Judge Jacqueline (Jackie) O. Shogan was born on June 5, 1953, and raised in the Pittsburgh area. A graduate of Gateway High School in Monroeville, Judge Shogan earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, summa cum laude, from Temple University in 1975. She subsequently earner her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Virginia. Judge Shogan practiced for over ten years as a staff nurse, clinical nurse specialist, and clinical instructor at several major teaching hospitals. She also published in nursing and critical care journals and served on the faculty of Duquesne University.
Judge Shogan had a longstanding interest in public policy and the legal system. She returned to school to obtain her Juris Doctorate, with high honors, from Duke University School of Law, graduating in 1990. While at Duke, Judge Shogan was elected to the Order of the Coif and received the Bidlake Legal Research and Writing Award, the American Jurisprudence Award for Achievement in Federal Appellate Practice, and the Most Effective Advocate Award by the North Carolina Academy of Trial Lawyers.
Upon graduation from law school, she practiced in the areas of civil litigation, health law, and administrative law. Because she hoped to eventually pursue a judicial career, she then spent four years as an attorney on the staff of Judge Maurice B. Cohill, Jr., of the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Judge Shogan received extensive experience in criminal law during that time. She returned to private practice at the end of 2001 as a member of the complex civil litigation group at Thorp, Reed & Armstrong, LLP. Judge Shogan also served as an arbitrator and mediator prior to being elected to the Superior Court in 2007.
Judge Shogan previously taught appellate practice at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. She also has a certificate in opinion writing from the National Judicial College. Judge Shogan was honored as a “2007-2008 Woman of the Year” by the Legal Intelligencer and Pennsylvania Law Weekly. She is also a recipient of the Celebrate & Share “Women of Achievement Award.”
Judge Shogan has been involved in her community for many years. She is a past member and officer of the Board of Directors of Neighborhood Legal Services, which provides pro bono legal assistance in civil matters to the indigent in southwestern Pennsylvania. She is also a past member and officer of the Board of Directors of Easter Seals Western Pennsylvania and of the Board of Trustees of St. Edmund’s Academy in Pittsburgh. Judge Shogan is currently a member of the Allegheny and Westmoreland County Bar Associations, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the American Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association, and the National Association of Women Judges. Judge Shogan is also a fellow of the Pennsylvania, Allegheny County and American Bar Foundations.
Judge Shogan was elected to the Superior Court in November 2007.