Justin Richards is an associate attorney in the firm’s Wilkes-Barre office. He is an experienced litigator who focuses his practice on civil, commercial, and corporate litigation; zoning and land use; municipal law; and criminal justice.
Legal Experience That Stands Out
Before joining Elliott Greenleaf, Justin built a distinguished career as both a prosecutor and judicial clerk in Luzerne County’s legal system.
For more than five years, he served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Fred A. Pierantoni, III, of the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania’s 11th Judicial District, where he assisted the court in adjudicating a variety of issues in civil, criminal, and family cases. From 2021 to 2025, he worked exclusively on civil cases, assisting the Court with complex litigation involving land use and assessment appeals, corporate disputes, contracts, right-to-know law appeals, election challenges, personal injury claims, and medical professional negligence actions.
Earlier in his career, Justin served as an Assistant District Attorney in the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted serious and violent felony and misdemeanor cases from investigation through trial. He worked across multiple specialized units — including DUI, Major Crimes, Vice, Sexual Victims, and Homicide — overseeing investigations and trying cases involving offenses from drug and traffic violations to sexual assault and homicide. During his tenure, he helped secure numerous jury convictions, including several for first- and third-degree murder.
Between his work as a prosecutor and his service to the Court of Common Pleas, Justin also practiced criminal defense as a full-time, court-appointed attorney for Luzerne County, representing defendants from preliminary hearings through jury trials. This unique combination of prosecution, defense, and judicial experience gives Justin a well-rounded perspective on Pennsylvania’s criminal and civil justice systems.
Justin is a native of Freeland, Luzerne County, and a graduate of MMI Preparatory School and Wilkes University. He currently resides in Plymouth Township, Luzerne County, with his wife and children.
