Alan Benyak Announces Candidacy for Washington County Common Pleas Judge

Alan Benyak, a former Army major who served in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps as an Army lawyer, announced his candidacy for a seat on the Court of Common Pleas in Washington County.

He made the announcement on Monday.

Benyak, 49, of Carroll Township, served four years on active duty and an additional eight years in the Army reserves before leaving the military to start a successful private practice in Washington County. During the course of his military career, he also was appointed to serve as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.

“I was honored to serve my country and my fellow military personnel as a lawyer, and now I would like to bring time that experience to the civilian courts,” said Benyak, the only military veteran seeking a seat on the Court of the Common Pleas.

Benyak said he is concerned by the fact that none of the county’s judges or prosecutors has a military background at a time when more and more cases involve veterans struggling to return to civilian life.

“A decade of war has left an immeasurable effect on our service men and women, especially those who have been deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. We are fortunate in Washington County that the justice system has recognized that fact and created a special Veterans’ Court. I applaud that decision," he said. "Now it is time to have a judge on the bench who understands the circumstances and hardships facing returning veterans and their families.”

During the course of his military career, Benyak was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Superior Unit Award (Desert Storm), National Defense Service Medal (Desert Storm), Army Achievement Medal and Army Service Ribbon.

Upon leaving the military, Benyak began a private legal practice focused on estate planning and administration, family law, municipal law, general civil litigation and real estate.

He currently serves as legal counsel to the Mon Valley Police Association and Municipal Authority of Belle Vernon, and he is a board member and officer of the Donora Public Library.

In addition, he has served as a solicitor for numerous other boroughs, townships, and community organizations.

“My work as an Army lawyer and, for the last two decades as a private practitioner, gives me the depth and breadth of experience needed to serve on the Common Pleas Court," he said in a release.

Benyak earned the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. He was the recipient of an Army ROTC Scholarship that helped him further his education following his graduation from Southmoreland Senior High School. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Waynesburg University in 1985 and a law degree from Capital University in 1988 before graduating from The Judge Advocate General’s School in the Charlottesville, VA.

Over the course of his professional career, Benyak has been active on the boards of Community Action Southwest Head Start, Community Ambulance Service, Inc., Washington Township Area Senior Citizens, The Redstone Cemetery and the United Way.

He is a member of American Legion Post 22 in Charleroi and both the Washington and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. He is a Mason and a member of the Sons of Italy.