---
title: "John T. Bender | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/john-t-bender-pa"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-07"
---

# John T. Bender

Superior Court of Pennsylvania · Senior Judge

## Profile

- Court: Superior Court of Pennsylvania
- State: Pennsylvania
- Role: Senior Judge
- Service status: senior

## Summary

John T. Bender — Superior Court of Pennsylvania

## Sources

- [Superior Court Judges](https://www.pacourts.us/courts/superior-court/superior-court-judges)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- He assumed office as a senior judge on January 1, 2024
- In August 2013, he was elected President Judge of the Superior Court
- Began his judicial career as a District Justice in Magisterial District 05-2-04, elected in 1997
- While attending law school, he held the role of a law clerk to President Judge Emeritus William F. Cercone and later to Justice Rolf Larson
- After graduation, Bender served as an Assistant District Attorney in Allegheny County before entering private practice, where he represented clients in criminal and civil proceedings for over 25 years

### Education

- Duquesne University School of Law — J.D. (1976)
- Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Pennsylvania State University and a J — Pennsylvania State University

### Additional information

- In November 2001, he was elected to the Pennsylvania Superior Court, a mid-level appellate court, and was subsequently retained in 2011 and 2021.
- overseeing court administration, budget, personnel, and case management
- He is a member of the American, Pennsylvania, and Allegheny County Bar Associations and resides in Fox Chapel, Pennsylvania.
- Bender is recognized for his judicial temperament, fairness, and coalition-building skills.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [Pennsylvania Appellate Rule 2315 — oral argument](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-cde985ff63e0db0a157a50ef) — Pennsylvania appellate courts only; oral argument is not a matter of right. Shared baseline only, not a judge-specific preference or complete local rules inventory. Apply source exceptions, case-type limits, later amendments and case orders. [Official source](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?file=/secure/pacode/data/210/chapter23/s2315.html). Collected 2026-10-27.