Harold L. Ervin

Harold LeRoy Ervin (April 5, 1895 – November 26, 1990) was a member of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania from 1954 to 1967. He was the President Judge of the court from 1965 to 1967.

Early life Ervin was the son of Peter B. and Martha E. Ervin. His parents died when he was young and he was raised by his grandparents, John H. and Hannah H. Ervin in Catawissa, Pennsylvania. He finished elementary and high school in Catawissa while becoming interested in law from his childhood neighbor, Charles Fisher who was a local attorney. He was able to complete his undergraduate degree in three years of taking classes where he tutored students and worked during the summers to pay his tuition. He also served as a second lieutenant of infantry in the U.S. Army during World War I.

After graduation, Ervin started his law practice in Media, Pennsylvania.

Common Pleas Court In July 1941, Ervin was appointed by Governor Arthur James to the Delaware County Common Pleas Court. and become the county’s presiding judge from 1948 to 1954. As a judge his main focus was on moving cases more efficiently through the court system while still providing justice. He was able to keep the number of backlogged cases in Delaware County to a minimum.

Retirement Ervin retired from the court on January 1, 1968. His wife, Ruth, had died in February 1963. His son, who was also an attorney, died in 1972. He married a second time to Elsie Margaret Peterson. She died in 1985. He died in 1990.

Ervin was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the American Legion, and the Union League of Philadelphia.