by James Sullivan sullivancoach@yahoo.com (215) 416-0862
Tracy “Baittank Downing” Lofton, Pioneering a Philadelphia Youth
Lawyers Program and Winning Legal Brief against experienced Lawyer,
in Philadelphia. Lofton used her excellent black womens intuition to foil
C. Ava Marshall, Delaware County, and male experienced attorney from
swaying Philadelphia Civil Court Judges to deny due process of Trial in
Philadelphia, PA.
On March 5, 2007 Tracey “Baittank Downing” Lofton was the first Black American Women lacking an attorney license to understand court briefs in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to assist a plaintiff in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County First Judicial District of Pennsylvania and winning against an experienced Philadelphia lawyer. Lofton understood clearly civil court language that is critical to any legal case.
Tracey, a Philadelphia resident, outsmarted lawyer, John J. Hatzell, Jr. Esquire, practicing in Philadelphia, and representing defendant, C. Ava Marshall, a very well know professional Home Evaluator (Investigator) and social worker level status from Delaware County area, after receiving a plaintiff's case presented to Lofton's Youth Lawyer's Program, in Philly.
Hatzell Jr. Esquire filed a Motion for Summary Judgment by defendant, Marshall, presenting it to Judge Glazer, First District of Pennsylvania based on Marshall being sued in Philadelphia as Marshall desired to have the case both thrown out and or transferred to Media Courthouse Delaware County. Since the case involved a power-childcare worker like Marshall, few expected Lofton's skills to be good enough to look over the brief let alone consult the plaintiff, absolutely free of charge, and make a dent in justice for kids.
Lofton has worked with youth and the courts on many artificial legal briefs in the state of Pennsylvania volunteers her time to help youngsters stay off the streets and away from youth gun violence. Since 1980 Lofton has done mentoring work with children that reside in impoverished communities. “Baittank Downing”, as Lofton is affectionately known in the neighborhood, helps kids after school with homework and career ideals about becoming a licensed attorney that can save the neighborhood from ruthless people that exploit working in childcare as just a business instead of really caring.
She became a Legal Administrator working for Prudential Bank as early as 1978 while still in high school at Dobbins Area Vocational Technical School, West Philadelphia. When the courts during the early '80's uncaringly took underprivileged black children away from their parents Lofton became concerned about the needs of the children. She wanted to help in some way. So she started nursing the wounded parents, so to speak, in the Philadelphia area. Soon, Baittank Downing became known as the “Lawyer of 46th and Market Street.” Lofton did such a good job that she was named Arbitrator working between Family Court, Landlord Court, Small Claims Court, and Criminal Court for City of Philadelphia courts. In 1997 she was the first black female to ever pass court tests consisting of typing and legal jargon with no preparation, or ever looking at a legal brief.
The court staffs were so impressed with Lofton that they offered her a position where she could work and get her college education without interruption. She went on to continue her education at a variety of higher educational Institutions including Community College of Philadelphia. And she studied Real Estate Law and Humanities, which allowed her to acquire numerous properties in the City of Philadelphia and provide housing and youth lawyer studies workshops for parents and their own children. Lofton, known for court issues, is running as a Green Candidate for Trial Judge, Philadelphia Traffic Court Judge. (Diane White, www.frontpagenews.us contributed to this article).
