, B.A. Government and International Studies, 1979.

Member: PA Bar Association Judicial Evaluation Committee, 2009-14; President, Luzerne County Bar Association Charitable Foundation, 2008-10; Chair, U.S. Magistrate Judge Reappointment, Merit Selection Committee, Appointed by the Judges of the U.S. District Court/Middle District PA, 2008; Member, Law School Advisory Committee, Wilkes University, Wilkes Barre, PA, 2008-10; Member, Law School Dean Search Committee, Wilkes University, Wilkes Barre, PA, 2007-8; Member, Criminal Justice Act administration committee, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Appointed by Chief Judge Yvette Kane, 2007-10; Member, Pennsylvania Bar Association House of Delegates, 2007-10; Member PBA Legislative Affairs Committee, 2007-8; Member, Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board Hearing Committee, 2007-10; Member, Board of Directors, Ethics Institute of Northeastern Pennsylvania, 2006-9; Member, Lawyers Advisory Committee, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, 2005-8; Trustee, Marywood University, Scranton PA 2002-11; Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, President, 200-7; Luzerne County Bar Association President, 2006-8; Chair, Luzerne County Board of Elections, 2000-1, 2003-4, Vice Chair, 2007;  Member, Judicial Advisory Commission / 11th Judicial District, 1998-1999; Chair, Legal Services to the Public Committee, Pennsylvania Bar Association, Harrisburg, PA 1989-91.

Honors: Christi Regis Award, King's College, Wilkes Barre, PA, 2005; Meyers Speech and Debate Tournament Rosa Parks Award Wilkes Barre, PA, 2003; Kozel Award (Luzerne County) for Contribution to Justice and Peace, 1996; Special Achievement Award: Pennsylvania Bar Association, Executive Producer of a televised video presentation entitled "Children of the Lie" concerning the Protection From Abuse Act, 1992; Special Achievement Award: Pennsylvania Bar Association, Producer of a televised public service announcement concerning domestic violence, 1988.

Biography: Acting Deputy Secretary of Labor and Industry, January 2018; Judge, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, 2016-17; Counsel to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, 2015-16; Chief Counsel to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, 2014-15; Judge, Court of Common Pleas, 11th Judicial District (Luzerne County) Pennsylvania 2010-12; Private Law Practice 1982-2010; 2012-14; Criminal Justice Act Panel Attorney U.S.District Court /MDPA, 1983-2005; 2006-10; Conflict Counsel Luzerne County, PA, 1993-2010; Solicitor, Pittston Twp. (PA) Zoning Hearing Board, 1984-2010; Assistant Public Defender Luzerne County, PA, 1988-1993; Solicitor, Office of Recorder of Deeds, Luzerne County, PA, 1988-1992; Appellate Law Clerk, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, Hon. Peter Paul Olszewski, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 1985; Adjunct Faculty, Constitutional Law and Civil Rights, King's College, PA, 1988-2016; Assistant Dean, King's College, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 1983-85.