Candidate for
Judge; Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas; District 38

Michael C. Shields is an Army Veteran (1968-1970) who served with an Infantry Division in Korea. He's practiced law in Montgomery County since 1974, specializing in civil litigation, estates, zoning and arbitration and mediation. He has served as a Court-Appointed Discovery Master since 1996.

Michael has been a resident of Montgomery County since childhood and a registered Democrat since 1967. Michael was raised in Flourtown and has lived in Upper Dublin Township since 1975. Michael and Christine are the parents of two adult sons, Michael and Colin, and the proud grandparents of James and Maggie.

Mr. Shields is a graduate of St. Joseph's Preparatory School, Villanova University and Villanova Law School. His legal education was interrupted by military service from 1968 to 1970 during which time he served in the Republic of Korea as a member of the 7th Infantry Division. Upon graduation from law school, Michael served a Judicial Clerkship with Honorable John R. Henry of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County. Judge Henry was the first elected Democratic Judge in Montgomery County in recent memory. Upon completion of his Clerkship, Michael became an associate and ultimately a partner with the law firm of Gerber, Davenport & Wilenzik, a firm comprised of Judge Morris Gerber and Dick Gerber, lifelong active Democrats, Judge Horace A. Davenport, and Marvin Wilenzik. When Judge Davenport ascended to the Bench, he became the first African American Judge on the Montgomery County Bench in history.

In 1984, Michael established his own private practice concentrating in civil, criminal and family court matters. Currently, Michael specializes in civil litigation, estates, zoning and alternative dispute resolution in which area he serves as an arbitrator and a mediator selected by trial counsel to resolve civil actions which would otherwise be decided by the Court of Common Pleas. Michael has served as a Court-appointed Discovery Master since 1996 in which capacity he hears civil motions pending before the Court and makes recommendations to the Court on the merits of such motions.

Michael has also served as Solicitor to the Zoning Hearing Board of Norristown and has been Solicitor to the Zoning Hearing Board of West Conshohocken for twenty years. An active member of the Montgomery Bar Association, Michael has served the Association in numerous capacities, including as a member of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and President of the Trial Lawyers Association.

Michael Shields was evaluated by the Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association and rated "Highly Recommended", the highest rating bestowed by the Judiciary Committee which requires the consent of at least 80% of the members of the Judiciary Committee.