Will Braveman Runs for Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Candidate: Will Braveman

Court: Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas

Party: Democrat

Philadelphia Bar Association Rating: Recommended

Ballot Position: 17

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.

Will Braveman: I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I went to Temple Law School. After law school, I clerked for two Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judges (Judge Mark I. Bernstein as a civil trial clerk and Judge Joseph D. O’Keefe as a motions court clerk). I then served in the City Of Philadelphia Law Department for 12 years as an assistant and deputy city solicitor assigned to three units: the Child Welfare Unit, the Mental Health Unit and the Labor and Employment Unit. Thereafter, I worked in the firm of Keller and Goggin as an associate attorney and employment law chair for two years. For the last 12 years, I have had a solo practice, focusing on labor law, employment law, mental health law, child welfare law and personal injury matters.

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

Braveman: My trial experience in handling thousands of trials, hearings, complaints and cases in a variety of forums including state court, federal court, mental health court, the civil service commission and the discrimination agencies.

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

Braveman: I care deeply about dignity, fairness, equity and transparency in the court system, and I have persevered to implement and maintain these core values throughout my career.

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

Braveman: Having been a law clerk during the implementation of the case management systems of Day Backward and Day Forward, I understand the need to strategize how different cases move through the system on different discovery tracks and deadlines. By tweaking these systems and tracks, we can more efficiently move the cases, while concurrently affording the parties meaningful rights to having their cases heard.

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

Braveman: People who walk into court, whether as parties or witnesses, are under great stress and often in active crisis. We need to ensure that they are all treated with respect, regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, gender or gender orientation. This is an ongoing obligation necessitating a sustained commitment to regularly reviewing the ways in which our courts administer justice.

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

Braveman: https://bravemanforjudge.com