Jeffrey Rowe, Esq

MDJ Rowe has served since 2020. In addition to his typical MDJ duties, he is also a member of the 17th Judicial District’s Treatment Court team, occasionally presiding over status hearings with program participants.

Prior to taking the bench, Judge Rowe was an attorney at Murphy, Butterfield & Holland, P.C. in Williamsport. He practiced in the areas of criminal defense, post-conviction litigation, civil litigation, social security disability, Title IX investigations, real estate transactions and litigation, business formation, and estate planning and administration. He served as the assistant solicitor for three school districts in Lycoming County and for BLaST Intermediate Unit 17. He was also appointed as a Mental Health Review Officer for Lycoming County.

Before entering private practice, Judge Rowe served as a public defender in both York and Lycoming counties. In that capacity, he represented clients charged with felonies, misdemeanors, and summary offenses during all phases of criminal proceedings, including trial and appeal. While in York County, his focus shifted from trial work to appellate work. He represented clients before the Superior and Supreme courts of Pennsylvania on charges ranging from DUI to homicide. In between his stints as a public defender Judge Rowe served as a senior deputy prosecutor with the York County District Attorney’s Office. In that position, he created and implemented policies and procedures to govern the newly-established appellate division within the office. He represented the prosecution in Pennsylvania’s appellate courts, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. He also handled post-conviction litigation at the common pleas level.