Robert A Graci

Hon. Robert A. Graci (Ret.) is Chair of the firm’s Attorney and Judicial Ethics and Discipline practice. As former Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge and retired Chief Counsel to the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania, Judge Graci brings more than 40 years of diverse judicial and legal experience to Saxton & Stump’s clients. He also serves in the firm’s Appellate and Post-trial Advocacy and Internal Investigations Groups, as well as Title IX services.

Judge Graci also serves as a Mediator and Arbitrator for the firm’s partner organization, Optimal Dispute Resolutions. Between his experience as an appellate judge, his service as Chief Counsel to the Judicial Conduct Board and his work for the Attorney General’s Office, Judge Graci has seen some of the most complex issues. As a result, he is well-positioned to approach each mediation and arbitration in a fair and objective manner to bring even the most complicated cases to resolution.

As Chief Counsel to the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania, Judge Graci was Chief Legal Adviser to the Board and was responsible for supervision of the Board’s staff, the conduct of its investigations, and the Board’s prosecutions before the Court of Judicial Discipline. During his time, he served in various capacities in leading and supporting investigations into allegations of misconduct and other Board activities.

Judge Graci served on the Superior Court from 2002 to 2004 before becoming a Member in the Harrisburg office of Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC, focusing his practice on appeals, white collar criminal defense, general litigation, regulatory and administrative law and governmental relations. Drawing on his many years as an appellate litigator and judge, he chaired the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, further refining his brief-writing and appellate advocacy skills while successfully navigating a number of appeals.

Prior to his appointment to the bench in 2002, Judge Graci was the Assistant Executive Deputy Attorney General for Law and Appeals of the Criminal Law Division of the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General. As a Deputy Attorney General for almost 18 years, he briefed and argued cases in each of the state and federal appellate courts in Pennsylvania, as well as the Supreme Court of the United States.

Judge Graci has lectured for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges, the Minor Judiciary Education Board, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute, Delaware State Bar Association and other forums. He has authored several articles and CLE course materials and has been recognized for his accomplishments by the PBA and several attorneys general he served.