Natasha Taylor-Smith Runs for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Candidate: Natasha Taylor-Smith

Court: Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Party: Democrat

Philadelphia Bar Association Rating: Highly Recommended

Ballot Position: 8

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.

Natasha Taylor-Smith: I graduated from Temple University School of Law. My first position was at the Defender Association of Philadelphia. I was there for almost nine years and spent the last six plus years in the major trials division. Afterwards, I went into private practice. I handled family law, criminal law, personal injury, civil litigation and municipal law. After I left private practice, I returned to my roots in indigent defense as a trial attorney at the Federal Community Defender Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

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

Taylor-Smith: I believe that I am qualified to be a judge because I have had varied experiences, both personal and professional, with people from diverse backgrounds and communities. These experiences have allowed me to have an understanding of the human condition when faced with what can be a daunting experience, being a defendant, complainant or litigant in the courtroom. My experiences have allowed me to feel the connection that bonds all of these groups, and that is to have justice served.

I have tried almost 100 jury trials, and hundreds of non-jury trials. Further, I have assisted and trained many others in the practice of law. This abundance of courtroom experience has honed my ability to discern facts very quickly, and to intelligently apply the facts to the law. This experience is crucial in presiding over and making judgments about the merits of a civil, family, or criminal case. Finally, my calm, thoughtful and levelheaded demeanor, intelligence, personal experiences and good judgment are all assets that would serve me well as a judge.

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

Taylor-Smith: The citizens deserve judges with real life experience because it is very difficult to have empathy for someone, if you’ve never had any adversity in your own life. My life experience has afforded me the opportunity to learn the importance of keeping communities safe, while still having compassion for the individuals in those communities. Additionally, judges should have a wide breadth of legal knowledge because judges can be rotated from criminal to civil to family and/or orphan’s court. I have practiced in every one of these venues, so I will be ready on Day 1.

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

Taylor-Smith: Preparing for my list prior to the court day will be one way I ensure that cases move through the system efficiently. This way I can have counsel/parties provide me with the status of their matters and resolve pre-trial issues prior to the date of a hearing. I will also hold parties to the rules of criminal/civil procedure in regards to trial delays. Finally, I will be diligent in making sure that court begins on time every day.

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

Taylor-Smith: I hope to improve our system of justice by making sure that each litigant, defendant, or witness that appears before me feels that they have been fully heard, that their testimony or circumstance has been fully considered, and that they feel that no matter the result, they were treated with fairness and dignity. If everyone who appears before me feels this way, I believe that it could create a domino effect in reducing what some perceive to be an unjust, unfair and unsympathetic judicial system. Additionally, for litigants who appear pro-se, I will provide resources in my courtroom for them to acquire pro-bono or low-cost counsel when appropriate; and make an effort to explain the court process to them, even though I cannot advise them legally.

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

Taylor-Smith: Natashaforjudge.com