translate

Hon. Carolyn H. Nichols

Judge Carolyn H. Nichols, was elected to a ten year term in Pennsylvania Superior Court in 2017. Previously, she was elected to the Philadelphia Common Pleas Court in 2011, and conducted felony jury trials in criminal court, with equal justice, protecting the rights of crime victims, and the accused. She supports activities promoting positive reentry to prevent recidivism, and in 2018, participated in the Turn A New Corner initiative with the Philadelphia Southwest Police Division, which facilitated job interviews for returning citizens with employers at various sites in Southwest Philadelphia.

Judge Nichols attended Philadelphia public schools, and received the Bachelors of Fine Arts Degree from Temple University in 1978. She graduated from Temple University Law School in 1985, with the Juris Doctor Degree, and received the Masters in Law Degree (LLM) in Trial Advocacy from Temple University Law School in 1994. Additionally, Judge Nichols obtained the Masters in Business Administration Degree (MBA), from Eastern University in 2002.

Her professional career spans over twenty years of public service, including Legislative Assistant to former Philadelphia Councilwoman, Augusta Clarke; Assistant City Solicitor, and Deputy Secretary of External Affairs for the Mayor’s Office, in which she managed the City’s federal issues, including appropriations, and legislative advocacy. As City Deputy Finance Director, she managed the Minority Business Enterprise Council (MBEC), to ensure that women and minority owned businesses received fair inclusion and participation in City contracts. She maintained a solo civil litigation law practice before her election to the Common Pleas Court Bench.

Rutgers Law School BLSA honored Judge Nichols with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Champion of Social Justice and Equality Award in 2019. During 2018, she received the NBA/Judicial Council/Clifford Scott Green Chapter’s Pinnacle Award for her service to the Court of Common Pleas, and was the inaugural recipient of the Judge Carolyn H. Nichols Drum Major for Justice Award, instituted by State Representative Margo Davidson. Philadelphia City Council honored Judge Nichols in 2014, for receiving the City Office of Economic Opportunity’s Guardian of Economic Inclusion Award for her service as MBEC Director. Judge Nichols has received recognition for her community service, including induction to the Overbrook High School Hall of Fame, and as an honoree of BRJ Designs’ I’m Every Woman. In 2007 and 2008, Judge Nichols was honored by the Philadelphia Tribune as one of the City’s Most Influential African Americans.

Judge Nichols is active in mentoring, and peace building programs in public schools to prevent violence, and to stop the school to prison pipeline with groups such as the NAACP, Philadelphia School District FACE (Family and Community Engagement), Black Male Educators (BMEC), and the Philadelphia Bar Association civic education program (ACE). She promotes inclusion and dialogue with groups such as the Truman Project to promote international understanding; Masjidullah, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and NewCore – to generate dialogue and understanding about culture, race and ethnicity. Judge Nichols initiated a dialogue group with African American and Jewish professional women with the American Jewish Committee. She is a member of the Philadelphia Education Fund, Education First Compact, to improve public education in local schools.

Judge Nichols is a member of the Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and Philadelphia Bar Associations, in addition to the Judicial Council, and the International Association of Women Judges. She conducts CLE, and CJE programs, and has traveled internationally extensively to participate in cultural exchanges and dialogue with judges concerning constitutional and judicial reform.