My100 Pro Bono

On April 16, 2020, John’s client took his first free steps out of incarceration in 20 years, 11 months, and 16 days, after obtaining the rare relief of a writ of habeas corpus and the vacation of a state court conviction and sentence. John was lead counsel in the proceedings before both the U.S. District for the District of New Jersey and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

The District Court proceedings included an evidentiary hearing, and in the opinion granting relief, the Court specifically “thank[ed]” John and his team for their “able and vigorous advocacy,” their “thorough efforts and distinguished advocacy,” and for “play[ing] an integral part in ensuring that justice is fairly meted based on the merits of the arguments rather than the resources of the litigants.” [Disclaimer: this comment does not constitute a judicial endorsement of legal skills or ability.]

The Third Circuit affirmed the grant of habeas relief on April 8, 2020.

[To the left, John is pictured with his client and co-counsel Jason Levine of Hangley Aronchick.]

In 2016, Tad received the Philadelphia Bar Foundation’s prestigious Pro Bono Attorney of the Year award in recognition of his “outstanding volunteer efforts in providing legal services to those in need” and his “commitment to the development of pro bono legal services in the region.”

Jon is President of the Board of the Homeless Advocacy Project, a legal aid organization that provides legal services to thousands of individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. In addition to his many years of service on HAP’s Board, Jon has represented numerous HAP clients in matters ranging from Social Security appeals to landlord-tenant issues.

Learn more about the Homeless Advocacy Project here: https://www.haplegal.org/

John was one of the leaders for the litigation team—along with others from his prior firm and the ACLU—that obtained the landmark ruling striking down Pennsylvania’s ban on marriage for same-sex couples in Whitewood v. Wolf in 2014. One year later, the Supreme Court of the United States finally held that no state could discriminate against same-sex couples by refusing them the right to marry.

Tad represented Jenna Pinchbeck, a Philadelphia-based actress, in responding to a cease-and-desist letter she received from attorneys for The Walnut Street Theatre regarding her public comments in support of women, BIPOC, trans, and disabled artists in the Philadelphia theater community. LSSC was proud to stand with Ms. Pinchbeck and strongly supports the important public issues of diversity, equity, and inclusion that Ms. Pinchbeck advanced.

In 2004 and 2016, Tad received The Equal Justice Award from Community Legal Services of Philadelphia in recognition of his outstanding commitment to providing pro bono legal representation in important matters that benefit the community at large.

Eli partnered with the ACLU in representing Montgomery County residents in a lawsuit alleging that the County Commissioners violated the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act when they terminated the public defender and his chief deputy. In settling the lawsuit, the Commissioners agreed to adopt new meeting procedures that provide greater transparency regarding County employment decisions.

Jon successfully represented a homeless former Marine in his appeal of a Department of Veterans Affairs’ determination that his disabling anxiety and depression were not connected to his time in the Marines and, therefore, not something for which he was entitled to veterans disability benefits. After a hearing, the Department reversed itself, and the client was granted a substantial increase in benefits.

John and Jon co-authored an amicus brief on behalf of Pennsylvania county and local governments in support of a challenge brought by the City of Philadelphia and other plaintiffs to Pennsylvania’s prohibition on local regulation of firearms.

Eli is on the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Law Center, non-profit organization that advocates for rights, dignity, equity, and opportunity for youth in the child welfare and justice systems.

Learn more about the Juvenile Law Center here: https://jlc.org/

Since 2006, John has represented 15 abused and neglect children as volunteer counsel with the Support Center for Child Advocates.
In 2017, the Support Center named John a “Distinguished Advocate,” for his longstanding and dedicated work.

Learn more about the Support Center for Child Advocates here: https://www.sccalaw.org/

Eli co-authored a Third Circuit amicus brief on behalf of the Society for Photographic Education in support of the recognition of a First Amendment right to photograph the police.

