J. Michael Eakin was born on November 18, 1948 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. Eakin graduated from Franklin & Marshall College (1970) and earned his Juris Doctorate from the Dickinson School of Law (1975). He was an active member of Pennsylvania’s Army National Guard (28th Division) from 1971-1977.
Eakin served Cumberland County as an Assistant District Attorney from 1975 until 1983. That next year, he ascended to the county’s District Attorney, where he remained until 1985. Eakin successfully ran for an open position on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Supreme Court in 2001.