Hon. Robert J. Eby (Ret.)

Mediator/Arbitrator

Hon. Robert J. Eby (Ret.), after spending over 40 years on the bench, now serves as a mediator and arbitrator with Optimal Dispute Resolutions. As a neutral, he works to bring opposing parties together for productive, effective mediations and arbitrations. With decades of experience, including as solicitor for numerous government entities while in private practice prior to being appointed to the bench, 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.

In 1981, after twelve years in private practice, Judge Eby was appointed by Governor Thornburgh to fill the newly created third Judgeship for the County of Lebanon. A native of Lebanon, Pennsylvania, Judge Eby served for three terms as the Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the 52nd Judicial District which is comprised of Lebanon County. He later became President Judge of Lebanon County until he retired from active service in 2009, at which time he became a Senior Judge before retiring his commission in August of 2022, after more than 41 years on the Bench.

Judge Eby is a native of Lebanon, PA and an alumnus of Lebanon High School. He earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree from Dickinson College and is a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law. While at Villanova, he served as a member of the Honor Board. After law school, Judge Eby entered private practice at the partnership of Steiner and Eby in Myerstown, PA. While a practicing attorney, Judge Eby served Lebanon as the solicitor for the Lebanon County Commissioners, a Domestic Relations Hearing officer, solicitor for the Lebanon County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Advisory Board, solicitor for the County Prothonotary, and Solicitor for the Lebanon County Tax Claim Bureau. He also was a member of the 1971-1972 Lebanon City Charter Commission.

Judge Eby is an active leader in the community as an Elder in the United Church of Christ and a life-long member of St. Mark’s U.C.C. in Lebanon. He has also served as chairman of the board of directors of the Lebanon County Commission on Drug and Alcohol Abuse, president of the Lebanon Lion’s Club, chairman of the board of directors of the Lebanon Chapter of the American Red Cross, a member of the District Committee of the Boy Scouts of America, and as a member of the board of directors of the Lancaster Cleft Palate Clinic. He presently is a member of the board of directors of the Lebanon Lion’s Club, Lebanon Rescue Mission, and Developmental Disability Services of Lebanon County, and is a member of numerous other civic organizations. Judge Eby is a recipient of the Melvin Jones Award from Lions International, the William Booth Award from the Salvation Army of Lebanon County, and the Lebanon High School Cedar Foundation Distinguished Alumni award.