Hon. Judge Jeannine Turgeon (Ret.) Joins Optimal Dispute Resolutions in Harrisburg

HARRISBURG, Pa. December 3, 2020 – Hon. Jeannine Turgeon (Ret.), former Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas judge, has joined Optimal Dispute Resolutions as a mediator/arbitrator in Harrisburg. Optimal assists individuals and businesses with resolving their disputes outside of the courtroom by offering alternative dispute resolutions including mediation, arbitration and consulting. Judge Turgeon has a unique focus on resolving family law and other civil matters.

Due to state court closures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, many courts may be experiencing a backlog of jury trials. Alternative approaches to resolving disputes may be an option for lawyers and clients who seek to keep their cases moving and eliminate the expense of litigation.

Judge Turgeon’s ADR practice focuses on resolving simple and complex civil cases in family law as well as business disputes, real estate disputes, contract disputes, malpractice, discovery disputes and more. She is also available to provide pre-trial preparation support including conducting or attending mock trials to provide perspective to enhance your overall strategy.

Having served more than 28 years as a judge, she has gained a reputation throughout the Commonwealth for taking a holistic approach to achieve mutually agreeable resolutions in high-conflict and sensitive matters. She has authored more than 1,000 opinions, handled jury and nonjury trials in criminal, juvenile, civil (business disputes, real estate contract disputes, malpractice) and other complex litigation as well as orphans’ court.

During her tenure, Judge Turgeon has worked tirelessly to improve the court’s family law system. She previously served as the chairperson for the family law section of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges as well as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Domestic Relations Rules Committee. Judge Turgeon was also a founding member of Pennsylvania’s Joint State Task Force on Parenting Coordination, a member of the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Family Violence Task Force, Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence Protection from Abuse Database Project Advisory Committee and administrator of the Dauphin County Family Court Division. She is currently a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee and the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Suggested Standard Civil Jury Instructions Committee.  

Judge Turgeon earned her J.D. from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and B.A. from Chatham College (now Chatham University). After serving as law clerk for Hon. Genevieve Blatt (Ret.), she started her career in law as an associate at Nauman, Smith, Shissler & Hall and then became a partner at Campbell, Spitzer, Davis & Turgeon which later became Davis & Turgeon. In 1991, she was elected as the first woman judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County (retained in 2001 and 2011) having served for 28 years. In 2015, she became Supervising Judge of Dauphin County’s first Family Court and in 2019 transitioned to Senior Judge.

About Optimal Dispute Resolutions

Optimal Dispute Resolutions offers counsel and their clients a cost-effective, time-efficient and private alternative to litigation when warranted. Optimal’s ADR consulting service helps clients prepare for trial through review of case details and presentation strategy.

With ADR centers in Harrisburg, Lancaster and Malvern and access to the latest technology, Optimal’s team of neutrals is fully staffed and available to offer safe in-person or virtual arbitration and mediation services to provide efficient resolutions.