Exceptional Candidates for Court of Common Pleas Will Bring Diversity to the Bench

On Tuesday November 3rd, Montgomery County Residents, among other things, will be electing three new Common Pleas Court Judges. It is quite accurate to say that that this is an important election for this office, and that voters think seriously about the three candidates they decide to elect and understand the basis for their decision. The position has a term of ten (10) years, at such time they don’t stand for re-election, but a yes or no vote for retention.

“An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. Judges should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing, and should themselves observe, high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved.” Pa. Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 1

“Judges should be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it. They should not be swayed by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism. …Judges should be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom they deal in their official capacity, and should require similar conduct of lawyers, and their staff, court officials, and others subject to their direction and control.” Pa. Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3

Judges in Montgomery County handle a broad range of legal matters. They are required to know not only the Rules of Criminal and Civil Procedure and the Rules of Evidence, they must also know the law or have the ability to quickly learn the law in a broad range of legal matters. Regardless of the voter’s political party, one should consider the candidate’s years of experience in both criminal and civil courts, as well as recommended by their peers from the Montgomery County Bar Association.

I have personally met and spoken with the following three individuals, and believe that all three (3) have the demeanor, personality and intellect to decide cases. They have over fifty years of combined experience and have the demeanor to decide cases that would come before them fairly. Competence, Integrity, Fairness and Respect are the hallmarks of a great judge. All three (3) these candidates have these attributes, and will not only serve Montgomery County well as judges, but will promote our democracy by upholding the highest standards of our judiciary, when elected.

I encourage you to read their qualifications below, and give due consideration when you come out to vote on November 3rd , and enter the voting booth.

Natasha Taylor-Smith

Assistant Solicitor providing counsel to several human services departments for Montgomery County

Former public defender and owner of a small law firm

Adjunct faculty member in the trial advocacy program at Temple University School of Law and featured Continuing Legal Education presenter for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute

Board member at Genesis II, a drug and alcohol facility for women with children, and an active member of Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown

B.A., Hampton University, J.D., Temple University School of Law

Todd Eisenberg

Lead claims counsel for Peco Energy Company, handling a significant portion of the company’s civil litigation

Former solicitor for several municipalities in Montgomery County and previous owner of his own private practice

Trial advocacy instructor for Temple University and the National Institute of Trial Advocacy

Montgomery County Child Advocacy Project volunteer, representing children in PFA hearings and dependency matters

B.A., Boston University, J.D., Widener University School of Law, Master of Legal Letters in Trial Advocacy, Temple University

Daniel Clifford

Partner at the Weber Gallagher law firm

Immediate past chair of the 1,300-member Pennsylvania Bar Association Family Law Section, 2014 recipient of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Pro Bono Award

Chair of the Zoning Hear Board in Springfield since 1997, presiding over hundreds of evidentiary hearings

Fellow of the International Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, hearing committee member serving the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, board member for Adoptions From the Heart and the Equality Forum, member of the Advisory Board for Children and Youth, Montgomery County

B.A., Indiana University of Pennsylvania, J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law