Back
Avatar

Jennifer Schultz

Member since: Saturday, 29 December 2018
Last Visit: Never
Details
First Name
Jennifer
Last Name
Schultz
Status
Winner
Campaign Cycle
2019
Office
Common Pleas
Sitting Judge
No
Party
Democrat
Phone
267-449-5656
Email Address
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Website
http://www.jenn4judge.com
Ballot Position
2
Button #
4
Votes
58697
Endorsements
Bar Association Rating
Recommended
Party/Wards
1st Ward, 2nd Ward, 8th Ward, 27th Ward
Unions
AFSCME DC 47
Progressive Groups
Reclaim Philadelphia, National Organization of Women (NOW), 215 People's Alliance, Americans For Democratic Action (ADA), Guardian Civic League
Clergy
---
Public Officials
---
News Papers
---
Questionnaire
What has been the general nature of your practice?
I save people's homes. My practice is focused on consumer rights and homeownership – foreclosure defense, property taxes, with a particular emphasis in rent to own transactions. Too often, it only takes a small hiccup in life - an illness, a temporary disability, or a layoff - to wreak havoc on a person's budget and their ability to stay on top of bills. I help my clients figure out how to get back on track.
Why do you consider yourself qualified to be judge?
I became an attorney to be a voice for those who don't have one. As judge, I will make sure all voices are heard. I have been practicing for over 15 years. My entire legal career has been in public service. First as a judicial law clerk for a federal judge, and then in legal services.

I never charge my clients for my services. The past 11 years I have worked in a neighborhood office in North Philadelphia. Day in and day out, I have heard people’s stories. I have a better understanding than most judicial candidates about the economic and social struggles that lower income households face. This is a very real problem for Philadelphia, one of the biggest cities with high levels of deep poverty. As a Judge, I want our courts to be accessible to everyone. We need to make the courts easier for people to navigate, so their cases can be heard fairly and they can get just results.
What is it about our criminal justice system that inspires you?
It's not just the criminal justice system that inspires me, but all law - criminal and civil. This is the way by which civilization exists. Anarchy is barbaric - without Laws in society, all mankind would be gone. Who wouldn't be inspired by such greatness?
What about our current criminal justice system do you believe needs to be reformed?
There is still too great an imbalance between the way the justice system works for rich and the poor, both in our criminal and civil systems. Gideon v. Wainwright established the right to an attorney when you can't afford one in criminal cases, but there is no "Civil Gideon" right to an attorney, even in cases that threaten housing or parental rights. We know having an attorney impacts the results of a case. Our system needs to work for everyone, regardless of whether or not they can afford an attorney. There is no quick fix - but we are moving in the right direction.
As a judge, what would your sentencing philosophy be?
Each and every case has to be weighted on its merits. So many factors have to go into a sentencing decision, including the defendant's background, reasons for the crime, family support (or lack thereof). Having a single sentencing philosophy is disingenuous, as each and every case needs to be thoughtfully decided.
Have you ever woken up in the middle of the night thinking about a case and wishing you had handled something differently? If so, please describe one situation.
Even regarding the cases you win, every attorney should evaluate their actions. What if I did this, could it have saved some time or money. What if I did that, could the client have been even better informed. Any attorney that doesn't evaluate their actions does a disservice to their clients and the public.
Who are your role models and why?
Long before the documentaries, movies and huge social explosion - RBG has been a historical inspiration.
What is your favorite book, movie, or tv show of all time and why did it speak to you so much?
My 'All Time' favorites keep changing. What I loved 10 years or 20 years or 30 years ago hopefully wouldn't be the same as today, as interests change, and hopefully mature. Presently, my favorites are: Movies - 'RBG' and 'On the Basis of Sex', for reasons I've already outlined. TV show for the last several years has been 'The Goldbergs' - Love the local flavor.
Name a song that you were obsessed with as a teenager.
Boyz II Men was my favorite group.
What is you favorite number?
3.1416. After all, who doesn't love Pi?
News
Hits: 1102
Low-Income Advocates Urge City Flexibility on New Property Tax Programs

A Philadelphia City Council committee has voted to encourage the Nutter administration to give homeowners a bit more leniency in the wake of the overhaul of the city’s property tax system. At the hearing, Jennifer Schultz of Community Legal Services testified that the new assessment system known as...

Created: 24 March 2014