John P. Flaherty, Jr.

FLAHERTY, John P., Jr., Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Emeritus, age 87, of Indiana Twp. on Feb. 20, 2019. Born 1931 in Pittsburgh.

Husband of Linet M. Sobeski Flaherty.

Father of Michael Flaherty, Kathleen Hall, Thomas Flaherty, Daragh Flaherty, Taya Flaherty, Devon Flaherty and the late John P. Flaherty.

Step-father of Revere Bittner (Jason) and Garrick Sobeski.

Ten Grandchildren.

Son of the late John Paul Flaherty Sr. and Mary G. Flaherty.

Brother of the late Lewis Flaherty.

Judge Flaherty was a graduate of Duquesne Univ. (B.A.), 1953; Univ. of Pgh. Sch. of Law (J.D.), 1958; Widener Univ. (LL.D.), cum laude, 1993; comm., U.S. Army, 1953, served 2 years, separated with rank of 1st lt.; prof., Carnegie-Mellon Univ., 1958-73; atty., private practice, 1958-73; chief cnsl., PA Milk Mktg. Board, 1971; chmn., PA Co. Record Comm.; hon Kentucky Colonel; Grtr.. Pgh. Jaycees Man of the yr. Awd. (law and Govt.), 1978; PA Acad. of Science Disting. Alumni Awd., 1978; Univ. of Pgh. Medallion of Distinction, 1988; PA Bar Assn. Judicial awd., 1993; Chief Justice, PBA/Conference of bar Leaders Awd., 2001; Duquesne Univ. Century Club of Disting. Alumni, 1994; Fellow Military Hist. Soc. of Ireland; Mem., PA Soc. of Amer. Law Inst., Amer. Legion; hon. mem., Philippine Natl. Bar Assn.; U.S.I.A.-sponsored speaker in Japan, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, Korea, Hong Kong, 1985, 1986; Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who in Amer. Law, Who’s Who in Amer., Who’s who in the World; elected judge, Court of Common Pleas, Nov. 1973; elected adm. (chief) judge, Court of Common Pleas Civil; Div., Feb. 1978; justice, PA Supreme Court, June 18, 1979, retained Nov. 3, 1992; Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, July 31, 1996 until Dec. 31, 2001 (retired); Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Emeritus January 2002 to present; Co-chair, Pennsylvania Commission on Judicial Independence, 2004 to present.

Visitation Fri. 2-4 and 6-8 PM at Neely Funeral Home, 2208 Mt. Royal Blvd., Glenshaw.

Service and Interment Private. 

In lieu of flowers memorials suggested to Alzheimer’s Association, 1100 Liberty Ave., Suite E-210, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

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