Barbara A. McDermott

MCDERMOTT HON. BARBARA ANN Heaven will now be well-run and much more efficient. Judge Barbara Ann McDermott, a respected jurist, mentor, and devoted member of her community, passed away peacefully on August 11, 2026, at the age of 71. Born in Aliquippa, Pennsylvania in 1955, Barbara dedicated her life to justice, fairness, and public service. After earning her law degree from Georgetown University, she began her legal career working for the State of Pennsylvania prosecuting toxic waste dumper violators, then went on to serve as a Philadelphia Assistant District Attorney in the 1980's. After adopting her two daughters, she clerked for several judges while operating her own defense practice. In 2012, she was elected to the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia where, because of her vast homicide experience, she was quickly placed as a judge in the Homicide Division. There she served for more than 13 years, where she was known for her integrity, wisdom, and compassionate approach to the law. In addition to serving on the Bench, Judge McDermott participated in several local and state-wide judicial committees, including the Pennsylvania Sentencing Committee, the Criminal Jury Instructions Committee and as District Director for the National Association of Women Judges for Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Throughout her career, Judge McDermott earned admiration from her peers and the public for treating everyone who entered her courtroom with dignity and respect. She mentored many young attorneys, championed equal access to justice, and worked tirelessly to strengthen the legal system for underserved communities. Beyond the bench, Barbara was a devoted mother, grandmother and community volunteer. She enjoyed an active life composed of biking, camping, hiking, travelling and spending time with her family. Her warmth, wit, intelligence, and strong moral compass left a lasting impression on all who knew her. Judge McDermott is survived by her partner of 37 years, Dr. Jeanne Buckley; her daughters, Nicole (TJ Paratore) and Colette; three grandsons; six siblings; and 20 nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held in mid-September. Details will be provided at a later date.