The Honorable Joseph P. Moschetta
/Dedicated to the Law and His Family
The Honorable Judge Joseph “Joe” P. Moschetta, 88, died peacefully at home in the company of his loving family on Sunday, January 4, 2026. Born in Brownsville, Pennsylvania on August 18, 1937, he was the first child of the late John J. and Elizabeth P. Moschetta. Joe lived his early life in the family home in Fredericktown, Pennsylvania, and wintered in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, with his parents and five siblings. As an adult, Joe made Washington, Pennsylvania, his life-long home where, along with his wife, Judith K. Moschetta, he created his own beloved family.
Joe was a graduate of the East Bethlehem High School in Fredericktown, Waynesburg College, and the West Virginia University School of Law. He served his country in the United States Army in the 630th Transportation Unit, Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He was admitted to the United States Supreme Court; the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; the U.S. District Court for the Western District of PA; the Washington County Court of Common Pleas, and numerous federal and state courts throughout Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
Joe was a prolific and inspired practicing attorney from 1963 to his last months, except from July through December of 2005, when he was appointed by PA Governor Ed Rendell to serve as Judge on the Court of Common Pleas of Washington County, Pennsylvania. During Joe’s six months on the Washington County Common Pleas Court, Civil Division, he pre-tried a staggering number of cases, over two hundred (200), and settled or tried to verdict, one hundred twenty-five (125). His ability to resolve these cases was due in large part to his extraordinary talent in relating to litigants and attorneys alike, as he studied each person in relation to musical notes, and sought to match their key (including sharps or flats). Later, he would present continuing legal education seminars and publish articles on his musical-legal approach to cases.
Joe began practicing law in 1963 when he joined his father, Attorney John J. Moschetta, Sr.’s practice in Washington, PA. Initially, Joe concentrated his practice of law on defense criminal law cases, as he would walk a few blocks to the jail and offer to represent the criminal defendants for free. Demonstrating a keen ability and dogged devotion to a strong and fair defense of each and every criminal defendant, Joe was selected to serve as the First Public Defender of Washington County in 1969. After serving as the First Public Defender, Joe’s practice expanded to civil litigation including personal injury and death cases with his niche specialty as a “River Lawyer,” representing injured barge workers on inland waterways from as close as the Mon River to as far away as New Orleans. As a Plaintiff’s lawyer, Joe primarily tried Admiralty and Maritime Claims. He also successfully represented his injured clients in Medical Malpractice claims; Premises Liability; Automobile Accidents; Products Liability and Drug Products Liability; and PA Workers’ Compensation. Joe tenaciously worked for and took pride in representing those litigants who were considered “underdogs” in legal jargon. The higher the odds against his client, the harder he worked and more creative he became to litigate the case to a fair settlement or favorable verdict. He often referred to himself as the “Champion of the Underdog,” perhaps because he identified himself as such an underdog, having grown up with learning disabilities that he overcame with his own self-described “guts, grit and gall.”
During Joe’s 62 years of legal practice and devotion to the legal discipline, he received numerous honors and was a member and/or officer of many local, statewide and national professional legal associations. Only a few of his thirty-three (33) memberships and honors are noted here: Past President, Washington County Bar Association; Board of Governors, PA Trial Lawyers Association; Past President, and Founding Member of the Academy of Trial Lawyers of Washington County; Member, Board of Governors, American Trial Lawyers Association; Member of Judicial Advisory Commission, Commonwealth of PA; President and founding member, Southwestern PA Legal Services, Inc.; Member, Melvin Belli Society; 2004 Recipient, PA Trial Lawyers Milton D. Rosenberg Award; Arbitrator and Mediator, U.S. District Court for the Western District of PA; Member, Board of Directors, Craig House School for Special Children. He received the Washington County Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award in 1999.
One devotion that superseded Joe’s devotion to the law was his devotion to his late wife, Judy, with whom he enjoyed over six decades of marriage; his three children, Christopher J. Moschetta, the late Stephen P. Moschetta, Esq., Nicole Moschetta Crofford, Esq. (Matt); and six grandchildren, Stephen, Gianni, Rocco and Isabella Moschetta; and Mia and Eva Crofford. His Son, Stephen and Wife, Judy sadly recently predeceased him. His Brothers, John J. Moschetta, Jr., and C. Jerome Moschetta, and sister-in-law, Janet Sepesy also predeceased Joe. Three siblings, James A. Moschetta, Janet Moschetta Bell and Jean Winfree, survive. Joe contributed his guidance to many nieces and nephews and extended relatives - all of whom respect and cherish him and his mentoring.
Joe had another discipline that he loved as much as the law and that was music. An amateur musician, Joe played the clarinet, tenor and baritone saxophones and piano throughout his life, even in his last days. In high school and college, he formed his own bands and they played for local dances and events. He loved jazz and the music of the Great American Songbook. Joe and his family attended all types of concerts and Broadway musicals throughout their lives. Joe and his wife traveled extensively with professional law associations for meetings and seminars. They vacationed often with the children and grandchildren, spending time together at Florida beaches, Disney, and most recently, cruising near his “homeland,” along the Italian Coast.
Perhaps one of the most cherished memories among those who knew Joe involved his gift of story-telling - - and his hearty laughter. Joe could light up a room with a story and fill the room with the joyful sounds of everyone’s laughter, his included. This truly was a gift that he shared daily with all those within earshot. To be able to create happiness in others through the telling of a story is a wonderful gift that just keeps on giving.
Finally, Joe doctored and battled to stay alive to impart as many life lessons and as much wisdom as possible to his six (6) grandchildren. It was his hope and prayer that they learned and benefitted enormously from his boundless love, mentoring, advice, and wisdom.
Joe was a lifelong Roman Catholic and a member of St. James Parish, Immaculate Conception Church, Washington, PA. The family expresses gratitude to the medical community, hospice caregivers, and private aides who cared for Joe with skill and compassion. The family also wishes to thank all devoted employees in his office and chambers staff who worked tirelessly on the legal causes which he championed.
Friends will be received on Friday, January 9, 2026 from 2 - 4 and 6 - 8 P.M. in the Warco-Falvo Funeral Home, Inc., Wilson at East Katherine Ave., Washington, S. Timothy Warco, Owner/Supervisor, S. Timothy Warco II, Director, Holly Renay Warco, Director. A Departing Prayers of Transfer Service will be held at 9:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 10, 2026 in the funeral home followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 A.M. in the Immaculate Conception Church, St. James Parish, 119 W. Chestnut St., Washington with the Rev. Alec Scheuer as celebrant. Interment will be private in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies, Bridgeville, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Landmark College Office of Institutional Advancement, 19 River Road South, Putney, VT 05346 or Summit Legal Aid, 10 West Cherry Avenue, Washington, PA 15301. Condolences may be expressed at www.WarcoFalvoFuneralHome.com