Jill Beck Runs for Pennsylvania Superior Court

Candidate: Jill Beck

Court: Superior Court

Party: Democrat

Pennsylvania Bar Association rating: Highly recommended

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.

Jill Beck: I attended law school at Duquesne University School of Law, where I graduated at the top of my class. While there, I served on the law review as both a writer and editor. I had two writings published while in law school: a law review article discussing a recent change in the law concerning child support in Pennsylvania and a chapter on juvenile procedure, which was incorporated into a book authored by a professor of mine on Pennsylvania criminal procedure.

I spent the summer following my first year of law school working in the Butler County Court of Common Pleas. The president judge commissioned me to draft two sets of procedures for the detention of juveniles—the first for Butler County Children and Youth Services and the second for Butler County’s Juvenile Court Services (juvenile probation). I also drafted procedures for the Butler County Court of Common Pleas to use for the emancipation of minors. In my downtime that summer, on my own initiative, I authored plain-language pamphlets explaining the dependency and delinquency processes.

My work in Butler County further provided me the opportunity to draft judicial decisions at the trial court level addressing family, juvenile, criminal, civil and orphans’ court matters. During my third year of law school, I worked as a certified legal intern with the Allegheny County Office of the District Attorney in the Child Abuse and Narcotics Units from August to December 2005.…

Following my completion of the Pennsylvania Bar Exam I began my legal career with KidsVoice, a private nonprofit organization that represents abused, neglected and at-risk children from Allegheny County in dependency and ancillary matters. … During my tenure at KidsVoice I had an average caseload of approximately 200 clients at a given time and was typically in court three to four days every week. In this position, I litigated cases in the juvenile and orphans’ court divisions and represented clients accused of criminal offenses before area magistrates. I also represented my clients before the Superior Court. … From 2008 through 2010, I chaired the [KidsVoice] criminal representation committee, the school expulsion committee and the McKinney-Vento committee (when appropriate, helping children remain in their school of origin when placed in foster care). I also served as the training coordinator for the Independent Living Advocacy Group at KidsVoice from 2007 through 2010. Further, I regularly volunteered to supervise interns and externs at KidsVoice.…

Based on my experience doing appellate work, I pursued a clerkship opportunity with [Justice] Christine Donohue. I spent just under 10 years in her chambers—six years on the Superior Court and four years on the Supreme Court—drafting over 500 decisions … [and] reviewing and editing every decision that came out of the chambers prior to publication. In Donohue’s Supreme Court chambers, I also reviewed, analyzed and made recommendations to the justice regarding several hundred proposed changes to Pennsylvania’s Rules of Court for all areas of practice and the boards of the court. … I also organized and administered Donohue’s internship and externship program.…

I joined the law firm of Blank Rome as a civil litigator in 2019. I provided representation and advice to clients in a broad variety of civil cases, including both individual and class action lawsuits, representing nonprofit organizations, businesses and financial institutions. I also regularly provided free legal representation and assistance to vulnerable and underserved members of my community, including members of the LGBTQ+ community, veterans and victims of domestic violence, wage theft, racial discrimination and gun violence resulting from illegal firearm sales; assisting those experiencing housing insecurity; supporting low-income criminal defendants seeking to secure the same constitutional protections as those with means; and volunteering to aid in voter protection efforts.

Additionally, I brought several new pro bono initiatives to Blank Rome’s Pittsburgh office, including a partnership with the Allegheny County Office of the Public Defender for the representation of protest arrestees following the murder of George [Floyd] and the creation of fact sheets for the Neighborhood Legal Services Association, a civil legal aid organization, to put on its website to help litigants representing themselves navigate various legal proceedings. In addition to my litigation practice, I took on several leadership roles at Blank Rome. I served as chair of the Blank Rome Pittsburgh office pro bono coordinating committee as well as the pro bono working groups of the firm at large addressing civil rights, systemic criminal justice reform and voter protection efforts. I was the co-chair of Blank Rome’s pro bono working group aimed at protecting the right to protest.

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

Beck: I have almost 20 years of experience in the areas of law that come before the Superior Court—criminal, civil, family, juvenile and orphans’ court matters. I have represented clients in all these areas, trying over 1,400 cases that are within the Superior Court’s jurisdiction. I have practiced in the Superior Court and in appellate courts across the country. And I clerked on the Superior and Supreme courts and drafted over 500 decisions of the very kind I will decide if elected. My diverse work experience has given me a keen understanding of a Superior Court case from inception to conclusion from every side and position in a matter. I have seen them all firsthand as a litigator, as a clerk or both. I have a familiarity with the law, and equally as important, I have a profound understanding of the human aspect of the cases that come before the court. My litigation work has largely been in fast-paced, high-volume courts, and my clerking experience has been spent drafting decisions on these matters. I know how to work quickly but thoroughly to get to the legally supported result, with a working knowledge of the Superior Court from both sides of the bench.

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

Beck: I am the only candidate with appellate experience on both sides of the bench. I have been highly recommended by the Pennsylvania Bar Association to be a Superior Court judge. My broad professional experiences make me uniquely suited to be a judge of the Superior Court. I have the work ethic and the experience to do the job with a high level of competence, integrity, ethics and productivity without sacrificing the quality of the decisions. For every case I have litigated, I am prepared, thoroughly researched and knowledgeable about the facts. For every case I have drafted, I have done so without prejudice or bias, after a careful review of the record and based on the precedential law. I have proven myself time and again to be an extremely hard worker; I do not stop until I find the right answer, even (and especially) when it is not the easy answer. I have the temperament, the skill, the drive and the ability to do the job of a Superior Court judge and to do it right.

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

Beck: In my experience, the most efficient way to work through cases is to go through them in the order they were received. Additionally, instead of immediately writing when I disagree with any aspect of a circulated decision, I will discuss matters with my colleagues first. This saves a great deal of time in the decision-making process and builds positive working relationships.

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

Beck: I know the importance of treating litigants fairly and equally, regardless of their race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, sexual preference, disability or wealth. Ensuring a fair and unbiased decision on appeal is an extremely high priority for me. I have spent the great majority of my career as a litigator helping underserved and vulnerable members of our population. … Every case that comes before me will get a full, fair and thorough review.

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

www.JillBeck.com.