Cheryl Lynn Allen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Cheryl Lynn Allen
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Judge Cheryl Lynn Allen, c. 2009
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| Judge of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania | |
| In office January 6, 2008 – September 4, 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Michael T. Joyce |
| Succeeded by | Carl Solano |
| Judge, Allegheny Court of Common Pleas | |
| In office 1990–2008 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | December 16, 1947 Homestead, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic (before 2004) Republican (2007–present) |
| Alma mater | Schenley High School Pennsylvania State University (Bachelor's Degree, 1969) University of Pittsburgh School of Law (Juris Doctor, 1975) |
Cheryl Lynn Allen, born on December 16, 1947, made history as the first African-American woman elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. She grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before becoming a judge, she was a public school teacher. Judge Allen studied at Pennsylvania State University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.
She worked as a lawyer for fifteen years. In 1990, she became a judge for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. She was elected to a ten-year term in 1991 and re-elected in 2001. In 2007, she was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Early Life and Family
Cheryl Lynn Allen was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She is the oldest child of Robert and Corrine Allen. She is married to Jimmie Skipwith and has three sons: Frederick, Justin, and Jason.
She graduated from Schenley High School in Pittsburgh. In 1969, she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University. She then received her law degree (Juris Doctor) from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law in 1975.
Career in Law and Public Service
After graduating from Penn State, Allen taught at elementary schools in the Pittsburgh Public Schools for three years. Then, she began her career in law.
She worked as an attorney for Neighborhood Law Services. She also worked for the Allegheny County Law Department and the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission. She even had her own private law practice.
In 1990, Allen was appointed as a judge to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County. She worked in the court's criminal division. In November 1991, she was elected to a ten-year term. She then served in the Juvenile Section, handling cases involving young people. Voters re-elected her for a second ten-year term in 2001. She continued to oversee juvenile cases until 2004. During her time on the Common Pleas court, she was appointed to the Supreme Court Juvenile Court Judges Commission.
From 2001 to 2006, Allen was a professor at Point Park University in Pittsburgh. In 2004, she returned to the criminal division of the Court of Common Pleas. She stayed there until she started her elected position on the Superior Court in 2008.
In 2014, Judge Allen helped organize a special event with two other judges, Judge Sallie Updyke Mundy and Judge Christine L. Donohue. They held a special court session at Pennsylvania State University's Dickinson School of Law. This event helped high school and college students learn about how Pennsylvania's superior court system works. Attendees could watch over thirty real court cases.
In 2015, Allen ran for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania but was not elected. She then retired from the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
Her Legacy
Judge Allen is a founder of Women Without Walls (WWW). This is a group that aims to bring women from different backgrounds together. She serves on the Juvenile Court Judges Commission. She is also on the boards of organizations like the Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation and Hosanna House. She is a trustee for Waynesburg University.
Awards and Honors
- Geneva College Serving Leader Award, 2015
- New Pittsburgh Courier's Women of Excellence Award, 2008
- The Legal Intelligencer & Pennsylvania Law Weekly Women of the Year, 2008
- Camp Fire USA Incredible Kid Day Breakfast of Champions, 2008
- Celebrate & Share Woman of Achievement Honor Award, 2008
- Three Rivers Youth Nellie Leadership Award, 2006
- Greater Pittsburgh YWCA, Tribute to Women Award, 2006
- Pennsylvania Commission for Women, Woman's History Month Award, 2005
- Juvenile Court Judges Commission Award, 2004
- Allegheny County Bar Association, Juvenile Justice Award, 2004
- CASA Volunteer Recognition Award, 2004
- Second Chance Inc., Women of Standard Award, 2004
- University of Pittsburgh, Women's Law Association, Woman of the Year, 2002
- University of Pittsburgh, Alumni of the Year, 1999
