Patrick Sweeney Runs for Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas

Candidate: Patrick Sweeney

Court: Allegheny County

Party: Democrat and Republican

Allegheny County Bar Association Rating: Recommended

The following has been edited lightly for length and style.

The Legal Intelligencer: Tell us about your background, where you went to law school, what firms you have practiced at, and areas of law you focus on.

Patrick Sweeney: I am originally from and spent my early years growing up in the City of Pittsburgh. My parents were both teachers, and when my dad took a position at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, we moved to Indiana where I graduated high school. I came back home to Pittsburgh for undergrad and law school, however. I graduated from Pitt with a B.A. in economics in 1992 and with my J.D. from Pitt Law in 1996. I’ve been a proud resident of the city ever since. After a brief time with a small law firm, I started to work in the Public Defender’s Office of Allegheny County in 1997—where I have made my career. In the 25 years I have been a public defender, my experiences include dozens of jury trials, hundreds of non-jury trials, and I have counseled thousands of clients. I have handled every type of case from shoplifting to homicide. I have also handled cases in all four divisions of the court. In addition to my work with clients, my office has also called upon me to train and mentor new attorneys, as well as attorneys transitioning into the Trial Unit.

The Legal: What is one major thing about your career experience that most qualifies you for this position, and why?

Sweeney: My experience as a public defender. I always say that there is no better qualification for the job I am seeking than the job I have now. Being a public defender has allowed me to do and experience many things. First, it has allowed me to walk in the shoes of my clients. These are the clients who most often face institutional barriers to receiving fair and equal treatment. This first hand knowledge of where our courts fall short of the ideal of justice for all means I am well prepared to fix those shortcomings. Second, my time as a public defender also has given me the most trial experience of any of the candidates in my race. I can walk into the courtroom on day one and be prepared to start overseeing cases.

The Legal: What is the main reason Pennsylvania voters should pick you?

Sweeney: I offer voters a combination of experience and reform. I know the courts, and I know how to be a judge. As I mentioned above, I can walk into a courtroom on day one and start overseeing cases. However, my experiences mean I am also very much aware of where our court system falls short. My maxim is that cases should be decided based on the facts and the law, and not based on who has access to the most resources or who benefits from systemic bias. We have a ways to go before that maxim becomes the truth.

The Legal: What will be your approach to moving matters efficiently through the case management system?

Williams: A good judge must weigh the need to dispose of cases quickly with the needs of litigants to have enough time to adequately prepare for hearings and trials. Judges should take an active role in encouraging preparedness among the parties by scheduling status conferences and by gentle persuasion to ensure the more complex cases are not rammed through trial at too fast a pace, while also recognizing that too much delay is antithetical to the concept of justice.

The Legal: What would you say to voters regarding your plans to ensure the equal administration of justice for all people?

Sweeney: There are several things we can do. First, judges have to be conscious of the life situation that litigants are coming from. For example, some municipalities pull over Black drivers at much higher rates than one would expect by population demographics and comparisons to similar municipalities. A judge needs to be aware of that and consider how systemic bias is playing a role in who comes before the court from that municipality. It is not a crime to drive while Black.

Second, judges must ensure that justice is being given to all, this includes victims and the community at large. It is unjust if an individual with means is able to avoid accountability solely because of that access to resources. A common example of this is cash bail. If an individual poses a threat to the community, it is not just to release them based on the fact they have access to money.

Third, we must ensure the courts work in an administrative sense. Individuals can not receive justice if the courts are not working properly. A common problem these days is finding enough people willing to go through with jury duty to build a fair jury pool. Too many people looking to get out of jury duty can lead to a biased jury during trial. One way we can help address this is by paying jurors a fair wage for the labor they provide.

The Legal: Where can voters go for more information about you?

Sweeney: You can visit my website https://patricksweeneyforjudge.com. You can also find me on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/PatrickSweeneyforJudge or on Instagram at patricksweeneyforjudge.