Public Defender Spotlight: Emily Merski on the Transition from Public Defender to Judge

March 19, 2026 – Our Public Defender Spotlights shout out and celebrate the achievements of individual members of the PDAP community, whether past or recent. If you’d like to nominate a fellow Public Defender (attorney, social service advocate, investigator, mitigator, or support staff member) for a feature, reach out to Anna@PAPublicDefenders.com.

Public Defenders advocate for indigent clients impacted by the criminal legal system. The people-centered values they bring to the courtroom can be equally as valuable in the judge’s seat. When former Public Defenders become judges, they bring a balanced perspective to the bench, advocating for fairness and justice by helping jurors and fellow judges empathize with the people behind the charges.

“How many of us have said, ‘if only the judge would understand what my client was going through, they might understand the case better!’” said Emily Merski, a former Public Defender in Erie and Crawford counties who successfully ran for judge in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas in 2025. 

PDAP spoke with Emily during her last few days in the Public Defender’s office to hear more about why she decided to become a judge, the positive impact PDs can make when they apply their skills to the other side of the bench, and her advice for anyone considering the same transition. 

Describing judges as the people who determine “what happens next” in the legal process, Emily acknowledged that her new role holds a lot of responsibility and affirmed that judges should make the people who appear before them feel heard, even when rulings do not go in their favor. Because PDs often have a thorough understanding of how factors like trauma, mental health, or substance abuse affect individual decision-making, she believes they are more likely to consider those factors to ensure a just ruling. 

“I think that in general, the bench is devoid of people like us,” Emily said. “There’s nothing wrong with [a judge] being an attorney who comes from a private firm… plenty of attorneys are, and plenty of them are elected to the bench. They don’t necessarily have the same experience that a Public Defender does in really being involved with, and understanding the needs of, the community.”

Check out our full interview at the link below.