Stella Tsai

Stella Tsai is an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School and a sitting judge on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, having been elected in November 2017. She brings decades of legal experience from both public service and private practice, specializing in regulatory compliance, ethics, land use, and administrative law.

Education:

• BA in Political Science (with honors and distinction), Pennsylvania State University, 1985
• JD, University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, 1988

Her research and professional interests center on legal ethics, public policy, zoning and land use reform, civil rights, immigration, and child welfare law. She played a pivotal role in modernizing Philadelphia’s Zoning Code as a member of the Zoning Code Commission and has been a leader in promoting equity and diversity in the legal profession.

Though no scholarly publications are listed, her career reflects a deep engagement with legal theory and practice, particularly in public interest law and governance reform. Her work bridges academia and the judiciary, emphasizing service and ethical leadership.

Professional Honors and Public Service:

• Appointed Chair of Administrative Law, City of Philadelphia Law Department (2000–2003)
• Member, Reconstituted City of Philadelphia Board of Ethics
• Appointed to Zoning Code Commission by Mayor Michael A. Nutter (2011)
• Board of Trustees, Community College of Philadelphia
• Leadership roles: Asian Pacific American Bar Association of PA, Women’s Law Project, Volunteers for the Indigent in Philadelphia (VIP), Philadelphia Diversity Law Group, Legacy Youth & Tennis Education

Throughout her career, Judge Tsai has provided extensive pro bono representation in custody, support, voting rights, civil rights, political asylum, and immigration cases. She has not been associated with formal research grants, but her policy initiatives and public appointments reflect sustained institutional support for her leadership. Her work continues to influence legal education, judicial practice, and community development in Philadelphia.

Labs and Teams: While not affiliated with research labs, she has led legal teams at the City of Philadelphia Law Department and has collaborated with multidisciplinary policy teams on zoning reform and social service representation.