About Janice
Janice Longer built her legal foundation at Villanova University School of Law and later earned a death penalty certification from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. That credential marks a narrow and demanding path within criminal defense. It signals an ability to accept appointments in capital cases and to handle the procedural and ethical complexities they raise.
Her time at Villanova provided classroom instruction and practical legal training. The law school years shaped how she approaches evidence, procedure and courtroom strategy. Those early lessons continued to matter as she pursued additional qualifications and courtroom work in Pennsylvania.
The death penalty certification is a formal credential issued by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. It identifies attorneys who have met the state’s standards to participate in capital litigation. Attaining that certification requires specialized training and an understanding of the distinct rules that govern capital trials, sentencing, and post-conviction relief. For clients and courts, the certification functions as a marker of preparedness for high-stakes proceedings.
Throughout her career, Longer has moved through the procedural terrain that defines serious criminal cases. Capital matters often involve layers of appellate and post-conviction claims. They demand attention to mitigation, careful development of the record, and coordination with experts. Attorneys who carry the state’s certification are called on to manage those elements under tight deadlines and intense scrutiny.
Professional work in this area also requires an ability to explain complicated legal questions to judges and juries. It calls for steady advocacy during hearings and a grasp of the forensic and mitigation issues that frequently arise. Longer’s credential indicates she has invested time in meeting those requirements and in keeping current with legal developments that affect capital litigation.
Outside of courtroom hours, much of the work around capital cases takes place in motion practice, appeal preparation and post-conviction petitions. The conviction and sentencing phases mean that a client’s legal team must coordinate trial tactics with long-term appellate strategy. Attorneys certified by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court are expected to handle that full arc of representation.
She currently concentrates on capital defense and related post-conviction work.
