All posts tagged: Philadelphia

Moot Court Room Judges Bench

Making History and Making Progress, But More Work Remains to Be Done

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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court made history recently when it appointed two African American women to the highest posts in the Philadelphia court system, formally known as the First Judicial District. The Honorable Sheila Woods-Skipper (LAW ‘83) and the Honorable Jacqueline Allen (LAW ‘79) became the Chair of the Administrative Governing Board and Administrative Judge for the Trial Division, respectively, for the First Judicial District. Together, they will lead a system with a $110 million annual budget and a 2,400-member workforce. This is a historic moment. Neither post has ever been filled by an African American or by a woman, despite the presence of many qualified candidates among the ranks of the judiciary. With these appointments, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has signaled its willingness to listen to African American leaders who have been calling for more diversity in leadership positions within the state judicial system. I commend the Court for listening to these concerns and for acting on them with such conviction, and I (like many others) hope the Court continues to make progress along this …

My Philly Neighborhood: North Philadelphia

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I came to Temple Law School from Houston, TX. I first discovered Temple after searching US News and World Reports’ best law schools for trial advocacy list. After being accepted, I decided to experience the school and the City of Brotherly Love before I paid my final seat deposit. When I arrived I was not sure this was the place I wanted to spend the next three years of my life. I grew up in New Orleans before moving to Houston, which was an easy move – the weather was still warm and it was only a five hour drive from home. Philadelphia was far from my family and, maybe more distressingly, had real winters. The mere thought of having to walk to class in the snow and wear layers to keep warm, made me want to run back to the South.

Fishtown, Philadelphia

My Philly Neighborhood: Fishtown

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After living outside of Pittsburgh for the past few years, I moved to Philadelphia to attend Temple Law. With only an outside knowledge of the city and its neighborhoods, I searched through Craigslist for something that was within walking distance of the law school. I knew my first year would be insane, and I figured I’d spend most of my time in the library anyways. The result: I ended up on 13th and Diamond, at the edge of Temple University’s campus. Surrounded by undergrads with — how should I say this — different social schedules than me, little to no restaurants, and no good cafes, I ended up spending most of my time in the library without much regret.

My second year, all that changed.