Jon Bruno is an appellate lawyer and former appellate federal prosecutor. He has successfully litigated dozens of appeals in state and federal courts, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.  His oral advocacy has been commended as “excellent,” and his written work as “masterful[ ]” and “comprehensive.”
 
Jon’s passion is helping trial counsel uphold their victories and undo their losses on appeal.  He also offers consulting services and legal research and writing services to trial lawyers facing complex issues, dispositive motions, post-trial motions, and related challenges.
 
In recent years, Jon’s successes have included:

• Securing rehearing en banc of an adverse precedential decision of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, thereby reviving trial counsel’s case (consulting engagement)*
• Obtaining affirmance of a $2.8 million punitive damages award in a business torts case in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (co‑counsel)*
• Attaining reversal of an $8 million attorney fee award in a commercial case before the Superior Court of Pennsylvania (co‑counsel)*

Before launching Bruno Litigation LLC, Jon served the people of Western Pennsylvania as an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA). In that role, he handled a wide range of criminal appellate matters in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.  His work resulted in the affirmance of numerous just convictions and sentences, safeguarding the public from violent offenders, drug traffickers, and child predators. Jon also became a trusted advisor to his fellow prosecutors on constitutional matters and novel legal issues.
 
Before his government service, Jon practiced civil and appellate law at a distinguished litigation boutique in Pittsburgh.  He began his legal career as judicial law clerk to the Honorable D. Michael Fisher of the Third Circuit.
 
A frequent writer and presenter, Jon is the author of Pa. Super. Blog and has published articles on aspects of appellate practice, personal injury law, and similar topics.  He is a member and past officer of the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s (PBA) Appellate Advocacy Committee and an appointed member of its Amicus Curiae Brief Committee. Jon also is a proud member of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ) and Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association (WPTLA). In addition, in 2026, Jon was appointed by Chief Judge Michael A. Chagares to the Third Circuit’s Lawyers Advisory Committee.
 
Before turning to full-time law practice, Jon spent several years in academia.  He taught legal research and writing at Harvard Law School. He later served as Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Michigan and a junior fellow at the Michigan Society of Fellows.
 
Jon graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he served as a research assistant to Professor (and now Dean) John C. P. Goldberg.  He went on to earn a Ph.D. from Harvard’s Department of Government, which awarded him the Robert Noxon Toppan Prize.
 
Jon lives with his beloved family—wife, two sons, and daughter—in Pittsburgh. A believer in the value of service, he volunteers on his local municipal planning board, serves in various roles at his parish, and coaches little league baseball.