Leigh Ann Orton Runs for Erie County Court of Common Pleas

Candidate: Leigh Ann Orton

Court: Erie County Court of Common Pleas

Party: Democrat and Republican

Erie County Bar Association rating: No rating

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.

Leigh Ann Orton: I attended law school at the University of Memphis and am licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and Tennessee. I have practiced law for 25 years as a sole practitioner, then with the law firm of Knox McLaughlin Gornall & Sennett and now with my husband, Chris [Orton], at our firm, Orton & Orton. My practice focuses on the areas of family law, estate planning and administration and real estate.

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

Orton: I am a business owner, employer, wife, mother and breast cancer survivor. My life and law experiences, particularly in the family law area, most qualify me for the position of judge of the Erie Court of Common Pleas.

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

Orton: Pennsylvania voters should select me as the next judge of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas because I have the knowledge, experience and temperament required to serve the citizens of Erie County in a fair and impartial manner. I am a well-rounded candidate having practiced in the areas that are most frequently litigated in our court system. In representing family law clients for 25 years, I have seen how the breakdown of the family touches almost every part of our judicial system. I care about my clients and understand how important their day in court is to them. As judge, I will treat all litigants and attorneys with dignity, respect, fairness and impartiality. My goal is to have a positive impact upon the lives of those who come before me while upholding the rule of law.

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

Orton: I understand the desire of litigants to have their day in court as soon as possible. Having practiced law for many years as a sole practitioner and in a small law firm, I also understand the time constraints that are placed on attorneys who are attempting to balance their work life with their home life while operating a business. As judge, my approach will be to move cases through the case management system in a timely fashion while being respectful of all litigants and attorneys. I will encourage mediation where appropriate, and I will make timely decisions.

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

Orton: Making justice equal for all citizens of Erie County will be my top priority. As judge, I will treat all litigants fairly regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexuality or economic status; appoint attorneys to represent defendants as much as possible; encourage our local bar association to increase pro bono services for those who are indigent, elderly or living with disabilities; promote the simplification of our legal system and access to technology so that it is easier for our citizens to navigate the legal system without representation; and support organizations that promote equal access to the justice system.

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

Orton: Voters can go to ortonforjudge.com to learn more about me and why I want to become the next judge of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas.