Montco Democratic Candidates for Court of Common Pleas

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The Montgomery County Democratic Executive Committee voted unanimously last week to recommend a slate of seven candidates for the county Court of Common Pleas to the full MCDC committee. The endorsement meeting will be held March 12.

Below is a thumbnail sketch of each recommended candidate and their reaction to the executive committee’s action.


Cheryl Lynne Austin, Esquire

"I am honored to receive this endorsement. It demonstrates the Party's commitment to offer voters a credible choice of candidates that reflect the competency and diversity of Montgomery County citizens."

Abington resident Cheryl Lynne Austin is an attorney practicing elder law, criminal defense and estate resolution. She also serves as a Montgomery County Assistant Public Defender. Previously, Austin held the position of Assistant District Attorney for Montgomery County , where she prosecuted individuals charged with felony and white collar crimes. Ms. Austin is an adjunct professor at Palmer Theological Seminary in Wynnewood , PA , teaching a course titled, “Counseling Families Undergoing Legal Crises.”

At Northwestern University, Austin entered the Navy Reserve Officer Training Corps in its first class of women. Upon graduation from Northwestern, she was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy. In 2004, she retired as a U.S. Navy Captain, after 24 years of active duty and reserve service. Cheryl attended Capital University Law School in Columbus , Ohio at night, while working as Human Resources Director for the Ohio Secretary of State.

Cheryl Austin has been recognized by the American Business Women’s Association as an “Outstanding Business Woman” and was named a “Rising Star” among Elder Law attorneys by Philadelphia Magazine. She was also featured in the PA Commission on Women-sponsored book Voices.

Ms. Austin is co-chair of the Diversity Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, vice-chair of the Military and Veterans Affairs Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and serves on the Executive Committee of the Willow Grove , PA chapter of the NAACP. She is a member of the Laurel House Advisory Board and the Willow Grove , PA chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

Cheryl Austin and her husband, Mike, reside in Roslyn, PA with their daughter, Jessie. They enjoy traveling and biking.

Joel B. Bernbaum, Esquire

“I am honored to be recommended by the MCDC and proud to be with such highly qualified candidates in this historic election for Common Pleas Court in Montgomery County.”

Mr. Bernbaum is Special Counsel to the Montgomery County law firm of Kane, Pugh, Knoell, Troy and Kramer, LLP; his practice is concentrated in family law. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers , serving as President of the PA Chapter in 2007. He is a member of the American, Pennsylvania , Illinois and Montgomery Bar Associations with active participation in their respective family law sections and/or committees. He is currently Co-Chair of the PBA’s Technology Taskforce. He is a former Director and Chair of the Family Law Section of the Montgomery Bar Association and served two terms on the Council of the Pennsylvania Bar Association's Family Law Section.

He is a frequent writer and lecturer for continuing legal education programs, business groups and community organizations. He received his B.A. from Long Island University and his J.D. in 1977 from John Marshall Law School in Chicago , Illinois .

He is married to Debra Bernbaum for 21 years and resides with Debra and their son Myles, a 10th grade student of Lower Merion H.S., in Bala Cynwyd, PA. He coached baseball in the Lower Merion Little League for 10 years, serving as the league’s President in 2005 and 2006. He served on the Board of Directors of the Lupus Foundation of Delaware Valley from 1987 to 2006 and has been active in many other charities.

Richard P. Haaz, Esquire

“I am honored to be recommended by the Executive Committee and I will work hard for this entire slate of candidates.”

Richard P. Haaz, Esquire, is a trial attorney who has represented victims of discrimination, abuse and neglect for over thirty years. Mr. Haaz is “highly recommended” by the Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery County Bar Association regarding his qualifications, demeanor and experience to become a judge. Mr. Haaz is also “AV” rated which is the highest rating awarded by his peers.

Mr. Haaz is a hearing committee member for the Disciplinary Board of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Mr. Haaz started his career as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable I. Raymond Kremer. Mr. Haaz is chairman of the Medical/Legal Committee for the Montgomery County Bar Association and Solicitor and long-time board member to the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Association of Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) which serves over 4,000 “at risk” children.

Rich and his wife, Jennifer, celebrated their thirtieth wedding anniversary this past Valentine’s Day and have three children, Ben, Sam and Chloe and two dogs. Rich is a graduate of Abington High School , Penn State University and the Franklin Pierce Law Center and has been a resident of Montgomery County for over thirty-five years.

Jeffrey M. Lindy, Esquire

"I am deeply gratified to have the support of the Executive Committee of the Montgomery County Democratic Committee in my campaign to be a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas and look forward to working with all of the members of the County Committee during this election year.”

Jeffrey M. Lindy, Esquire, is a former federal and state prosecutor having served as an Assistant United States Attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and as an Assistant District Attorney for the Kings County District Attorney’s Office in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Lindy has owned and operated his own law firm since 1995 where he concentrates his practice in federal and state criminal defense and commercial litigation. He has conducted numerous jury trials and argued many appeals in both federal and state trial and appellate courts. In 1992, the U.S. Attorney General personally presented Mr. Lindy with the John Marshall Award for outstanding legal achievement.

