Washington County judge running for state Superior Court
Neuman receives Democratic endorsement during statewide committee meeting
Washington County Judge Brandon Neuman is hoping to take the next step up the judicial ladder after announcing his plans to run in this year’s statewide election for a seat on the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
Neuman attended the Pennsylvania Democratic Party’s winter committee meeting this past weekend in Harrisburg, where he received the group’s endorsement for the upcoming spring primary and was also photographed with supporters holding his campaign signs.
“We’re not really focused on the endorsement, but connecting with the people of Pennsylvania,” Neuman said during an interview Tuesday afternoon in the halls of the Washington County Courthouse. “I think coming from a rural county, it’s important to have that representation.”
Neuman has been a Court of Common Pleas judge in Washington County since winning election in 2017. During that time, he has been assigned to hear cases involving family court and criminal proceedings, and now most recently presides over civil matters.
Since the state Superior Court hears appeals involving criminal, civil and family matters, Neuman thinks his experience on the bench would be an asset as an appellate court judge.
“It involves real people,” he said of the cases that come before Superior Court.
He added that his time as a state legislator representing the 48th District in Washington County from 2011 until 2017 would also be beneficial since he helped to write laws while in the General Assembly.
Neuman has also had high-profile rulings as judge, including in August when he decided that Washington County election officials must notify voters who made fatal errors filling out their mail-in ballot envelopes and give them the opportunity to vote with a provisional ballot instead. That ruling was upheld by the state Commonwealth Court and is currently under review by the state Supreme Court.
“Being from Southwestern Pennsylvania, it’s an electorate hungry to make sure every part of Pennsylvania is representing them when they go to the appellate court,” Neuman said.
A seat on the Superior Court opened up last year after Daniel McCaffery ran and won his race for state Supreme Court in 2023, leaving the position on the lower court vacant.
The filing period to collect signatures to run for statewide office is from Feb. 18 until March 11. This year’s primary election is May 20, and should Neuman win the Democratic nomination he would continue on to the general election scheduled for Nov. 4.
“We are thrilled that Judge Neuman is running for Superior Court,” said Washington County Democratic Committee Chairwoman Christina Proctor, who attended the statewide party’s winter meeting in Harrisburg. “He is exceptionally qualified, and we are excited to have a local judge seeking such an important, statewide judicial seat.”
Neuman, 43, is originally from Eighty Four and graduated from Canon-McMillan High School. He holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Richmond, earned his master’s degree from the University of Pittsburgh and received his law degree from Duquesne University.
This will be the second time Neuman has run for statewide office after being a candidate for lieutenant governor in 2014, when he finished fifth in the Democratic primary.