With a legal career that has seen her both prosecute and represent defendants, Berks County Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Lehman is looking to her next step and seeking election as a district judge.
Lehman brings nearly fourteen years of experience in the legal profession, including nearly eight years as an assistant district attorney and five years as a public defender.
She said her diverse background – including a stint as a social worker – has uniquely prepared her to assume the duties of a Berks County Court judge.
“My entire career has been about serving the community,” she said. “I care about those who need a voice, and I have realized that I can only take the matter so far because what ultimately happens is ultimately beyond my control. Being on the bench gives me the opportunity to continue to serve in a new way.”
Kathryn Lehman
Lehman is running to fill a vacancy on the bench left open by the retirement of Judge Jeffrey Sprecher in July 2023. The Ontelaunee Township Republican will cross-file to appear on the Republican and Democratic ballots in the primary election of May.
Lehman said she feels she is fully prepared and qualified to take the bench.
As supervisor of the District Attorney’s Office’s Drug Task Force, Lehman has successfully prosecuted the most serious crimes. These crimes include murder and child sexual abuse and targeting violent drug dealers and corrupt organizations.
“We need to make sure we live in a civilized society, and if we’re just locking up individuals who need help, we’re not really helping,” she said. “But there are also people who need to be prosecuted and held accountable for their crimes.”
Working in the public defender’s office before joining the district attorney’s office gave her an intimate view of the legal system from the opposite perspective, representing clients charged with a wide variety of crimes.
And as a judge, she said, she will be able to use that extensive courtroom experience to ensure Berks residents get justice.
Before obtaining her law degree, Lehman worked as a therapist with youth for five years. It was that experience, she said, that led her to pursue a career as a lawyer.
“While I was working with delinquent teens, they would often go to court and ask me how the justice system worked,” she said. “I had no idea, so I went to court with them to find out what was going on, and that led me to go to law school.”
Lehman said she believes her time as a social worker gives her a unique perspective in recognizing those who need services because of the hardships they face.
A graduate of Exeter High School, Lehman earned a degree from Shippensburg University and a master’s degree in social work from Boston College. While working full-time as a therapist, she pursued and completed her law degree at Widener University in Harrisburg.
Meet the candidate
Candidate: Kathryn Lehman, 41, Town of Ontelaunee.
Position sought: Berks County judge.
Background: Lehman has worked in the legal profession for almost fourteen years. She has been a public defender and assistant district attorney in Berks County and supervisor of the Drug Task Force. In addition to her career, she serves as president of the Berks County Field Hockey Officials Association and is an active official.