Timika Lane completed the Pennsylvania Bar Association's questionnaire

Spotlight PA article

Recent Work History:

• Judge Timika Lane(D) was elected to the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, taking office in 2014. She is running in the November election to retain her seat on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, as well she is on the ballot for the Pennsylvania Superior Court election. (ballotpedia.com)
• She was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency where she currently serves as Commissioner. (judgelaneforpa.com)
• "Philadelphia Bar Association appointed [Lane] Co-Chair of Advancing Civic Education (ACE,)[.]" (judgelaneforpa.com)
• "[T]he Pennsylvania Supreme Court appointed [Lane] to the County Adult Probation and Parole Advisory Committee (CAPPAC), where she serves as Co-Chair[.]" (judgelaneforpa.com)
• Prior "Judge Lane served West Philadelphia in Harrisburg as the Chief Legal Counsel for a State Senator and the Executive Director for the Pennsylvania State Senate State Government Committee. In this role, she protected residents’ civil rights by drafting a challenge to Pennsylvania’s Photo ID law, assessing the constitutionality of proposed and existing legislation, and providing guidance regarding the legal implications of legislation, regulations, and administrative policies. " (judgelaneforpa.com)

Education 

• Lane received her J.D. from Rutgers-Camden School of Law in New Jersey in 2002. (delcodems.com)

The Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations “recommended” Judge Lane. 

Judicial Philosophy 

• “My judicial philosophy requires that everyone be treated with dignity and respect regardless of their race, gender, orientation, religion, nationality, and beliefs."  (judgelaneforpa.com)
•  To “provide a fair and balanced approach to the law. I think it is imperative that every person that appears before the court be treated with dignity and respect. Litigants are not just names on a pleading, they are members of our community, and they deserve judges who have the experience and the knowledge to properly apply the facts of their cases to the law of the land.” (law.com)
•  “The citizens of this commonwealth deserve judges who will uphold the law without respect to their own personal beliefs. Without question, creating an unbiased environment for all litigants will be the cornerstone of every argument before me and every opinion authored by me.” (law.com)
• Question: “In light of the recent constitutional amendments approved by voters, what is the courts’ role in defining or limiting the emergency powers of the governor and General Assembly?” Lane's answer: “The role of a judge is to keep an open mind when litigants appear before them and to apply the specific facts of every case to the law that exists.” (law.com)
• Question: “Do you think courts in Pennsylvania have a perception problem when it comes to appearing partisan? If so, what would you do to combat this?” Lane's Response, “Members of the judiciary are constrained from conflating their personal bias and beliefs with their responsibility to the administration of justice. In order to maintain confidence among the members of our community, I will always strive to create a fair and balanced approach to the law.”  (law.com)

Separation of Powers:

• “One of the greatest aspects of our system of government is that each branch is separate and independent from the other. That being said, I will continue to strive to ensure that the role of the judiciary is one of protecting the constitutionality of the laws of the commonwealth.”  (law.com)

Judicial Recusal:

• Question: “What factors matter in deciding when recusal is necessary, and would you recuse yourself if a campaign contributor were involved in litigation as a party or attorney before you?” Lane's response: “The Pennsylvania rules of judicial conduct notes that ‘[t]he Pennsylvania legal system is founded upon the principle that an independent, fair, impartial, and competent judiciary, composed of persons of integrity, will interpret and apply the law that governs our society.’ Consequently, it is incumbent upon members of the judiciary to never engage in activities that are likely to impugn the impartiality and integrity of the bench. Additionally, on the issue of disqualification Rule 2.11 sets forth the requirements for a judicial recusal and I pledge to continue to adhere to the criteria set forth therein.”  (law.com)

Stare Decisis:

• Question: “How important is stare decisis and when should a court depart from it?” Lane's response, “Stare decisis is extremely important. Judges have a duty to uphold the law as it exists. However, there will be occasions when novel legal issues arise, or distinct factual situations occur that require judges to depart from previously held decisions. This is how our legal system has continued to thrive since its inception.” (law.com)