Joanna Cruz
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It is my hope to serve the citizens of Montgomery County as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas. You can help me realize this hope by supporting my candidacy for that position in the Primary Election. If I am honored with your support and if I am elected to the Bench, I shall observe on a daily basis the four fundamental obligations of a judge, that is, to listen carefully, to answer wisely, to consider soberly, and to decide impartially.
Born in Puerto Rico, my parents, while still in their teens, came to America where they met, married and raised seven children in the Tioga section of Philadelphia. Denied the gift of education themselves, they worked tirelessly to advance the scholastic and professional dreams and ambitions of their children, insuring that they entered and completed the rigorous curricula of the Philadelphia Archdiocesan school system. From these two simple, but heroic, people, I learned the lessons of hard work, thrift, and courage.
While attending Little Flower High School for Girls and LaSalle University, I worked in a shoe store; my earnings both financed my education and "helped out at home." In 1990, I was hired as a secretary by A. Charles Peruto, Sr., then as now a legend in a city know for its legendary lawyers. While in Mr. Peruto's employ, and buoyed by his encouragement, I entered and graduated from the Temple University Law School. In time, my work for Mr. Peruto came to include legal research and assisting Mr. Peruto in a number of high profile criminal cases in addition to attending to the multiple duties and responsibilities of a busy lawyer's secretary.
Under his tutelage, I built my own law practice and frequently appeared in Philadelphia Court's Criminal, Civil, and Family Divisions. As Mr. Peruto's associate, I maintained a diverse case load, ranging from contentious disputes in Family Court, to complex commercial and personal injury litigation in Civil Court, to criminal cases arising out of serious violations of the Crimes Code.
In 1990, after five years with Mr. Peruto, I joined the Montgomery County Public Defender's office where I added significantly to my litigation experience by daily appearances in court. Fluent in Spanish, I assisted in making the Office that much more responsive to the needs of the Hispanic community. In 2008, while remaining in the Public Defender's Office, I joined the law firm of Kerns, Pearlstine, Onorato, and Hladik, LLP as an associate handling domestic cases and real estate cases while increasing my criminal case load.
During the 2008 Presidential Election, I served as the Director of the County Election Day Organization for the Fair Vote committee of Pennsylvania.
By reason of my diligence, integrity, competence, and experience, I have earned the professional respect and personal regard of the members of the Bar as well as the members of the Bench. Should I be honored with your support, I will consider it a privilege to serve on the Montgomery Bench where uncommon efforts, uncommon integrity, and uncommon scholarship have been common virtues.
Visit Joanna's website.