Get to know Ilan Zur

For the past 26 years, Ilan Zur has been serving the citizens of Allegheny County as a prosecutor in the District Attorney’s office. He began working as an assistant D.A. in 1999, 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. The majority of Ilan’s career has been spent as a homicide prosecutor where he has fought passionately to bring murderers to justice and closure for victims’ families.

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 Narcotics Division. Ilan has seen first-hand the impact of guns and senseless violence on communities and families. To combat this, Ilan and his unit seek justice for victims of gun violence across the county with a hard stance on illegal gun possession.

When Ilan isn’t in the courtroom, or at home with his family, you’ll find him playing in the ACBA’s softball and basketball leagues, or at the JCC shooting hoops with friends.

While he was born in New York City, Pittsburgh has been his home since 1990 when he moved here 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, and recently Ilan’s mom, Dalia, moved in as well.

Zur’s two decades of experience working in the criminal justice system taught him that not all cases are as simple as right and wrong; he has learned to never prejudge a situation or a person.

As a judge, he will listen to both sides with an open mind before rendering a verdict or imposing a sentence. He takes the presumption of innocence seriously, recognizing every case is different and will stand on its own. His everyday desire to help people underpins his devotion to public service and he will bring that innate drive with him to the bench.