With a legal career in which she both prosecuted and represented defendants, Berks County Assistant District Attorney Kathryn Lehman is eyeing her next step and is seeking election as a county judge.
Lehman brings to the table nearly 14 years of experience in the legal profession, which includes almost eight years as an assistant district attorney and five years as a public defender.
She said her diverse background — which also includes a stint working as a social worker — has uniquely prepared her to carry out the duties of a Berks County Court judge.
“My whole career has been dedicated to serving the community,” she said. “I care about those who need a voice, and I have realized that I can only take the case so far because what happens in the end is ultimately out of my hands. Being on the bench would give me an 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 May primary election.
Lehman said she feels she is fully prepared and qualified to take a seat on the bench.
As supervisor of the Drug Task Force in the district attorney’s office, Lehman said, she has successfully prosecuted the most serious crimes. Those crimes include homicide and the sexual abuse of children and taking on violent drug dealers and corrupt organizations.
“We have to make sure we are living in a civilized society, and if we are just incarcerating individuals who need help we are not really helping,” she said. “But there are also those who need to be prosecuted and held accountable for their crimes.”
While working in the public defender’s office before joining the district attorney’s office, she gained an intimate view of the legal system from the opposite perspective as she represented clients accused of a wide variety of offenses.
And as a judge, she said, she will be able to use that extensive courtroom experience to ensure the residents of Berks are served with justice.
Before earning her law degree, Lehman worked for five years as a therapist working with juveniles. It was that experience, she said, that led her to pursue a career as an attorney.
“While I was working with delinquent teens they would often have to go to court and they would ask me how the legal system worked,” she said. “I had no idea so I would go to court with them just to figure out what was going on and that led me to law school.”
Lehman said she believes her time as a social worker gives her a unique perspective recognizing those who need services because of the hardships they are facing.
Lehman, a graduate of Exeter High School, 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, Ontelaunee Township.
Position sought: Berks County judge.
Background: Lehman has worked in law for nearly 14 years. She has been a public defender and is a Berks County assistant district attorney who serves as supervisor of the Drug Task Force. In addition to her career, she is the president of the Berks County Field Hockey Officials Association and is an active official.