HARRISBURG (May 14, 2013) - James J. Ross, partner in the law firm of Bowers, Ross & Fawcett LLC in Ambridge, began a three-year term on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors at the conclusion of the association's annual meeting on May 10 in Pittsburgh. Ross will represent county bar associations on the board.

Ross is a past president of the Beaver County Bar Association and has chaired the association's Civil Rules and Charitable Giving Committees. In 2008, he received the Judge James E. Rowley Service Award for outstanding commitment and dedication to the Beaver County Bar Association and to the legal profession.

Ross also is a member of the Board of Governors for the Western Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association and the Pennsylvania Association for Justice.

Ross has served as a member of the Civil Justice Advisory Group to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, which advised the court on the efficient and cost-effective management of civil litigation. He was also appointed by the U.S. District Court to the Merit Selection Committee to review candidates and to recommend finalists to the Court for the position of U.S. Magistrate Judge.

Active in numerous civic and legal entities, he currently serves on the Beaver County YMCA Endowment Committee. Ross previously served on the board of directors for the Beaver County YMCA and Erie Special Olympics. He also served as president of One-to-One Citizen Advocacy.

Ross earned an undergraduate degree from Baldwin Wallace College, a master's degree in public administration from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and a juris doctor from Ohio Northern University.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 28,000 lawyers who are members of the association.