Judge Emily M. Merski

Judge Emily Mosco Merski was elected to the Erie County Court of Common Pleas in November 2025, becoming only the fourth woman in Erie County’s history to serve as a Common Pleas Judge. She currently presides over cases in the Family Division.

Judge Merski earned both her B.A. in English from Mercyhurst University in 2004 and her M.S. in Applied Intelligence in 2006. She went on to earn her J.D. from Penn State Dickinson School of Law in 2010.

After law school, Judge Merski began her legal career with the Knox Firm where she worked in the litigation group handling complex civil matters. She later joined Vendetti & Vendetti where she maintained a private practice representing clients in criminal defense, family law, juvenile matters, and appellate cases.

Her career has also included extensive public-interest work. Judge Merski served as an assistant public defender in both Erie and Crawford Counties, representing individuals who could not afford private counsel. She also represented victims of domestic violence through Safenet, Inc. In addition, she served on the faculty of the Public Defender Association of Pennsylvania, instructing and enriching public defenders throughout the Commonwealth on appellate law.

Judge Merski brings to the bench nearly two decades of diverse courtroom experience, a commitment to public service, and a deep understanding of the people and families who come before the court.