MEET KATIE
Katie Oliver brings a fair, balanced, and compassionate approach, as well as a wealth of experience, to the Centre County Court.
Before being elected to the the bench, Katie Oliver was a partner in the McQuaide Blasko law firm in State College. She has decades of experience as a civil litigator and trial attorney. She also served as a pro bono mediator for the federal court system and held professional leadership positions at the state and local levels.
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As a Centre County Judge, Judge Oliver presides over all types of cases that come before the court. She has also served on the Centre County Criminal Justice Advisory Board, Centre County Prison Board, and Local Children's Round Table. She facilitated the establishment of the Centre County Courthouse Children's Space––a calm, soothing space for children as they wait for court appearances.
Judge Oliver has been a strong supporter of Centre County's treatment courts as well. She is the presiding judge in the DUI Court and the Behavioral Health Court. Both treatment courts recognize that criminal recidivism is sometimes a sign of an underlying root problem and that with proper supervision and support systems, we can help individuals break that cycle, reduce recidivism, and enhance the safety and well-being of the community. Judge Oliver was a founding member of the Behavioral Health Court. She leads Centre County in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's Behavioral Health Initiative and serves as a co-chair for a multi-county Behavioral Health Initiative District.
Judge Oliver started the Centre County Courthouse Facility Dog Program with her dog, Felia. Felia is training to work primarily in the treatment court setting to help reduce anxiety for participants and encourage meaningful participation in court sessions.
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Katie and her husband, Chris, have lived in Pennsylvania Furnace for the past thirty years. They have two daughters, Gwen and Tia. Along with their dog, Felia, Katie and Chris have two cats, Avi and Mango.​ When not at the Courthouse, Katie enjoys outdoor activities, such as gardening, hiking, and spending time with animals. For several years, she spent Sundays at Rising Hope Therapeutic Riding Center just outside of Milesburg as a volunteer helping to care for horses.​​​​​​
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Katie is grateful for the support of her community––over the past 10 years and looking forward. VOTE YES to retain Katie Oliver on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.
Term
January 2016 – January 2026
Education
The Dickinson School of Law
JD., 1995
Summa Cum Laude, Valedictorian
Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA
B.A., Philosophy, 1991
Cum Laude
Bar Admissions
U.S. Supreme Court
U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of PA
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
As both an attorney and a judge, Katie Oliver has made engagement with associations for the betterment of the legal profession a priority. Some of those activities include:
Trial Advocacy, Penn State Law, adjunct faculty
Negotiation Marathon, Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University, faculty
Mock Interview Program, Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University, advisor
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Family Law and Civil Litigation Sections, panel faculty
New Judge School – Civil Process and Trial Issues, panel faculty
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Civil Jury Trial Task Force, member
Pennsylvania Bar Association Task Force on Electronic Filing and Retrieval, member
Pennsylvania Bar Association, member
Centre County Bar Association, member
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section, past chair and executive officer
Pennsylvania Bar Association, Diversity Task Force, member
Wilkinson-Campbell American Inn of Court, member and past president
