Judith A. Gran

Professional Experience

Judith A. Gran is partner in Reisman Carolla Gran & Zuba LLP. Before joining RCGZ, Judith practiced law at the Public Interest Law Center of Philadelphia from 1984 to 2009, serving as Director of Disability Projects. She has conducted class action litigation to obtain community services for institutionalized persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Montana, California, Illinois and Tennessee. Her work as counsel for the Arc of Pennsylvania and the plaintiff class during the implementation phase of the consent decree in Halderman v. Pennhurst from 1986 through 1998 led to significant improvements in community service systems in Philadelphia and other counties. Judith represents special education students in administrative and judicial proceedings in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and other states, including the class action suit Gaskin v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a case brought to enforce the least restrictive environment mandate of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Community Associations

Judith serves as Secretary of the Board of Directors of the Pennhurst Memorial and Preservation Alliance (PMPA), an organization dedicated to remembering Pennhurst as an epicenter of the struggle for the civil rights of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Currently, PMPA is working to create a national disability museum. She served on the Vestry of the Church of St. Luke & The Epiphany in Philadelphia from 2002 to 2008, as Rector’s Warden from 2005 to 2008, as Church School teacher for several years and currently serves on the Finance Committee.

Professional Activities

Judith is a founding member of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (“COPAA”), a national independent, nonprofit, tax-exempt organization of attorneys, advocates and parents. COPAA’s primary mission is to secure high-quality educational services for children with disabilities. She served on the COPAA Board of Directors from 1999 to 2008, as chair of the Amicus Committee in 2001-2002 and as Chair of COPAA from 2002 to 2004. Judith speaks regularly to groups of parents, attorneys, educators, advocates and service providers on topics related to special education, civil rights, and disability rights.

Admitted to Practice

Judith is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Sixth Circuit and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

Education

Judith graduated from Wellesley College as a Wellesley College Scholar in 1964. She earned a master’s degree in 1969 from the University of Chicago, where she was a National Defense Fellow. She earned a J.D. degree (cum laude) from the School of Law at Temple University, where she served as an editor of the Temple Law Review.