White Oak lawyer to seek judge seat on Pennsylvania Superior Court

Allegheny County defense attorney Ryan James, 34, of White Oak, will seek the nomination to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, he announced Monday.

Two 10-year terms are up for grabs on the statewide appellate court that hears first appeals on most criminal and civil court rulings.

After getting a law degree from Western Michigan University, James began practicing in the spare room of his home, eventually establishing a McKeesport area criminal defense law firm, James Law LLC. He has tried criminal cases before the Common Pleas courts and has argued appeals cases before the state Superior Court.

“Every day I’m doing the work that most frequently comes before the Superior Court and makes up a majority of its busy docket. I’m not a politician, I’m just a lawyer who’s familiar and interested with the court’s work and appreciates how the cases it decides have far-reaching effects on the lives of all Pennsylvanians, not just the people appearing before it,” James said in a statement.

James said he, his wife, Kristen, and their son, Oake, plan to move this year to North Huntingdon, Westmoreland County.

Deb Erdley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Deb at 724-850-1209, derdley@tribweb.com or via Twitter @deberdley_trib.