2019 Distinguished Leader—Petrese Tucker
In an important decision for LGBTQ rights, U.S. District Judge Petrese Tucker of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania ruled in favor of Philadelphia in a case involving a Catholic foster care agency that refused to place children with same-sex couple.
June 16, 2019 at 11:32 AM
2 minute read
By The Legal Intelligencer
Petrese Tucker, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Petrese Tucker, U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Judge Petrese B. Tucker is chief judge of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and the first woman to serve in that position in the district. She is also the first African American woman on the Eastern District bench. She joined the bench in 2000, nominated by President Bill Clinton, after serving for 13 years as a state judge in the First Judicial District.
In an important decision for LGBTQ rights, Tucker ruled in favor of Philadelphia in a case involving a Catholic foster care agency that refused to place children with same-sex couple. She found that Catholic Social Services had violated the nondiscrimination clause of its contract by discriminating against members of the LGBTQ community. After hearing the agency's appeal in November, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit affirmed Tucker's ruling.
The legal profession is constantly evolving and that evolution only seems to have accelerated in recent years. What's the biggest change you've seen in the profession during your career?
The legal profession is constantly evolving and that evolution only seems to have accelerated in recent years.
What is one thing about the profession that has remained unchanged over the years?
I am pleased to state that the biggest change I have seen during my career is the expansion of diversity/inclusion among lawyers.
Name one thing you've learned over the course of your career that you wish you knew as a young lawyer.
Although the players have been more diverse, the same demographic continues to dominate firms and those in positions of authority.
This content has been archived. It is available through our partners, LexisNexis® and Bloomberg Law.
To view this content, please continue to their sites.
Not a Lexis Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
Not a Bloomberg Law Subscriber?
Subscribe Now
NOT FOR REPRINT
© 2025 ALM Global, LLC, All Rights Reserved. Request academic re-use from www.copyright.com. All other uses, submit a request to [email protected]. For more information visit Asset & Logo Licensing.
You Might Like
View All
How Alzheimer’s and Other Cognitive Diseases Affect Guardianship, POAs and Estate Planning
7 minute read
Trending Stories
- 1Trump's Pick for SEC Chair Likely to Stymie Shareholder Proposals from ESG Advocates
- 2Adobe’s Chief Cyber Legal & Privacy Officer Talks Managing Gen AI Risks, Cyber Training
- 3The M&A Partners Who Drove the Most Business as Deal Leads Last Year
- 4Recent Ford Bronco Battery Recall Draws Pa. Class Action
- 5Office of Special Counsel Chief Challenges Firing 'Without Cause'
Who Got The Work
J. Brugh Lower of Gibbons has entered an appearance for industrial equipment supplier Devco Corporation in a pending trademark infringement lawsuit. The suit, accusing the defendant of selling knock-off Graco products, was filed Dec. 18 in New Jersey District Court by Rivkin Radler on behalf of Graco Inc. and Graco Minnesota. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Zahid N. Quraishi, is 3:24-cv-11294, Graco Inc. et al v. Devco Corporation.
Who Got The Work
Rebecca Maller-Stein and Kent A. Yalowitz of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer have entered their appearances for Hanaco Venture Capital and its executives, Lior Prosor and David Frankel, in a pending securities lawsuit. The action, filed on Dec. 24 in New York Southern District Court by Zell, Aron & Co. on behalf of Goldeneye Advisors, accuses the defendants of negligently and fraudulently managing the plaintiff's $1 million investment. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick, is 1:24-cv-09918, Goldeneye Advisors, LLC v. Hanaco Venture Capital, Ltd. et al.
Who Got The Work
Attorneys from A&O Shearman has stepped in as defense counsel for Toronto-Dominion Bank and other defendants in a pending securities class action. The suit, filed Dec. 11 in New York Southern District Court by Bleichmar Fonti & Auld, accuses the defendants of concealing the bank's 'pervasive' deficiencies in regards to its compliance with the Bank Secrecy Act and the quality of its anti-money laundering controls. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, is 1:24-cv-09445, Gonzalez v. The Toronto-Dominion Bank et al.
Who Got The Work
Crown Castle International, a Pennsylvania company providing shared communications infrastructure, has turned to Luke D. Wolf of Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani to fend off a pending breach-of-contract lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 25 in Michigan Eastern District Court by Hooper Hathaway PC on behalf of The Town Residences LLC, accuses Crown Castle of failing to transfer approximately $30,000 in utility payments from T-Mobile in breach of a roof-top lease and assignment agreement. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Susan K. Declercq, is 2:24-cv-13131, The Town Residences LLC v. T-Mobile US, Inc. et al.
Who Got The Work
Wilfred P. Coronato and Daniel M. Schwartz of McCarter & English have stepped in as defense counsel to Electrolux Home Products Inc. in a pending product liability lawsuit. The court action, filed Nov. 26 in New York Eastern District Court by Poulos Lopiccolo PC and Nagel Rice LLP on behalf of David Stern, alleges that the defendant's refrigerators’ drawers and shelving repeatedly break and fall apart within months after purchase. The case, assigned to U.S. District Judge Joan M. Azrack, is 2:24-cv-08204, Stern v. Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
Featured Firms
Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates, P.C.
(470) 294-1674
Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone
(857) 444-6468
Smith & Hassler
(713) 739-1250
