Remembering Pennsylvania Chief Justice Max Baer

Last weekend the Pennsylvania Supreme Court announced the sudden passing of Chief Justice Max Baer. On behalf of the court, Justice Debra Todd, the new chief justice, praised Chief Justice Baer as "a jurist who served the Court and the citizens of the Commonwealth with distinction" who was "a tireless champion for children, devoted to protecting and providing for our youngest and most vulnerable citizens" and who provided "distinguished service and commitment to justice and fairness [that] spanned his decades on the bench".

Chief Justice Baer was born in Pittsburgh in 1947. After graduating from Duquesne University School of Law in 1975, he began his legal career as Deputy Attorney General. After five years with the AG's office, Chief Justice Baer moved to private practice. In 1989 he was elected to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. He was appointed Administrative Judge, Family Division in 1993. His work as a family court judge led to numerous awards, including Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Adoption Advocate of the Year, 1997; Robert S. Steward Award for Distinguished Service to Pennsylvania Families, 1998; and Pennsylvania Bar Association, Child Advocate of the Year, 2000. Chief Justice Baer was elected to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 2003 and was appointed chief justice in 2021.

During his legal career, Chief Justice Baer was involved in many bar associations, judicial conferences, and legal organizations, including the Allegheny County and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, and Task Force on the Law of Children and Youth Joint State Commission. He also held a teaching position at Carnegie Mellon University as Lecturer on Family Law and Social Policy.

A public memorial service for Chief Justice Baer was held on Tuesday, October 4, at Duquesne University.