Candidate: Dawn Getty Sutphin

Court: Delaware County Court of Common Pleas

Party: Democrat and Republican

The following has been edited lightly for length and style.

The Legal Intelligencer: Tell us about your background, where you went to law school, what firms you have practiced at, and areas of law you focus on.

Dawn Getty Sutphin: I obtained my J.D. from Widener University School of Law and an LL.M. from Villanova University School of Law.

During my 34 years as a lawyer, I have clerked for a federal trial judge (The Honorable William Caldwell), practiced in the litigation department at Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll, handled environmental compliance and litigation matters for PECO Energy Company (for 15 years), and served in the Delaware County Public Defender's Office, representing indigent juveniles and adults in the court in which I am running for judge. I currently maintain a successful private practice focusing on estate planning and probate in my local community, am a mentor to high school and college students, coach mock trial, and am an adjunct professor at Lancaster Bible College where I educate our next generation of students going into law enforcement, law, social services and government.

I have always had a deep respect for our Constitution, the evolution of our laws and how they have shaped our country. As a high school student, I took Grass Roots Politics, helped run a mock political campaign, and worked on Rep. Bob Edgar's campaign for the [U.S.] House of Representatives. While at Penn State, I interned for two years with the Penn State police department with the intention of going into law enforcement after graduation. It was while I was waiting to take the State Police exam that I decided, instead, to go to law school.

The Legal: What is one major thing about your career experience that most qualifies you for this position, and why?

Sutphin: Judges are the gatekeepers of our Constitution and of our justice system. What most qualifies me for this position is my 34 years of professional experience as a law clerk, private sector attorney, in-house counsel, assistant public defender and solo practitioner. My continued passion for learning (as a student, mentor, coach and professor) and my varied professional experience, have exposed me to almost every aspect of the law from various perspectives. Most importantly, my experience has made me acutely aware of the need for every person to be treated with respect and dignity and the need to ensure integrity and fairness in every stage of the justice system.

The Legal: What is the main reason Pennsylvania voters should pick you?

Sutphin: The driving motivation in my career is the belief that our founding fathers created a well-designed, yet fragile, legal system that can only be successful if those responsible for creating, enforcing and interpreting the laws act with integrity and fairness. I work hard and I am known for being fair, impartial, even-tempered, genuine, intelligent and a good listener. I conduct myself with integrity in both my personal life and professional life. In recent years, I have demonstrated my commitment to serving the indigent by putting my private practice on the side-burner to serve almost 10 years at the Public Defender's Office, and I have demonstrated my commitment to the future of our country by educating the next generation of those working in the legal system; training them to be fair and to act with integrity.

Being a judge is an act of service that is best performed by a person who, like me, has demonstrated integrity, fairness, a strong work ethic, legal knowledge and experience as a litigator, over the course of a strong, varied and successful career. I am not a politician and I love practicing law. I would consider it a privilege to leverage my 34 years of experience practicing law to honorably undertake what I believe is one of the most important commitments of service to my County.

The Legal: What will be your approach to moving matters efficiently through the case management system?

Sutphin: My approach to moving matters efficiently through the case management system will be to maintain a firm and fair calendar for myself as well as those who appear before me. As a trial attorney, I know what it takes to manage a heavy caseload. I will encourage efficiency by recommending diversionary programs or settlement where appropriate. Leading by example, I will expect counsel to be prepared and timely, and will encourage them to be civil and cooperative with each other.

The Legal: What would you say to voters regarding your plans to ensure the equal administration of justice for all people?

Sutphin: The equal administration of justice starts long before individuals get to court. I will expect law enforcement personnel, as well as counsel, to act with integrity and within the scope of the Constitution and the law. I will treat all parties with respect and dignity, expecting others to do the same and I will encourage counsel to seek justice and fairness over victory. I will be impartial, beholden to no individual and no political party. I will work to eliminate discrimination in setting bail and in sentencing by using the guidelines effectively. In addition, I will participate in opportunities for judicial involvement in identifying, creating, evaluating and reviewing initiatives intended to identify discrimination and ensure its elimination.

The Legal: Where can voters go for more information about you?

Sutphin: Voters can find more information about me at www.DawnGettySutphinforJudge.com, and on my Facebook page Dawn Getty Sutphin for Judge.

Thank you for taking the time to review my information.