Chase McClister’s grandfather was Dr. Edward McClister, who was one of Kittanning Hospital’s earliest general surgeons and who practiced medicine in Kittanning for fifty years. Chases’s father James has been a Kittanning attorney for almost 60 years. The family has roots in Armstrong County going back 220 years.

James McClister and his wife Joey made their home in Manor Township. Chase and his younger sister Nell grew up in a fairly rural setting, with a pet lamb and many dogs to keep them company.

Chase attended Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York, where his academic focus was on philosophy and where he developed a love of writing. After college he moved on to The Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, where he was recognized in a national honor society for his trial advocacy and legal brief writing. While at Dickinson Law, Chase was the supervisor of the school’s Prison Clinic, providing free legal assistance to inmates in the state prison system. In that capacity, he found himself helping young Romanian refugees seeking political asylum. They were fleeing political oppression in their home country in the early 1990’s in the chaos that followed the collapse of Communist regimes throughout Eastern Europe.

Chase returned to Armstrong County and joined his father and Harvey Heilman in the partnership of Heilman and McClister. As he built up a civil practice, his criminal practice consisted of defense work in the first couple of years. In 1998 Chase was sworn in as an Assistant District Attorney for Armstrong County. He has been a prosecutor for almost 19 years.

During his years in the District Attorney’s office, Chase has tried many jury trials, including several murder cases. He prosecuted the first death penalty case in Armstrong County in 47 years. Ironically, his law partner Harvey Heilman was the trial attorney in the previous death penalty case, back in 1957.

The position as Assistant District Attorney is a part time one. Chase continued to have a busy private practice. Real estate, wills, trusts, and estate planning are the heart of the practice. In addition, Chase has represented boroughs, townships, and Armstrong County as solicitor.

Chase married Wick City native Mindy Pella in 2007. A former Armstrong County probation officer, Mindy has had her own years of experience in the criminal justice system. Mindy and Chase have four boys: Jacob (15); Alex (7); Colin (6); and John (4). They live in East Franklin Township with their six cats and two dogs.

Chase has been a beekeeper for seven years. Though he keeps relatively few hives, McClister Honey has developed a good following. Alex and Colin have their own beekeeping veils and are very interested in the hobby as well.

The McClisters enjoy fishing, riding bicycles, and walks in the woods. Chase and Mindy enjoy cross country skiing, attending Steelers, Pirates and Penguin games, and going out to see live music. Chase is an avid reader of biographies and history, and he has spent time gathering and compiling his own family history.

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On November 21, 2016, Chase McClister announced that he is a candidate for judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Armstrong County. This follows the announcement of the retirement of President Judge Kenneth G. Valasek at the end of this year.

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