About Heather

Heather's Background & Experience

With over 23 years as a Family Law Attorney, I have the experience, qualifications, temperament, compassion and values that are so important to have in a sitting judge.

I was born and raised in Dormont Borough where I still reside. My upbringing inspired my dedication to hard work and my community. My lived experience as a young woman shaped my work ethic and fostered my understanding, empathy, and compassion for the challenges others face throughout life. My mother was a stay-at-home mom, and my dad, a local Pittsburgh artist, designed the artwork on the iconic Pittsburgh Pirates Iron City Beer cans of the 1970’s and 1980’s, including the famous “We are Family” World Series collector’s item Iron City beer can in 1979, before he passed in 1987.

My grandfathers were proud Pittsburgh union members, and my grandmother was a dedicated Democratic political volunteer who worked on many local and county-wide campaigns for Democratic candidates.

I am proud of my work ethic. I began working at age 15 when my dad passed. Before becoming an attorney, I worked full-time during the day while pursuing my undergraduate degree and my Juris Doctorate. During that time, I spent six years in the Allegheny County District Attorney's Office, where I gained invaluable experience working in the general trial department, the sentencing guidelines division, and as a law clerk for the Deputy District Attorney in the Homicide Division.

I earned my Bachelor of Arts degree, Cum Laude, in Political Science and International Studies from Point Park College in 1993 and my Juris Doctorate from Duquesne University School of Law in 2001. I was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in October 2001 and to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania in April 2013.

My legal career began as an associate at Goldberg, Gruener, Gentile, Horoho & Avalli, P.C., where I had the privilege of working with the late Gary G. Gentile, Esquire among many other accomplished attorneys. In 2009, I became a partner at Voelker, Gricks & Schmidt, LLP, and in 2010, I joined Leger & Ball, P.C. (now Fiscus Ball, P.C) as an equity shareholder. In 2016, I opened my own practice, Schmidt Bresnahan Law Group, LLC, where I focus on family law. My firm provides an array of services, including divorce, child custody, spousal support, protection from abuse, grandparent custody rights, marital agreements, wills, and estate administration. My 23 years as a family law attorney has provided me with the real-world courtroom experience that separates me from other candidates.

In addition to running my practice, I serve as a Hearing Officer with the Allegheny County Retirement Board, and I volunteer monthly with Neighborhood Legal Services to assist with their Protection from Abuse (PFA) caseload.

Throughout my career, I’ve been honored to be named a Pennsylvania Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in Family Law (2006, 2011) and to be recognized as one of Pittsburgh Magazine and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s “50 Finest” young professionals (2005). I have also served as a Dormont Borough Council member, a Democratic Party Committee person for Dormont Borough’s 5th District and Secretary of the Brehon Society of Irish Lawmakers.

I am running for Judge of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas because I believe in the importance of fairness, compassion, and integrity in our justice system. I am committed to creating a courtroom where every individual is heard, respected, and treated fairly. I know I can bring a positive impact to the families and individuals of Allegheny County by ensuring a fair and balanced approach to justice. It would be my honor to serve our community as a Judge on the Court of Common Pleas.