New and events of the Philadelphia Bar Asso.
Issue link: https://thephiladelphialawyer.epubxp.com/i/574228
DANIEL J. SIEGEL: Let me start with your background. You came from a law firm doing primarily family law and appellate work. What made you decide to become a judge? PRESIDENT JUDGE SUSAN PEIKES GANTMAN: I have been interested in becoming a judge for most of my career. First, I was a law clerk for President Judge Richard Lowe in Montgomery County. I then became an assistant district attorney, followed by becoming a solicitor for the Office of Children and Youth. While I was in law school, I worked with the public defenders' office in Montgomery County for a year doing appeals. Later I practiced family law with the law firm of Sherr Joffe & Zuckerman, and then with Cozen O'Connor, where I was co-chair of its family law section. I have a background in appeals in family law, juvenile law, child protective services, criminal law and insurance. Can you tell us a little bit about your mentors? I had four very strong mentors. Ray Pearlstine, an attorney in Montgomery County, was my father's lawyer. Remember, when I went to law school in 1974, there were very few women lawyers. There were even fewer women who were practicing law in the counties, and Ray Pearlstine was extremely helpful in terms of giving legal advice – what I should look for, providing me with guidance in terms of good humor, "Don't take things personally." People were very critical of young women who were going to law school at that time, and there was a hostile environment. When I graduated from law school, he was helpful in terms of assisting me to apply for jobs. I obtained a clerkship as President Judge Lowe's first female law clerk. He was very nervous about hiring me, but PHOTOGRAPHED BY John Carlano 16 the philadelphia lawyer Fall 2015 1 0 QUESTIONS for President Judge Susan Peikes Gantman INTERVIEW BY DANIEL J. SIEGEL H on. Susan Peikes Gantman was appointed by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court as President Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, in 2014. She was appointed Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, in 2003. Judge Gantman has practiced in domestic law, juvenile law and appellate law for most of her career. From 1981 until 2003, she was in private practice. She was a partner and chair of the domestic relations section of Sherr Joffe & Zuckerman, P.C., and then a senior member and co-chair of the family law section at Cozen O'Connor, prior to her appointment to the bench. Early in her career Judge Gantman served as a Montgomery County assistant district attorney, and then county solicitor, after clerking for Hon. Richard S. Lowe, Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Gantman received her juris doctorate from Villanova University School of Law, and her master of arts and bachelor of arts degrees, cum laude, from the University of Pennsylvania. S U P E R I O R C O U R T O F P E N N S Y LVA N I A