Jane Shields to represent members on issues relative to the State Constitution.

MacElree Harvey is pleased to announce that Jane M. Shields, attorney in the firm’s Land Use and Litigation departments, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s newly formed internal commission chartered with reviewing and making recommendations for improvements to the Pennsylvania Constitution. Jane is a member of Zone 9 of the PBA House of Delegates, which represents Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties.

The thirty-member commission will consider issues relative to: legislative reapportionment, local government, public education, structure of the general assembly and taxation and the uniformity clause. Eighteen months after the commission first convenes, a report on its recommendations will be submitted to the House of Delegates.

The commission is chaired by former Commonwealth Court President Judge James Gardner Colins of the Philadelphia law firm Cozen O’Connor. He commented on the composition of the membership saying, “The commission brings together some of the best legal minds in the state – constitutional scholars, practicing lawyers, sitting judges, and policy experts. As members of the legal profession or citizens who work closely with the justice system, these men and women deal with constitutional issues every day and, therefore, are uniquely qualified to study the complex constitutional issues that confront our state government.”

Jane notes, “It is an honor to be appointed to serve on this commission which will attempt to review a variety issues in a limited period of time. I look forward to the challenge.”

Jane has been practicing law for over 30 years and concentrates on issues related to land use and zoning, commercial litigation and administrative proceedings. She is a graduate of Temple University School of Law and Purdue University. Jane dedicates her time to West Chester community involvement and is on the board of the West Chester Cycling Classic.