Exceptional Candidates for Court of Common Pleas

On Tuesday November 5th, Montgomery County Residents, among other things, will be electing two new Common Pleas Court Judges. It is quite accurate to say that that this is an important election for this office, and  that voters think seriously about the two candidates they decide to elect and understand the basis for their decision. The position has a term of ten (10) years, at such time they don’t stand for re-election, but a yes or no vote for retention.

“An independent and honorable judiciary is indispensable to justice in our society. Judges should participate in establishing, maintaining, and enforcing, and should themselves observe, high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved.”  Pa. Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 1

“Judges should be faithful to the law and maintain professional competence in it. They should not be swayed  by partisan interests, public clamor, or fear of criticism. …Judges should be patient, dignified, and courteous to litigants, jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and others with whom they deal in their official capacity, and should require similar conduct of lawyers, and their staff, court officials, and others subject to their direction and control.” Pa. Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 3

Judges in Montgomery County handle a broad range of legal matters. They are required to know not only the Rules of Criminal and Civil Procedure and the Rules of Evidence, they must also know the law or have the ability to quickly learn the law in a broad range of legal matters. Regardless of the voter’s political party, one should consider the candidate’s years of experience in both criminal and civil courts, as well as recommended by their peers from the Montgomery County Bar Association.

I have personally met and spoken with the following two individuals, and believe that they both have the demeanor, personality and intellect to decide cases. They have over fifty years of combined experience and have the demeanor to decide cases that would come before them fairly. Competence, Integrity, Fairness and Respect are the hallmarks of a great judge. Both of these candidates have these attributes, and will not only serve Montgomery County well as judges, but will promote our democracy by upholding the highest standards of our judiciary, when elected.

I encourage you to read their qualification below, and give due consideration when you come out to vote on November 5th , and enter the voting booth.

Steven C. Tolliver, Sr.

·         Steve has lived in Cheltenham Township for 22 years with his wife of 27 years and their 3 children, Steve, Jr. 23 yrs old, Dillon, 19yrs old, and Lance, 12 yrs old.

·         He is a practicing attorney with 32 years of trial experience.

·         He knows the value of hard work, humility and respect for all people, regardless of their race, creed, religion or station in life.

·         Member of the Board of Directors for Central Montgomery County Mental Health/Mental retardation Center, Montgomery Bar Association, PA Bar Association, and the NAACP.

·         Recognized by the Montgomery County Advisory Council to the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, for his community involvement.

·         Founder of the Cheltenham Achievers Network, a non-profit organization, that offers educational enrichment programs for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders.

·         Has experience in criminal law, civil rights litigation, antitrust litigation, general liability claims, attorney malpractice claims, workers compensation matters, products liability claims, insurance coverage issues, healthcare matters, civil rights and racial discrimination claims, and is knowledgeable in State and Federal trial procedure as well as the Rules of Evidence.

·         Has tried scores of cases, in both State and Federal Court.

·         Lecturer and Writer for the Pennsylvania Bar Institute and Philadelphia Bar Institute.

·         Has represented both indigent clients, working people, as well as institutional clients such as Aetna Insurance Company, PMA Insurance Company, Amtrak, Merck, and the Philadelphia Housing Authority, the Philadelphia Gas Works, and Shop-Rite.

·         He has served as a Juvenile Advocate.

·         Currently, and for the past 14 years, has served as a corporate and litigation counsel with Aetna Insurance, where he concentrates his practice to healthcare litigation and managing large state and national healthcare providers – hospital and doctors – in class actions and other complex commercial disputes. His experience and accomplishments with Aetna include:

          Contract negotiations 

          Counseling and managing hospitals, doctors and physician practice groups in various matters, including how to avoid being sued.

           Managing and successfully resolving antitrust lawsuits brought against Aetna.

           Developing Aetna's International Guidelines for avoiding antitrust lawsuits.

           Directing and successfully resolving a $100 Million plus lawsuit in a complex commercial dispute involving healthcare.

·         Currently serving a 3 year term as a Hearing Committee Member of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Disciplinary Board. In this capacity, Steve sits in a quasi judicial capacity hearing and deciding cases involving charges of wrong doing brought against lawyers.

·         Clerked for former Judge Robert W. Williams, Jr. of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, researching and writing opinions involving a broad range of cases involving municipalities, townships, counties, school districts and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Gained experience during his clerkship on how judges deliberate at the appellate level.

·         Worked in the City Solicitor’s Office of the City of Philadelphia in the Major Trials Division defending claims against the City in a broad range of legal issues. He has also handled major trials in Federal and State court.

Gail Weilheimer

Gail is an experienced trial attorney, and has litigated hundreds of jury and bench trials, as well as numerous hearing in both the public and private sector. She has a distinguished record of justice for Montgomery County families, and she will bring her experience, determination, toughness and strong sense of justice to the bench.

·         Lives in Abington Township with her husband Larry, and their two school age children.

·         Through extensive trial litigation experience, she has gained an appreciation for case preparation time and recognizes the need for efficiency in the court system.

·         Has a deep knowledge of evidence and trial procedure, coupled with a strong character, critical thinking skills and integrity, which makes her uniquely qualified to be a member of the bench.

·         Currently serves as Senior Counsel at Wisler Pearlstine, LLP, where she is a member of the firm’s Education and Municipal Law Groups.

·         Has worked as an Assistant District Attorney in the City of Philadelphia, successfully representing hundreds of victims and their families; independently litigated over 100 jury trials with a  90+% success rate, as well as hundreds of bench trials.

·         Adjunct Professor at Widener School of Law.

·         Instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy, leading seminars for law students and practicing attorneys in the art of litigation, through demonstration, critique and lectures.

·         Represented clients in both State and Federal courts.

·         Solicitor for the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts office.

·         Co-counsel and top legal advisor to the 2011 transition team serving County Commissioners Josh Shapiro and Leslie Richards.

·         Abington Township Commission, 2004-2008, assisting in the management of all aspects of one of the largest townships in Montgomery County.

·         Serves as a Board Member of, From the Heart.

·         Odyssey of the Mind (OM)) coach for the Abington School District. OM is an international creative thinking competition for third graders through college students.

·         Areas of Legal concentration include: Criminal Litigation, Civil Litigation, Education Law, Municipal Law, Legal Education.

·         Member, Montgomery County Democratic Committee, Abington Rockledge Democratic Committee, Rydal Meadowbrook Civic  Association.

·         National Truman Scholar

·         Named Hofstra University’s Woman of the Year.