H. Edgar Barnes

Harold Edgar Barnes (June 28, 1883 – October 6, 1940) was an American jurist who was Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue in 1935 and justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania from 1935 until his death in 1940.

Early life Barnes was born in Washington, D.C. on June 28, 1883, to George W. and Lydia (Slee) Barnes. His father was an employee of the federal government. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating from the Wharton School and the University of Pennsylvania Law School. He was admitted to the bar in 1906. He was confirmed by the Pennsylvania Senate on January 16, 1935.

Barnes resigned effective July 31, 1935 to run in that year's Supreme Court election. Prior to the election, Justice Alexander Simpson died and Earle appointed Barnes to succeed him until an election could be held. He was sworn in on August 13, 1935. Pennsylvania Attorney General Charles J. Margiotti ruled that because there were two open seats on the Supreme Court, the top two vote-getters in the 1935 election would be seated on the court. Thus, the winners of the Democratic and Republican primary would each receive a full 21-year term. Barnes easily beat his primary opponent, Michael Musmanno, 215,045 votes to 93,123.

On September 28, 1940, Barnes entered Hahnemann University Hospital to receive treatment for asthma and bronchitis. While there, he suffered a cerebral hemorrhage and died on October 6, 1940.