Published: February 06, 2009 12:00 am      

Johnstown lawyer joins crowded field for judge

EBENSBURG — Stressing her legal experience in helping families in divorce and custody battles, Johnstown lawyer Linda Rovder Fleming announced Thursday that she is running for county judge.

Fleming, 45, a Richland Township resident, made the announcement to about 25 supporters and family members at the Cambria County Courthouse.

She is the sixth lawyer and the second woman to enter the race for two county judgeships.

All of the candidates are Democrats but are cross-filing for Republican and Democratic nominations in the spring primary.

Political observers believe that no other lawyers will enter the race, although candidates have until March 10 to file nomination petitions.

“Over the years, I’ve worked with thousands of families in crisis, and I’ve done my best to shepherd them through the legal system with dignity.” Fleming said.

“We need someone on the bench who has that experience so that families of Cambria County have a court system that is accessible, efficient and fair.”

She is one of only six lawyers in Cambria County who are trained in collaborative law, a process that helps divorcing couples avoid litigation in an effort to preserve the family unit and assets as much as possible.

In a five-year custody case that went to the state Supreme Court, Fleming represented a couple who were able to maintain custody of a child. She later wrote about it for a legal magazine and offered insights on preventing “adoption nightmares through the use of interim placements by adoption agencies.”

But Fleming, with a career dating back two decades, noted she also has a background in criminal law, having served as an assistant public defender representing hundreds of people who were unable to afford legal representation in their criminal cases.

In a case that stemmed from a drunken-driving charge against a young deaf man, Fleming represented him free of charge in his license suspension appeal. She argued that he was unable to make a knowing refusal of a Breathalyzer test without the services of a certified interpreter.

The Superior Court agreed, and the license suspension was reversed. That ruling impacts what steps police must take when arresting people with hearing impairments.

“I have real experience, proven leadership and the right temperament for the job,” Fleming said.

“This is going to be a grass-roots campaign,” she said, noting that her campaign may not have as much money to spend as other candidates. “We won’t have the most ads or the most political backing. But I’m going out there meeting as many voters as I can, spreading my message.”

Fleming was introduced by one of her law partners, Timothy Ayres, who described her as “a true academic of the law (who is) meticulous in her case preparation, very disciplined in her work and professional and courteous.”

Leah Spangler of Westmont is Fleming’s campaign chairwoman, and her father, Francis Rovder of Upper Yoder Township, is campaign treasurer.





Linda Rovder Fleming

Age: 45.

Residence: Richland Township.

Law office: 218 College Park Plaza, Richland.

Education: A 1981 graduate of Westmont Hilltop High School. Received bachelor’s degree in pre-law with a minor in business from Penn State in 1985 and law degree from Dickinson School of Law in 1988.

Background: Is a partner in the Johnstown law firm of Ayres, Ayres & Fleming, with her practice devoted to family-law issues: Divorce, child support and child custody. A former assistant public defender for Cambria County. Was the first woman to serve as president of the Cambria County Bar Association. One of six lawyers in the county trained in collaborative law, designed to help divorcing families avoid litigation. Teaches continuing legal education programs and adult education programs. Was a mock trial advisor for high school student teams for 10 years. Named in Johnstown Magazine’s October 2006 Women in Business Edition as among those at the top in their careers. Received YWCA Tribute to Women Award in the professional category and Outstanding Young Citizen Award from Greater Johnstown Jaycees, both in 1995.

Family: Husband, Tom, superintendent of Richland School District, and two sons.