Jason M. Walsh | |
|---|---|
| District Attorney of Washington County | |
| Assumed office August 23, 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Eugene A. Vittone |
| Personal details | |
| Born | |
| Party | Republican |
| Education | Saint Francis University (BA) Ohio Northern University (JD) |
Jason M. Walsh is an American attorney and politician of the Republican Party. He has been the District Attorney of Washington County,Pennsylvania,since 2021. [1]
Walsh attended Saint Francis University in Loretto,Pennsylvania from 1989 until graduating Summa Cum Laude from the honors college in 1993. [2]
After completing his bachelor's degree,Walsh then attended Ohio Northern University Claude W. Pettit College of Law. He received his Juris Doctor degree there in 1996 and graduated with Distinction. [2]
Upon graduating law school,Jason Walsh joined Herman J. Bigi in general practice in 1996. [1] During this time,he practiced law with a concentration in Criminal Law,DUI,White Collar Crime,as well as all other areas of law. While in private practice,Walsh served as Washington County Children and Youth Services Solicitor for nine years. [3]
After 20 years of working for his private practice,Walsh joined the Washington County District Attorney's Office as Deputy District Attorney in September 2016. [1] [3] Walsh was appointed to First Assistant District Attorney by District Attorney Eugene A. Vittone in 2020. [3] [4]
Walsh was sworn in as the District Attorney of Washington County on August 23,2021,after the death of Eugene A. Vittone. [5] [6] During Walsh's DA tenure,he has prosecuted several felonies,including homicides. [5] [7]
Walsh ran unopposed for the Republican nominee for the office of Washington County District Attorney in the May 2023 primary. [8] [9] Walsh was the Republican candidate for the office of Washington County District Attorney for the November 2023 general election.
On November 7,2023,Walsh won his first full term with 61% of the vote. [10]
Walsh has sought the death penalty in cases where the accused is charged with homicide in the first-degree. Under Pennsylvania law,an accused person may only receive a death penalty sentence after they have been convicted of first-degree homicide. The guilt trial of capital murder case is separate from the sentencing trial,as consistent with the Pennsylvania criminal code. [11]
Walsh has voiced intention to seek the death penalty in specific cases involving the killing of infants,all of which were under six months old. [12] [13] [14] [15] He has sought the death penalty in the case of the killing of a convenient store worker. [16] He has also sought the death penalty for a case where the victim was killed by being burned alive. [17]
Jason Walsh is a lifelong resident of Washington County,he grew up in Donora,Pennsylvania [3] . Jason also has a brother,Justin Walsh,who has been a judge in Westmoreland County since 2019. [18]