--- title: "John F. Spataro | KnowJudges" canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-f-spataro-pa-30-60120f58" page_type: "judge_profile" updated: "2026-10-07" --- # John F. Spataro Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County · Common Pleas Judge ## Profile - Court: Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County - State: Pennsylvania - Role: Common Pleas Judge - Service status: active - Last verified: 2026-07-26 ## Summary Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge. ## Biography ### Professional career - The President Judge of the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania, a position he has held since January 2020, and has served on the bench since 2011 - Leadership Role: Elected President Judge of Crawford County in January 2020 the biographical record - Judge Spataro’s career includes service as a judge in the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas, with a focus on civil and criminal matters within the county’s judicial system - Disciplinary Board: Lists him as President Judge of the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas, with no pending disciplinary proceedings ### Education - Ohio Northern University, Claude Pettit College of Law the biographical record+1 — J.D. (1979) - Edinboro University of Pennsylvania the biographical record+1 — M.A. (1977) - Edinboro University of Pennsylvania the biographical record+1 — B.A. (1975) ### Additional information - Public records list recent cases he has presided over, such as civil trials filed in 2024 - Appointment: Retained to the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas in 2011 with an 83.5% “yes” vote. - Admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar: 1980 - Biography of Judge John F. Spataro - As President Judge, Spataro oversees the administration of the Crawford County Court of Common Pleas, ensuring efficient case handling and upholding judicial standards - Before his judicial tenure, Spataro was an attorney in Meadville, PA, with practice areas among them municipal law, personal injury, workers’ compensation, real estate, and other legal matters - His tenure has included presiding over numerous trials and legal proceedings, as documented in public case records - Professional Standing: Recognized in legal directories such as, and there he holds an AV Preeminent® rating, the highest peer recognition for legal knowledge, communication skills, and ethical standards. - He has been active in the legal community and is listed in official Crawford County judicial directories - 359 East Center St, Meadville, PA 16335 - Phone: (814) 333-7497 ## Before you appear - Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed. - Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance. - Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding. ## Courtroom Rules ### recording photography evidence presentation Scope: statewide For Pennsylvania Common Pleas proceedings, statewide Pa.R.J.A. 1910 prohibits courtroom broadcasting, recording, and photography unless an exception or judicial authorization applies; the rule also recognizes judge-authorized electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation. Evidence excerpt: the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence [201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html) Source checked: 2026-07-26 ## Sources - [Official profile](https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/common-pleas-judges/print-view) - [Official roster](https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/common-pleas-judges/print-view) - [Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania official judicial roster](https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/common-pleas-judges/print-view) - [201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html) ## JSON-LD ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-f-spataro-pa-30-60120f58", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-f-spataro-pa-30-60120f58", "name": "John F. Spataro | KnowJudges", "description": "John F. Spataro, Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County. Source-linked judicial identity, courtroom procedures, and presentation guidance.", "dateModified": "2026-10-07", "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/#website" }, "mainEntity": { "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-f-spataro-pa-30-60120f58#judge" } }, { "@type": "Person", "@id": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-f-spataro-pa-30-60120f58#judge", "name": "John F. Spataro", "url": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-f-spataro-pa-30-60120f58", "jobTitle": "Common Pleas Judge", "worksFor": { "@type": "GovernmentOrganization", "name": "Court of Common Pleas of Crawford County" }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/common-pleas-judges/print-view" ] }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "KnowJudges", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Pennsylvania", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/state/pennsylvania" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John F. Spataro", "item": "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-f-spataro-pa-30-60120f58" } ] } ] } ``` ## Published courtroom rules ### Shared court rules - [201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0784d9a288c3456edcbc19ff) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim. Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html). Collected 2026-07-26.