For the past 26 years, Ilan Zur has been serving the citizens of Allegheny County by fighting for victims of violent crime. Ilan began working in the District Attorney’s Office as an assistant D.A. in 1998, shortly after graduating from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law. Ilan is an experienced trial attorney with an expert knowledge of the rules of evidence, criminal procedure, and the law. He has spent thousands of hours in the courtroom having tried over 400 cases before judges and juries, including 60 homicide trials. The majority of Ilan’s career has been spent prosecuting homicide cases to fight for justice in our communities.
Ilan’s trial expertise, integrity, and commitment to developing the skills of young lawyers, culminated in his promotion to Deputy District Attorney in 2013, when he was selected to supervise the Violent Crimes and Firearms Division. In this role, Ilan is responsible for directing the prosecution of most gun violence offenses within Allegheny County. Zur has seen first-hand the impact of gun violence on communities. To combat this, Ilan and his unit seek justice for victims of gun violence across the county.
When Ilan isn’t in the courtroom, or at home with his family, you’ll find him playing in the Bar Association’s softball league, or at the JCC shooting hoops with friends. Ilan moved to Pittsburgh in 1990 to attend Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Management and a Minor in Architecture. Ilan and his wife, Lisa, live in Squirrel Hill with their three children.
Zur’s two and half decades of experience working in the criminal justice system have taught him that not all cases are as simple as right and wrong; he has learned to never prejudge a situation or a person. He takes the presumption of innocence seriously, recognizing every case is different and will stand on its own. As a judge, Ilan will promote an atmosphere of respect, patience, thoughtfulness, and open-mindedness that is necessary for a community-focused approach to criminal justice. His everyday desire to help people underpins his devotion to public service and he will bring that innate drive with him to the bench.
