Megan Martin Runs for Commonwealth Court

Candidate: Megan Martin

Court: Commonwealth

Party: Republican

Pennsylvania Bar Association Rating: 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.

Megan Martin: I was born and raised in Delaware County, in a large Irish-Italian family where I am the fifth of six children. I moved to Central Pennsylvania in 1991 to attend law school and never left. Central Pennsylvania has been a wonderful place for me to live, work and raise my family. I am blessed with an amazing family—my husband, Scott, and our three children and dog. I am a proud 1994 graduate of Widener University School of Law (now Widener Law Commonwealth).

I have dedicated my legal career to public service. I love being part of something that is so much bigger than myself and providing meaningful legal service that impacts millions of people all across our great commonwealth. Anyone who knows me knows that I believe public service is a calling, and that I have been called to serve. I answered that call and, as a result, I have the unique distinction of having served in all three branches of our state government and also serving as an attorney for the United States Navy. My work in its totality has given me unmatched skills and experience to serve on our Commonwealth Court.

In 1994, I began my legal career in the judicial branch, where I served as a judicial law clerk. I then served in the administrations of two governors in our state executive branch, served our nation as an attorney for the United States Navy, and served for more than a decade in the legislative branch of our state government as the secretary-parliamentarian of the Pennsylvania Senate.

Most recently, from May 2012 to November 2022, I managed the legislative process for the Pennsylvania Senate as its secretary-parliamentarian. I am proud to have broken the glass ceiling at the Senate by becoming the first and only woman to serve as its secretary-parliamentarian since the position was created in statute more than 100 years ago.

As the secretary of the Senate, I was the chief legislative officer of the Senate, and I was responsible for fairly, impartially and in a non-partisan manner, managing the legislative process for the Senate in accordance with our Constitution, laws and rules of the Senate. The way in which I performed these duties is similar to that of a judge in that I, too, had to be fair, impartial and non-partisan. To serve as the secretary-parliamentarian, I took the same constitutional oath that our judges and Senators take, and I took my oath and Senate responsibilities very seriously. I like to say that with respect to carrying out my Senate responsibilities, “I checked my politics at the door of the Capitol every day.”

As the senate parliamentarian, I advised the presiding officer (the lieutenant governor or a senator) on the procedural and legal issues that arose during the legislative process, and I counseled the presiding officer in conducting the legislative process in accordance with the Pennsylvania Constitution and laws, and the rules and precedents of the Senate. I was the expert on the Senate’s legislative rules, and I provided legal advice and assistance to senators and staff on questions relating to these legislative rules, precedents and practices, as well as on constitutional and other legal issues pertaining to the legislative process.

As the Senate’s Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) appeals officer, I served in a quasi-judicial capacity where I reviewed Senate RTKL appeals and issued legal opinions in accordance with the RTK Law. In this important role, I defended the constitution and adhered to the RTK Law as it was written by the General Assembly. I reviewed each appeal with fresh, independent, fair and impartial eyes. My decisions are posted online at www.secretary.pasen.gov/RTKL.cfm.

I also had the special opportunity to serve in the administrations of two of our governors—Tom Ridge and Tom Corbett. I served in various capacities, learning the intricacies of our state government from the top, down.

For several years, I also had the honor to serve as a civilian attorney in the Department of the Navy’s Office of the General Counsel (OGC). I was both a litigator and a transactional attorney for the Navy, serving those men and women who so selflessly serve all of us.

I am proud to share that in November 2022, I was honored by my law school alma mater, Widener Law Commonwealth, with its Excellence in Public Service Award. The award recognizes my three-decade career of service here in our Commonwealth. Moreover, for my body of work as the secretary-parliamentarian of the Pennsylvania Senate, I was awarded the National Conference of State Legislatures’ (NCSL) 2021 Legislative Staff Achievement Award, a national award recognizing excellence in supporting the work of a state legislature and strengthening the legislative institution.

