Berks County Bar Association The Berks Barrister Spring 2020 - 13

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I tell her that the theme I've seen from the two prior judges
was that we always end up talking about dogs. She says she has a
dog, too-a chocolate lab named Kate.

From a very young age, she knew she wanted to go to law
school. Her attorney father, Emmanuel, inspired her. At home, she
"heard about his day," and just knew that would be the path for
her, too. Her legal aspirations transcended into a desire to run for
judge when her father was still alive. "We talked about it," she says,
and "he was all in." Unfortunately, before she ran, her father passed
away of bladder cancer. "The journey of running for office would
have been really cool with him alive," but "everything happens the
way it's supposed to happen."
She recalls that her father's reputation had often been
intermingled with hers. But when she ran for judge, "it wasn't
about him anymore. It became about me, what I had achieved."

Judge Geishauser did not win her first election for judge.
"What seems horrible and tragic at the moment is really an
opportunity to grow," she says. Despite the losses (personal and
professional), she says she still sought to be a judge because "you
see things and you think you can do better," emphasizing that
she wanted to be responsible for "helping people in a bigger way."
Surprisingly, she adds that being a judge "would make me a better
lawyer."
From the standpoint of family, serving on the bench was a
good move for her. In private practice, "you're always 'on.'" As a
judge, though, "I am better able to leave what happens at work."
Despite that, some cases stick with her. It "takes time to shake it,"
even at home.

Those cases are "ones that involve young people." Either as
victims or defendants, they have "limitless potential." It makes her
"realize how other people's circumstances put them where they
are."
At that moment, one of her staff members pops her head in
the door with bad news about a defendant testing positive for a
banned substance before Treatment Court. The judge throws her
head back and sighs. It is obvious she cares.
She feels a "responsibility to be compassionate to the ones
who aren't." Treatment Court, in particular, is an "opportunity
to not just say 'off you go to jail,'" but it offers a "team approach"
to investigate how a defendant became a victim of addiction and
what can be done to help them.

Adjusting to her judgeship from private practice was "more
isolating than I envisioned it to be," she says. The hardest lesson for
her was "to one day be one of them and the next day you're not."
Other attorneys "see you differently," and "they feel it before you
feel it."
Despite that, she says confidently: "I am really content, I
love my job." She's aware her actions affect each person in the
court process, like the clerk, the stenographer, the DA, etc. "It
must be hard for lawyers to adapt to the judges and know their
personalities," she opines.

She tells me that she has six children and her husband Kurt
is a "great partner." She takes pride in being a role model for her
children through good and bad experiences. During her first
election, she was surprised to discover she was pregnant. To my
shock, she reveals there were countless people who recommended
she drop out of the election, stating "she belonged home with the
kids."
Having her children see her push forward through negativity
and pursue her goal was valuable. "I had to be true to myself."
For them to "see what I did when I didn't succeed," was just as
important as when she did eventually win.

To other women who may be considering a run for elected
office, she says: "I wouldn't hesitate." Despite doubters, "always
listen to your own voice, it should be the strongest one." In
particular, regarding running for a judgeship, it is so important to
"listen to your gut, know the law, [and] listen to your instinct and
intuition," as you have "faith in yourself."

Right now, she is managing a criminal case load with all of the
DUIs in the county. She also has cases from Magisterial District
Justice Ann Young, and of course, Treatment Court.

I ask her about a noticeable black and white portrait behind
her. Having not met the famous Manny Dimitriou, I ask if that
is him. She said yes, describing her father as the kindest, most
compassionate, and grounded man. The photo I ask about shows
him seated, with his head down. She told me that it was a photo in
a series of pictures taken around the time he was battling cancer.
The Judge reaches in the pocket of her robe and pulls out
two items which remind her every day of her father. One is his
handkerchief. "He was my best friend," she says, and to have a
"piece of him" with her on the bench guides her.

In summary, I find it humorous that in my interactions with all
three Judges, we discussed dogs. More importantly, though, I felt
humbled and grateful to have had the chance to learn more about
these three women. This was the first time in over a year that I felt
reinvigorated and inspired by someone other than the glass-ceiling
shatterer known as Dr. Florence Teicher Bloom.
I hope these three lessons from Judges Fudeman, Johnson, and
Geishauser will inspire other attorneys as well:
1)	

Life is too short.

3)	

Have faith in yourself.

2)	

Take the plunge.

Carmen J. Bloom White is an Assistant County Solicitor
assigned to Berks County Children & Youth Services.

Spring 2020 | 13
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Berks County Bar Association The Berks Barrister Spring 2020

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