In 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States denied a petition for certiorari filed by SEPTA, leaving in place an important First Amendment victory by our client, Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting. In 2018, Reveal sought to advertise on SEPTA vehicles to promote Reveal and its investigation into racially discriminatory home mortgage lending practices. But SEPTA rejected the ad as "political." John co-led the litigation team with the ACLU that sued in 2018. And after a bench trial, an appeal in the US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and a petition for cert in the Supreme Court, we won.

In addition to co-counseling with the ACLU on various litigations, John also serves on the ACLU of Pennsylvania Legal Advisory Board.

Learn more about the ACLU of Pennsylvania here: https://www.aclupa.org/

Learn more about Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting here: https://www.revealnews.org/

Eli partnered with the ACLU in representing journalists and formerly incarcerated community leaders in a successful challenge to the constitutionality of Pennsylvania’s Revictimization Relief Act. The Act would have permitted Courts to enjoin and penalize speech just because it was upsetting to a crime victim.

Through the Eastern District of Pennsylvania’s Prisoner Civil Rights Panel, Jon represented a former inmate of a local jail who was assaulted after he was put on a gang hit list but left unprotected by the guards. After the matter resolved, the client sent a grateful letter, saying, “Even when you knew I did not have the money to pay for your representation you still did everything you could and sadly I never had an attorney who did his job as well as you […] with what you got for me I will be able to leave prison with a way of getting myself together to start a better life.”

Tad authored an article entitled “My 15-Year Pro Bono Matter: How A Single Case Can Become the Endeavor of a Lifetime” published in The Philadelphia Lawyer recounting his lengthy involvement in a pro bono matter challenging the employment-prohibiting provisions of The Older Adults Protective Services Act.

John successfully obtained asylum for a Colombian national before the Board of Immigration Appeals, obtaining the rare reversal of an Immigration Judge’s prior denial of an asylum application. John’s client fled Colombia due to political persecution at the hands of a violent guerrilla group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known as FARC). The FARC kidnapped and abused the client prior to his escape to the United States. Although the United States government vigorously opposed the application, John, serving as both trial and appellate counsel, was able to succeed before the Board of Immigration Appeals.

Tad is the Chairman of the Board of Directors for Project 440, Inc. (www.project440.org), a Philadelphia-based non-profit organization that provides youth development, college and career readiness, and entrepreneurial programs to students in the Philadelphia School District and the surrounding areas. In addition to his role as Board Chair, Tad chairs the Project 440’s Governance Committee and is heavily involved in the long term strategic and development activities of the organization.

Learn more about Project 440: https://project440.org/

John serves as a board member on the Volunteer UP Legal Clinic Advisory Board. The Volunteer UP Legal Clinic provides much-needed legal assistance to economically disadvantaged clients in the region.

Learn more about the Clinic here: http://www.volunteeruplegalclinic.org.

In addition to performing with Choral Arts of Southern New Jersey, Tad previously acted as Vice-President and Trustee of the 501(c)(3) organization.

In a matter of significant public attention in southern New Jersey, John represented a public school teacher denied tenure. John led a high-profile appeal of that decision before the school district board that saw hundreds of students and parents rally in support of the teacher.

Tad has handled several cases in conjunction with Philadelphia VIP, a non-profit that provides free legal representation for needy individuals who face legal challenges threatening their basic human needs of housing, family, and income.

To learn more about Philadelphia VIP: https://www.phillyvip.org/.

Tad prepared and filed an amicus brief on behalf of a group of economics professors from Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, UCLA and other institutions that addressed the economic consequences of a local property tax system applying differing effective tax rates within the same jurisdiction.

In April 2020, John prepared and filed an amicus brief on behalf of Healing Justice Project, a national nonprofit organization that serves individuals who have experienced trauma and inequity in the justice system due to a wrongful conviction. Through restorative justice and justice reform, Healing Justice provides post-trial support and recovery to crime victims, survivors, and their families in cases involving post-conviction claims of innocence and exonerations.

Learn more about Healing Justice Project here: https://healingjusticeproject.org/