Max Baer was born and raised in Dormont, a suburb of Pittsburgh. His parents instilled in him a love of life, a solid work ethic, and a profound respect for people and the law. He was a proud graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where his lifelong love of Pitt Football began, and the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University in 1975
Max began his celebrated judicial career when he was elected to the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas in 1989. He was affectionately known as the “Fighting Judge” and he lived up to that title. His initial assignment was to the Family Division which had a well-deserved reputation of failing families in the system. This was intolerable to Max and he worked tirelessly to revolutionize the processes to serve families in a fair, respectful and compassionate manner. His reforms directly impacted the lives of thousands of children who found their future in the Court’s hands. The reforms that Judge Baer instituted in Allegheny County were nationally recognized and replicated in Family Courts across the nation. For his efforts, he earned special recognition in 1999 by the President and First Lady of the United States during a ceremony at the White House.
In 2003, Judge Baer was elected Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. In 2021, he was sworn in as the 57th Chief Justice of the Commonwealth, where he led a court based on the principles of collegiality, trust, and professionalism. Chief Justice Baer was respected by jurists, scholars, and lawmakers throughout Pennsylvania and beyond. As Chief Justice, he remained committed to protecting and caring for dependent children across Pennsylvania. Justice Baer created the Office of Children and Families in the Court (OCFC) with the ultimate goal to ensure that every child in Pennsylvania grows up in a safe, nurturing and permanent family. His positive impact on families and children throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania cannot be overstated.
Chief Justice Baer’s respect for all people, his passion for the law, and his vision of how that combination can be used to fairly and positively impact individual lives, as well as society as a whole, are proudly among the founding principles of Injury Law Partners.
Among his many honors and awards throughout his notable legal career include:
- Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare’s Adoption Advocate of the Year (1997)
- Robert S. Steward Award for Distinguished Service to Pennsylvania Families (1998)
- Child Advocacy Award for Legal Contributions Advancing the Welfare of Our Nation’s Children (1999)
- Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Child Advocate of the Year (2000)
- Pennsylvania’s Council of Mediators, Most Valuable Peacemaker (2004)
- Overseeing the Symposium to celebrate the 300 year anniversary of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (2022)
Memorial Service for Chief Justice Max Baer (Remarks by ILP Partner Ben Baer and Lt. Col. Andrew Baer begin at minute 51)
Statement of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the Passing of Chief Justice Max Baer
Tribute from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) to Chief Justice Max Baer
Obituary of Chief Justice Max Baer
