Peter Paul Olszewski Jr.

A shareholder and managing partner with Scartelli Olszewski, Peter Paul Olszewski, Jr. brings a unique blend of more than 30 years of litigation experience to the firm. Currently focusing his practice on criminal defense, medical malpractice and personal injury matters, Peter has previously served as District Attorney of Luzerne County and a Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas Judge. During his tenure as district attorney, Peter tried 18 jury trials to verdict, including seven first-degree murder verdicts. As a common pleas judge, he tried more than 180 criminal jury trials, including five capital homicide trials, and was named Criminal Court Administrator. Prior to presiding over both criminal and civil jury trials, Peter served in the court’s family division and handled equity and civil non-jury trials. Now a private practitioner, he is Capital Case Certified. 

Before being elected district attorney in 1992 and, later, a common pleas judge in 2000, Peter was engaged in private practice, handling criminal, civil and family law trials throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. He served as solicitor to the Pennsylvania Conference of State Police Lodges and assistant solicitor to the Pennsylvania State Police, Fraternal Order of Police, Frank Albert Memorial Lodge no. 43. Prior to being elected Judge, Peter was certified by the National Board of Trial Advocacy as a Criminal Trial Specialist in recognition of excellence in the trial of complex criminal cases. 

A native of Wilkes-Barre, Pa., Peter is a strong believer in giving back to the legal and larger communities. He currently serves as co-chairman of the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association Criminal Law Committee and sits on the board of the Anthracite Golf Association, which promotes the game of golf for young people and adults in Northeastern Pennsylvania. He is an Eagle Scout and a past President of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He is a founding member of the District Attorney’s Committee on Youth and Violence and the Luzerne County Heroin Task Force. Among numerous additional professional and community affiliations, Peter is a member and past Exalted Ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Wilkes-Barre Lodge 109, a member of and scripture reader at St. Frances Cabrini Church, Carverton, and a former Alumni Trustee of The Dickinson School of Law. 

Peter is admitted to practice before all of Pennsylvania’s state courts, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He is a 1984 graduate of The Dickinson School of Law. A resident of Dallas, Pa., Peter enjoys golfing, archery hunting and spending time with his daughter, Rachel. He enjoys working along side his wife, attorney Melissa Scartelli, who is the founder and President of Scartelli Olszewski.