Greensburg native, Pa. attorney general's career in public service 'incredibly gratifying'

Feb. 19—As a child, Michelle Henry can remember passing by the county courthouse every school day on her way from Underwood Avenue to the former West Pittsburgh Street Elementary School in Greensburg,

"That building and what they did in there always had an impact on me, in a way that maybe other people don't experience," said Henry, 53, who recently was appointed acting Pennsylvania attorney general for the final two years of now-

Gov. Josh Shapiro's term.

And despite spending most of her legal career on the eastern side of the state, Henry said her path was shaped by her time growing up in Westmoreland County.

After graduating from Greensburg Salem, Henry attended Allegheny College before heading to law school at Widener University and taking on an internship at the Westmoreland County district attorney's office.

"That was an incredible experience for me, going in and watching the different trials," she said. "I was so impressed with the prosecutors, the job they did and the fact that they were fighting for victims."

Henry carried that philosophy with her as she began more than two decades in the Bucks County district attorney's office, where she took leading roles in prosecuting child abuse and major crimes cases, eventually earning

appointment to county district attorney in 2008.

"You have to really be guided by the law and do the right thing for the right reasons," she said. "You have to be passionate about what you do — willing to put in long hours and be a voice for victims. The child abuse work in Bucks County felt incredibly important and gratifying. I encountered a lot of victims who really had no one in their lives."

'She shows up 100%'

Julie Ebersole, 54, of Greensburg, has been friends with Henry since the eighth grade. And while a teenage Ebersole wouldn't have guessed that her friend would go on to become state attorney general, she's also not that surprised.

"In our group of friends, we've always viewed her as sort of a leader and someone who's always seeking to help other people," Ebersole said. "She's always been a fun person, but she's also been very focused on getting the job done, whether that was her studies, her work — she shows up 100% of the time, and I think those qualities have guided her along the path she chose."

During Shapiro's time as state attorney general, Henry began serving as his first deputy, the first woman in the state to fill that role.

"After the previous administration, there wasn't a lot of public trust in the office or trust from law enforcement partners," she said. "We made it a mission to really regain that trust with the public, our district attorney partners and others, and it has changed dramatically."

Henry said when the Shapiro administration began settling into the office, referrals from district attorneys were at an all-time low.

"They're at an all-time high now, and the partners we work with reach out and collaborate extensively with us," she said.

Won't seek office

Henry said while becoming Pennsylvania Attorney General is not something she actively sought, coming into the position after working in the office for six years made the transition an easy one.

"There's no learning curve," Henry said. "I know what we've been doing and how we do things. That was my No. 1 priority: keep the good work going without missing a beat."

That said, Henry doesn't have any plans to run for the office.

"I feel it's really important for me to continue what we started the past six years, but I'm not going to be seeking this office," she said. "Under the right circumstances, I'd love to get back into the courtroom."

As she settles into her new role as the state's top law enforcement official, Henry said her hometown of Greensburg is never far from her mind.

"I feel very lucky to have grown up in this community," she said. "My friends and teachers from here are still a big part of my life, and it helped me be passionate about what I did.

"Public service is long hours and a big commitment, but it's incredibly gratifying," she said.

Ebersole said she could barely contain her pride when she heard about Henry's appointment.

"To see her come to this point in her career — I'm almost like a proud mother," Ebersole said. "It's amazing to have her in my life, and to hear her passion for making sure victims have their day in court and receive justice."

This story is updated to reflect the fact that Michelle Henry attended West Pittsburgh Street Elementary School.

Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick by email at pvarine@triblive.com or via Twitter .