John L. Musmanno was born in Stowe Township, Pa. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Washington and Jefferson College in 1963, graduating magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa, and a Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1966, where he was an assistant editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review.
Judge Musmanno is a member of the American, Pennsylvania and Allegheny County Bar Associations.
He received the President’s Award, Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association in 1991, and the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Allegheny County award in 1993. He served on the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board 2001-2005 and on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline 2005-2009 and as its President Judge 2008-2009.
He maintained a private law practice, 1966-81, was elected district justice, 1970-81; elected judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, 1981, where he served in the Family, Criminal and Civil divisions. He was re-elected in 1991; and was the administrative judge, Civil division, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, 1990-97. In November 1997, he was elected to the Superior Court and retained in 2007.