Joseph L. Kun

Joseph Lorenz Kun (November 27, 1884 – June 15, 1961) was a Philadelphia lawyer who served for thirty years as a judge on the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.

Kun was born in Ungvar, Hungary, (present-day Uzhhorod, Ukraine) in 1884, the son of Lorenze Kun and Bette (Adler) Kun. When he was four years old, his family emigrated to the United States and settled in Philadelphia. Kun's father found work in the city as a shoemaker, and Kun attended public schools there. After elementary education at the Horace Binney School, Kun attended Central High School, graduating in 1901. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1904 and worked in the office of Samuel W. Salus, a lawyer and Republican state senator in Philadelphia.

A few years later, Kun opened his own law office. In 1916, he was appointed a deputy attorney general by State Attorney General Francis Shunk Brown, the only Philadelphian Brown appointed during his term. In 1921, he joined the firm of Sundheim, Fulz, and Sundheim, which later became known as Sundheim, Fulz, and Kun. The next year, Kun began to also work for the federal government as a special assistant United States Attorney. His main job there was to investigate and prosecute cases arising out of government contracts related to the First World War. At the same time, Kun was a leader in Jewish community affairs, serving as district president of his branch of B’nai Brith. He also served on the board of trustees of Keneseth Israel temple, one of the oldest reform synagogues in the United States.

In July 1927, following the death of Common Pleas President Judge Charles E. Bartlett, Governor John Stuchell Fisher appointed Kun to fill the vacancy.The Philadelphia Inquirer called the appointment "in the nature of a surprise," noting that Kun, although a Republican like Fisher, had not been active in politics for several years. He was elected to a full ten-year term at the election that November. He was re-elected in 1937 and 1947 for additional terms on the court. In accordance with Pennsylvania's "sitting judge" principle, both Republicans and Democrats endorsed Kun and other incumbent judges when their terms came up for renewal. In 1950, he became President Judge of Common Pleas Court Number 1 after the death of Judge Harry S. McDevitt. Kun called the promotion "in no sense an achievement," as it was based purely on seniority.

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