Heffern announces bid for Chesco prothonotary
THORNDALE >> Joseph R. Heffern, an attorney with Rogers Castor and East Fallowfield township supervisor, has announced his candidacy for the Chester County prothonotary.
Approximately 50 supporters gathered to listen, contribute and volunteer at a campaign kickoff at the Craft House in Thorndale.
“As the gatekeeper to Chester County’s civil court system, the prothonotary plays a critical role in our county’s government and the position requires management experience and a thorough understanding of civil procedure and how the courts operate,” said Heffern, a Democrat. “I am running because, as a practicing attorney with 15 years of civil litigation experience in courts around the country and across Pennsylvania, I have the expertise and insight to make the prothonotary’s office more efficient, effective and accessible to the residents of Chester County seeking justice.”
Chester County’s prothonotary is responsible for recording and managing all civil filings before the Court of Common Pleas. The office signs and seals all writs. The prothonotary controls and maintains the dockets relating to all civil lawsuits filed in the court. The office also processes passport applications
Before joining Rogers Castor as a litigator and intellectual property attorney, Heffern practiced law at the international law firm of Dechert LLP where he managed teams of attorneys and paralegals in complex litigation matters. He represented a diverse spectrum of clients from large corporations to homeless individuals, and has received the Legal Intelligencer’s “Unsung Heroes Award” for his pro bono service as a volunteer lawyer with Philadelphia’s Homeless Advocacy Project.
Heffern graduated magna cum laude from Temple University’s Beasley School of Law, where he served as a Temple Law Review editor. He interned in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, and upon graduation, served for two years as a federal law clerk to the Hon. Thomas N. O’Neill, Jr. of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Heffern also has a Bachelor of Science in Biology and English from Georgetown University.
“My experience as a federal law clerk and practicing law in many different courts throughout our country allows me to see the true potential of what Chester County’s Office of Prothonotary can become,” Heffern explained. “The prothonotary is not simply an administrator who accepts and manages legal filings, but rather is the court’s ambassador to the public and a liaison who fosters cooperation between the bench and bar. Chester County’s prothonotary supervises and manages a team of over 25 dedicated legal professionals, who work tirelessly to ensure the county’s civil litigation system runs seamlessly. However, as in any public office, there is always room for improvement, which requires vision, leadership and a strong understanding of the legal system.”
Heffern, and his wife, Heather, live in East Fallowfield and are the parents of two children, one with special needs. Heffern said he knows firsthand how difficult it is for working families to access critical government services and the legal system in particular.
“As prothonotary, I will increase accessibility to Chester County’s civil court system, especially for individuals representing themselves and those who cannot afford an attorney. I also want to increase transparency and convenience for the public seeking to access civil court dockets. As a member of the Chester County Bar Association, I will partner with Chester County’s bench and bar to find ways for the prothonotary’s office to decrease civil litigation costs and facilitate early mediation and settlement of cases in an effort to save money for litigants and the County.”
As member of East Fallowfield Township’s Board of Supervisors, Heffern serves on a number of committees, including its newly formed Strategic Planning Steering Committee. His family are parishioners at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Downingtown, where he volunteers as an Assistant Scout Master and Fundraising Chairperson for Boy Scout Troop 2 and as the Cookie Coordinator for Girl Scout Troop 41010. Heffern also volunteered for a number of years as an assistant coach with West Bradford Youth Athletics.