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SIDEBAR FEATURE
Meet the Newest Member of the Bench: An Interview with The Honorable A. Nicole Tate-Phillips
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n Monday, January 3, 2022, Judge A. Nicole Tate-Phillips took her oath of office to become the newest member of the Montgomery County bench. Judge TatePhillips, a graduate of Spelman College and Northeastern University School of Law, spent her career serving as an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and then as an Assistant United States Attorney (Criminal Division) in the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. She then moved on to become a Partner at Montgomery McCracken Walker & Rhoads, LLP, practicing criminal and civil litigation and serving as a member of the firm’s White Collar and Government Investigations practice group before running for Judge in 2021. I had the honor of interviewing Judge Tate-Phillips about her career, her interests outside of the courtroom, and her goals for the bench. Here is a condensed, edited version of our interview:
What are you looking forward to in your new role on the bench? I see this as an opportunity to use my experience to make an impact as a decision maker. In family court, I am working directly with families. I ask myself, “how can I help this family or these children?” I am enjoying the opportunity to be helpful and provide guidance. I try to resolve issues by getting folks on the same page and by reminding them that we’re here about the children. I have a great team here at the courthouse and I have had great attorneys appear before me.
Describe your style in the courtroom. Civility and respect for everyone is of the utmost importance. When I was a practicing attorney, I tried to always treat opposing counsel with dignity and respect. Strategically, there is a higher likelihood of getting a resolution when people are being respectful and listening to one another. I believe that this starts with me. I try to be measured and keep everyone else measured 20 SIDEBAR
so that we can be clear on the issues. I try to be very clear in my thought process so that litigants leave my courtroom knowing that this judge cared enough to listen and to be fair.
Do you have any advice for attorneys trying a case before you? Be prepared. Know when filings are due and when communication with the Court is required. Provide me with everything I need to make a decision. Be honest and credible. You earn credibility by being honest, making concessions where you need to rather than blindly advocating and taking unreasonable positions.
Do you miss anything about being a practicing lawyer? I enjoyed my time as an advocate. I enjoyed the investigatory work and the process of getting to the answer; of finding the needle in the haystack. I also enjoyed the opportunity to seek justice in the Courtroom and do the right thing by people. I try to bring this experience to the bench. I strive to be the type of judge before whom lawyers don’t mind appearing.
Do you have any mentors or people that you admire, and why? I have had the privilege of working with a lot of great judges and I feel very prepared in my current position because of that experience. I also have a wonderful family and village that I count as inspiration, including my parents and grandparents who were very involved with my upbringing and invested in my journey.
What do you do in your spare time? I enjoy reading, particularly autobiographies. I love running and being outside in warm weather. I also love being a mom to my teenage children who are very active.