For decades, I have ardently supported legal careers in government service because it is in doing this special and important work that I believe attorneys have unparalleled opportunities to perform meaningful legal work that improves the lives of the people of our great commonwealth and nation. I believe it is truly a privilege and a calling to practice law in the context of public service.

I dedicated my career to service and am again answering the call to serve—this time, by becoming a judge on our Commonwealth Court.

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

Martin: I will bring nearly 30 years of unmatched, comprehensive and truly one-of-a-kind experience in government law and process to the Commonwealth Court. The depth and breadth of my experience in government is what most qualifies me to serve on our Commonwealth Court, which court only hears government cases.

I have had a legal career of service unlike any other, which has afforded me the special opportunity to serve one commonwealth, one judge, two governors, three lieutenant governors, one acting lieutenant governor, one nation, our United States Navy and 91 state senators. This special career of service, spanning three decades, makes me ideally suited to serve as a judge on our Commonwealth Court.

My body of work has given me extensive experience in administrative law on both the state and federal levels. I have concentrated my legal practice on government—serving it, learning it, and revering it. My service in the administrations of two governors has given me in-depth experience and understanding of the many, complex legal issues our state government faces. My service to the Navy has given me extensive litigation and transactional experience on myriad issues from contracts to civilian personnel. My service as the secretary-parliamentarian of the Senate has given me one-of-a-kind insight into and understanding of the legislative process, and is a testament to my judicial temperament, given how, for more than a decade, I faithfully carried out my charge to fairly, impartially and in a non-partisan manner execute my important Senate duties of managing the legislative process. I always kept our Constitution, laws and the rules of the Senate as my north star. I was unanimously elected five times by the senators to serve in this esteemed role, which is a testament to the fair and judicious way in which I executed my important responsibilities.

Simply stated, I know government. I have spent the last three decades learning the intricacies of our government. I have gained this comprehensive knowledge through my very special and one-of-a-kind career of service. This unique understanding and experience in government makes me ideally suited to serve as a judge on our unique and special Commonwealth Court—the only court in the commonwealth and the nation to hear only government cases.

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

Martin: The people of this great commonwealth deserve to have judges who are fair and impartial, who respect and defend the rule of law, who protect our constitutional rights and freedoms, and who hold government accountable, because just like you and I, government must follow the law, too. Our judges hold the public trust, and therefore, they must be exemplary public servants who act in the public’s interest, not to further any political agenda or their own personal agenda. Our judges must be independent and make impartial decisions based upon the law, not upon outside influences.

I will be that judge.

I will be a judge who is fair and impartial, as demonstrated by my 10-year track record of exhibiting fair and impartial service. I will bring to the bench a judicial philosophy the people can trust—I will defend the rule of law, protect constitutional rights and freedoms, hold government accountable, and always act in the public’s interest by following the Constitution and the law. I will not act to further personal or political agendas. And, I will not legislate from the bench. I will serve with integrity and independence because an independent judiciary is a keystone of our republic and safeguards the rule of law for all.

I will bring this approach and my three decades of one-of-a-kind experience in government to the Commonwealth Court.

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

Martin: I have a tireless, relentless work ethic that I inherited from my dad, which I apply to every aspect of my life. I am applying it to my campaign and will do the same to my time on the bench if the people elect me to serve. That said, I will work diligently and collaboratively with my judicial colleagues, my chamber team, internal court counsel, and counsel to the parties to expeditiously manage my caseload and issue timely decisions that are thoughtful and grounded in the law.

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

Martin: As a Commonwealth Court judge I will honor my oath to support, obey and defend the US Constitution and the Pennsylvania Constitution. I will defend the rule of law, protect our constitutional rights, and apply the law as it was written by our General Assembly. I will be a judge for all the people of our great commonwealth and will approach each case without bias and with an open mind. All who come before me will be heard. I will be fair and compassionate and will make thoughtful and timely decisions. I will always honor my oath and follow the law in deciding the matters that come before me.

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

Martin: https://meganmartinforpa.com. I am also on Facebook and Instagram: Megan Martin for PA.