---
title: "Thomas A. Capehart | KnowJudges"
canonical: "https://knowjudges.com/kyj/judge/thomas-a-capehart-pa-31-91fd9bcf"
page_type: "judge_profile"
updated: "2026-10-08"
---

# Thomas A. Capehart

Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County · Common Pleas Judge

## Profile

- Court: Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County
- State: Pennsylvania
- Role: Common Pleas Judge
- Service status: active
- Last verified: 2026-07-26

## Summary

Official statewide and applicable court procedural guidance applies to this judge.

## Before you appear

- Read the judge-specific standing order first when one is listed.
- Check the docket and case orders for requirements that supersede broader guidance.
- Confirm current remote-access and courtroom technology arrangements before the proceeding.

## Courtroom Rules

### recording photography evidence presentation

Scope: statewide

For Pennsylvania Common Pleas proceedings, statewide Pa.R.J.A. 1910 prohibits courtroom broadcasting, recording, and photography unless an exception or judicial authorization applies; the rule also recognizes judge-authorized electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation.

Evidence excerpt: the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence

[201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html)
Source checked: 2026-07-26


## Sources

- [Official profile](https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/common-pleas-judges/print-view)
- [Official roster](https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/common-pleas-judges/print-view)
- [Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania official judicial roster](https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/common-pleas-judges/print-view)
- [201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html)

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## Biography

### Professional career

- During his legal career, Capehart was a partner at Gross McGinley, LLP, a general practice law firm in Allentown, Pennsylvania

### Education

- University of Akron School of Law in and was admitted to the Pennsylvania Bar the same year — J.D. (1989)
- Bachelor of Arts in History from Dickinson College in 1986, where he also played three years of football.

### Additional information

- Elected to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in November 2021 and is assigned to the Civil/Family/Orphan’s Court division.
- Judge Thomas A. Capehart graduated from Emmaus High School in 1982
- Before joining the bench, he practiced law in Lehigh County for over 30 years
- focusing on real estate, business formation, municipal law, estate planning, creditors’ rights, and workers’ compensation
- handling matters such as residential and commercial real estate, estate planning, municipal law, business formation, and bankruptcy proceedings.
- His judicial philosophy emphasizes applying the law fairly without legislating from the bench, ensuring that all parties are treated with dignity and respect.
- He oversees motions, petitions, oral arguments, status conferences, settlement conferences, and arbitration in accordance with Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure and local court rules
- He represented individuals, businesses, and municipal clients
- He also held the role of solicitor for the Borough of Coopersburg and the Coopersburg Municipal Authority, and represented local banks in foreclosure and creditor rights matters
- Judge Capehart has been actively involved in civic and community organizations.
- He has served on the boards of the East Penn Chamber of Commerce (past president), the Lehigh Conference of Churches, and the Literacy Center.
- He is a long-time member of the Emmaus Lions Club, where he received the Melvin Jones Award for dedicated service, and has held the role of an elder and past president of St. John’s UCC Church in Emmaus.



## Published courtroom rules

### Shared court rules

- [201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom](https://knowjudges.com/courtroom-rules/national-shared-set-0784d9a288c3456edcbc19ff) — Scope is limited to the court class in the source claim.  Shared court context only; case-type restrictions, exceptions, later amendments and case orders apply. This is not a personal preference or a complete rules inventory. [Official source](https://www.pacodeandbulletin.gov/Display/pacode?d=&file=%2Fsecure%2Fpacode%2Fdata%2F201%2Fchapter19%2Fchap19toc.html). Collected 2026-07-26.