Stephanie Domitrovich

Judge Domitrovich has been a fully committed adjunct faculty member in the Legal Studies Program at Gannon. Her commitment to fully expose students to the reality of legal practice and the courts, through internships in her court office has benefitted students in a very unique way. Judge Domitrovich teaches Contract Law in the Legal Studies Program.

Her commitment to continuing education is demonstrated by her own personal journey:

Judge Stephanie Domitrovich has served 23 years as a general jurisdiction state trial judge of the Sixth Judicial District of Pennsylvania (Erie County). She currently serves in both the Trial Court and Family/Orphans’ Court. Judge Domitrovich received her B.A. from Carlow University (summa cum laude) in 1976 and her J.D. from Duquesne University School of Law in 1979. After attending courses jointly offered by National Judicial College (NJC) and University of Nevada, Reno (UNR), she graduated in 1993 with a Master of Judicial Studies degree in Trial Judges. In 1998, Judge Domitrovich earned a second major in Juvenile and Family Court Judges for her Master of Judicial Studies degree. In May of 2006, she became the first graduate to earn a Ph.D., a degree of Doctor in Philosophy in Judicial Studies, from the UNR. Judge Domitrovich is the current Chair of the Children’s Rights Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Judge Domitrovich is Past President of the Northwest PA American Inn of Court (1999-2001), Past President of the Pennsylvania State Trial Court Judges (2005-06), and Past Chair of the National Conference of State Trial Judges (NCSTJ) of the Judicial Division of the ABA (2010-11). In 1996, Judge Domitrovich participated for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to educate judges in the former Soviet Republic nations of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in developing their judicial systems. Judge Domitrovich also teaches for the NJC, UNR and Gannon University. Judge Domitrovich has presented papers to the American Board of Forensic Document Examiners, SWGSTAIN wherein she is a Member of Scientific Working Group on Bloodstain Pattern Evidence, Law and Society, American Psychology-Law Society, Jurisprudence Section of American Academy of Forensic Sciences (wherein she is a Fellow and Program Chair) as well as presented her dissertation for the Law & Society at Humboldt University in Berlin, Germany in 2007. The Women’s Law Association of Duquesne University School of Law presented her with the 2007 Woman of the Year Award. In 2009, she was awarded Edinboro University of Pa. President’s Martin Luther King Award for her commitment to enhancing access of opportunity for all members of the community. In 2009, Judge Domitrovich was awarded the Carlow University Laureate award for demonstrating professional achievement and leadership. In 2009, Judge Domitrovich was awarded Fellow status with ASTAR (Advanced Scientific & Technological Adjudication Resource). In 2011, Judge Domitrovich presented to experts on the topic of U.S. Judicial Gatekeeping of Scientific Evidence at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, Scotland. In 2012, Judge Domitrovich presented her paper on parental alienation and the Hague Convention to the Congress of Int’l Academy of Legal Medicine in Istanbul, Turkey. In 2012, Judge Domitrovich received the Community Service Award from Greater Erie Community Action Committee (GECAC). September 2013, Judge Domitrovich was the recipient of the Women’s Care Center of Erie County, Inc. Annual Meeting Award: “In gratitude and sincere appreciation for presiding over birth parent and adoptive family hearings with integrity, wisdom and compassion.” Judge Domitrovich is also the author of numerous articles in the judicial field.