J. Benjamin Nevius
Judge, Berks County Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania
Fox Rothschild, 2010 - 2017
- J.D., Villanova University School of Law, 2004
- B.A., Elizabethtown College, 2001
Why did you decide to become a judge?
It was my lifelong goal to become a judge. I just didn’t know when, or how, I could make it happen. I joined Fox as a lateral associate after practicing defense-side litigation at some smaller firms. I loved working at Fox, especially when I became a partner and started to oversee and mentor a group of associates. But timing is everything. When I saw an opportunity to run for office as a Common Pleas judge in Berks County, PA, I grabbed it. My partners at Fox were very encouraging about my bid to run for public office.
Who were your most memorable mentors and how did they shape your career choices?
I served as a judicial clerk for former Berks County President Judge, the Honorable Jeffrey L. Schmehl, way back when. He was an important mentor to me. The partners who I worked with at Fox, including litigation partners Sam Cortes, Craig Styer, Ron Williams and John Miravich, were important mentors. They made me a better lawyer, and we are still good friends.
What skills did you hone as a Fox lawyer that remain with you today?
As a Common Pleas judge, I preside over a diverse range of cases, including divorce, custody, criminal, estate litigation, dependency and administrative appeals, among other things. It’s very different from the kind of client work I did at Fox -- high stakes litigation that included working on novel arguments and appellate issues before state and federal courts. It gave me a background in the civil side of the bench and the municipal side of the law. The level of intellectual sophistication really prepared me for this role. The high expectations of both clients and supervising attorneys sharpen your skills. They toughen you. They make you a better litigator; smarter and more economical about your approach to litigation.
Do you miss anything about working in Big Law?
That feeling you get when you win an argument before an appellate court, get a favorable verdict from a jury or get a case dismissed. It is a feeling that you can’t replicate anywhere else. It feeds that competitive nature that draws people to become litigators.
Where would we find you on a Saturday morning?
I play ice hockey in a league for people ages 35 and up. I played competitive club hockey in college and admit that I frequently hurt myself because I tend to play a little bit harder than I should at my age.
I also play guitar and piano and do a little bit of songwriting. I perform either at open mikes or for my daughters before they go to sleep. It’s cathartic. I love to try new things and have recently been learning to refurbish furniture and cook Asian fusion cuisine.
