Biography
Judge Stephen J. McEwen was born on October 8, 1932, in Philadelphia. He was a proud graduate of St. Joseph’s Preparatory School and St. Joseph’s College.
In 1957, Judge McEwen earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Laws degree from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1986. During his years on the bench, he also received an Honorary Doctor of Laws degree (LL.D.) from DeSales University, Widener University School of Law and the University of Scranton.
His legal career began with a partnership with his father at the law firm McEwen and McEwen. He was elected as the District Attorney for Delaware County in 1967 and was reelected in 1971. Judge McEwen then worked as a litigation partner in a Philadelphia firm (Liebert, Short, Fitzpatrick, and Lavin), until he was appointed to the Superior Court in 1981.
Judge McEwen was very proud of his service in international legal affairs. With the approval of the U.S. Dept. of State, commencing in 2005, Judge McEwen served as Honorary Consul to the Republic of Bulgaria. In that role, he conferred with the Foreign Minister and Deputy Ministers of various Republic of Bulgaria Cabinet Agencies. He lectured in Bulgaria on several occasions on topics ranging from judicial ethics to international development.
He served for over 30 years until his retirement in 2012 after receiving senior status on the court. During his judicial service, Judge McEwen served in numerous judicial capacities including on the Pennsylvania Judicial Inquiry and Review Board, as well as on the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline.
The honors, accolades and awards garnered by Judge McEwen over the years were quite numerous, and included Distinguished Service Awards from several Bar Associations, Universities and Civic and Fraternal Organizations. Not long before his passing, he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Council of Chief Judges of the State Courts of Appeal, one of only very few Judges so honored in that Organization’s long history.
He passed away on April 6, 2018, at age 85.