Beemer sworn in to Allegheny County bench
Allegheny County’s newest Common Pleas judge was formally sworn in Friday before a standingroom-only crowd, there to celebrate his career pursuing justice as a civil servant.
Bruce R. Beemer was nominated for the vacant seat on the bench by Gov. Tom Wolf in November and confirmed a month later. He replaces retired Judge Kathleen Durkin.
He has been hearing cases in the criminal division of the court for several weeks.
Judge Beemer, 51, takes the bench after serving for two years as the appointed state inspector general.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who spoke on Judge Beemer’s behalf, called him a good man who led the state AG’s office through a “time of extreme turmoil.”
Judge Beemer joined the AG’s office in 2011 as chief of staff and was the second-in-command when former Attorney General Kathleen Kane was convicted of perjury and then resigned in August 2016.
He then served as the interim state attorney general until Mr. Shapiro’s term began in January 2017.
While Judge Beemer had the shortest tenure in modern history as attorney general, Mr. Shapiro said, his impact was lasting and far-reaching.
“He protected our office during a chaotic time,” he told the crowd of Judge Beemer’s supporters in the seventh-floor courtroom of the City-County Building.
Judge Beemer spent his time working to restore the integrity of the office and rebuilding trust from Pennsylvania’s citizens, he said.
“He was a source of wisdom for many in our agency,” Mr. Shapiro said. “He was and is beloved by his former colleagues.”
Allegheny County Common Pleas President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark praised her new colleague for being a servant leader because, while he leads, she said, he has a desire to serve first.
“You have demonstrated this is where you belong,” she said.
Judge Beemer took the oath of office as his wife, Jodi, and children, Jackson and Jordan, held the Bible.
Then, his father, John Barry Beemer, helped him into his robe, slapped him on the back and said, “Looks good.”
Judge Beemer spoke to those gathered, telling them that he is grateful for the many relationships he has had throughout his life and career that led him to where he is.
“The way I was brought up was, always be slow to anger, be extremely passionate about what you do and treat everyone with kindness and respect,” he said. “That will be my first and last commitment each day.”
Judge Beemer, who attended law school at the University of Pittsburgh, joined the Allegheny County district attorney’s office in 1996, where he served for 14 years as a prosecutor. During that time, he tried more than 100 cases, including 75 homicides.
Mr. Shapiro said Judge Beemer has a history of pursuing “justice as a matter of law and justice as a matter of righteousness.”
“Bruce Beemer is, at his core, a true public servant, and we are better off because of his work.”