Mr. Lindy is an Assistant County Solicitor having been appointed by the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners to represent County mental health facilities on a part time basis during involuntary commitment hearings. He formerly served as President of The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd and as a Board member of the National Clearinghouse for the Defense of Battered Women. Mr. Lindy currently sits on the Board of Directors of the Union Fire Association and the Board of the Education Foundation of Lower Merion. In 2006, the Bala Cynwyd civic association honored Mr. Lindy by presenting him with the Citizen of the Year Award.

Mr. Lindy is a graduate of the Temple University School of Law and Cornell University, and earned Dean’s List distinction at both universities.

Mr. Lindy was born in Montgomery County and now lives in Bala Cynwyd with his wife Nancy, and their two children, Isaac and Olivia, who attend the Lower Merion public schools.


Lois Murphy, Esquire

“I am honored and humbled to be recommended for endorsement as a candidate for judge by Montgomery County’s Democratic Committee. I would consider it a great privilege to serve the people of Montgomery County as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.”

Lois Murphy met her husband of nearly 20 years, Benjamin Eisner, while attending Harvard Law School. Lois and Ben have lived in Lower Merion for 16 years and have two daughters, Emily and Lily, who attend Lower Merion public schools.

Ms. Murphy served as a law clerk for Judge Pratt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, and served in the Honors Program of the United States Department of Justice as a trial and appellate litigator. Murphy was associate legal counsel to the NARAL Pro-Choice America, a non-profit advocacy organization, where she contributed to two briefs to the United States Supreme Court and assisted in crafting state and federal legislation and litigation strategies to protect fundamental constitutional rights. Murphy has practiced law with Heckscher, Teillon, Terrill & Sager, in West Conshohocken , where she became a partner in the field of trusts and estates, Orphans’ Court litigation and charitable planning. She has substantial experience appearing in court in Montgomery County .

Lois Murphy currently serves as a Commissioner on the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. In 2004 and 2006 Murphy was a candidate for United States Congress in Pennsylvania ’s 6th Congressional District, which includes portions of Montgomery County , Chester County and Berks County Pennsylvania, in one of the closest and most hotly contested contests in the nation.


Michael Shields, Esquire

"Having practiced law in Montgomery County during my entire legal career, I am honored to have received the recommendation of the Democratic Executive Committee for a position as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. I have no doubt that I and our entire judicial slate will more than justify the Committee's confidence in each of us."

Michael C. Shields, Esquire, established his own private practice in 1984 concentrating in civil, criminal and family court matters. Currently, Michael specializes in civil litigation, estates, zoning and alternative dispute resolution in which area he serves as an arbitrator and a mediator selected by trial counsel to resolve civil actions which would otherwise be decided by the Court of Common Pleas. He has served as a Court-appointed Discovery Master since 1996 in which he capacity he hears civil motions pending before the Court and makes recommendations to the Court on the merits of such motions. Mr. Shields has also served as Solicitor to the Zoning Hearing Board of Norristown and has been Solicitor to the Zoning Hearing Board of West Conshohocken for twenty (20) years.

Mr. Shields has been a resident of Montgomery County since childhood. He was raised in Flourtown and has lived in Upper Dublin Township since 1975. Michael and Christine are the parents of two (2) adult sons, Michael and Colin, and the proud grandparents of James and Maggie.

Mr. Shields is a graduate of St. Joseph ’s Preparatory School, Villanova University and Villanova Law School . His legal education was interrupted by military service from 1968 to 1970 during which time he served in the Republic of Korea as a member of the 7th Infantry Division.

Mr. Shields was evaluated by the Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association and rated “Highly Recommended.”

Ann Thornburg Weiss, Esquire

Ann Thornburg Weiss has been a lawyer with the Timoney Knox law firm in Fort Washington, Montgomery County since 1984. She is a graduate of Gettysburg College and Temple University School of Law. Following law school, she served as Law Clerk to the Hon. Donald E. Wieand of the PA Superior Court. The focus of her law practice at present is on municipal and real estate law, including zoning and land development, and litigation. She has served as Solicitor and Special Litigation Council for municipal governments and authorities in Montgomery , Bucks and Lehigh Counties and has also represented private clients on real estate zoning, land development and condemnation matters before local municipalities and agencies and in court. Ms. Weiss worked for approximately ten years as Special Counsel to the North Penn and North Wales Water Authorities in connection with the Point Pleasant Water Diversion Project, known as “the PUMP.”

Ms. Weiss is the Clerk of Courts in Montgomery County , a position to which she was elected in 2007. She served on the Board of Commissioners of Upper Dublin Township from 2002 through 2007. She is very active in the community, presently serving on the Board of Directors of the Ambler Community Ambulance and volunteering with the Interfaith Hospitality Network. She was a Council Member and President of Upper Dublin Lutheran Church, where she teaches first grade Sunday School and serves as Coordinator of the Cradle Roll. Ms. Weiss has been married to John Weiss since 1979; they have one son, John Jr., a freshman at the University of Michigan.