Jarah’s education includes Keystone High School and Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she studied Communications and Political Science. After college, she attended Duquesne University School of Law. While at Duquesne, she worked as a law clerk to Federal District Court Judge Cercone, performing legal research and assisting the judge with drafting opinions. Jarah also participated in the law school’s Economic and Community Development Clinic, helping non-profit organizations attain tax-exempt status. She has continued to provide this service for local non-profit organizations in our community throughout her career.

After law school, Heeter returned to Clarion County and began her career as law clerk to Clarion County President Judge, James G. Arner. In this role, she attended court proceedings and assisted the county judge with a wide variety of legal issues that came before the court including criminal cases, civil litigation, divorce and custody proceedings, evidentiary and procedural issues. Her responsibilities also included assisting the county’s magisterial district judges when needed. This experience enabled her to develop a thorough understanding of the issues faced by the judges of Clarion County and how to approach and resolve them.

Following her clerkship, Heeter became an Assistant District Attorney in Clarion County, handling the prosecution of a wide variety of criminal matters from preliminary hearings to trials and sentencing. She successfully obtained convictions in drug, theft, child abuse and domestic partner abuse trials. As an ADA, she also argued criminal appeals before the Pennsylvania Superior Court.

Currently, Jarah owns and manages the law firm of Heeter & Associates, PC in Clarion. Heeter has practiced law in Clarion County for more than seventeen years. She has focused her private practice on real estate, estate planning and administration, civil litigation and oil and gas matters. She has been a presenter for NBI continuing legal education seminars related to estate administration. Heeter was previously appointed as the Clarion County solicitor to Children and Youth Services, a Mental Health Review Officer and the Domestic Relations Hearing Officer. Before taking office, she also served on arbitration panels and as a divorce master.

Prior to being elected MDJ, Jarah appeared before all of the Clarion County magisterial district judges as well as magisterial district judges in Armstrong, Venango, Jefferson, Forest and Butler counties. She defended clients in magisterial district courts in criminal matters such as preliminary arraignments, preliminary hearings, summary trials, traffic violations and game commission charges. She also handled civil hearings and pursued civil judgments in the magisterial district courts for businesses, individuals, landlords and tenants.

Jarah’s practice has included civil trials, hearings and arguments at the county court of common pleas level in Clarion, Jefferson, Armstrong, Venango, Forest and Butler counties. She has represented clients in appeals before the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts and the Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.