A discussion and reception convened by the Judicial Council of the National Bar Association highlighted diverse – and sometimes unexpected – journeys that lead lawyers to become judges.

Five judges discussed the professional pathways that led each of them to the bench in federal, state, municipal and administrative courts at the Feb. 16 event, hosted by the law school. The council also announced that it will make five internships available this summer for students at the school.

The panel featured the Hon. Juan R. Sanchez of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Hon. Sheila Woods-Skipper, supervising judge of the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division in Philadelphia – and council president, the Hon. Charles Hayden of Philadelphia’s Municipal Court, the Hon. Charles E. Rainey Jr., administrative law judge and bureau director of the Pennsylvania Public Utilities Commission and the Hon. Tracy L. Henry, chief administrative law judge and bureau director of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, Bureau of Hearings and Appeals.

Nobumasa Hiroi of the Asian Pacific American Law Student Association, Mourin Khaleel, president of the Middle Eastern Law Students Association, and Sekou Lewis, president of the Black Law Students Association, served as emcees.

The event was part of the Growing Judges Program that the Judicial Council designed to demystify professional pathways to the judiciary for law students. Several other judges from the council took part in a reception with students following the formal program.