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35 Philadelphia Bar Rep. 1 (2006)

handle is hein.barjournals/phlbrrpr0035 and id is 1 raw text is: I anar 00 Te othy e spr*f hePhlaelhi Br Asoiaio*Vl.35 N . Merit Selection Needed for Judges, Feldman Says by Jeff Lyons Calling the mission clear and urgent, Chancellor Alan M. Feldman said the Association must protect the authority and the discretion vested in our judges to interpret and apply the law. We must oppose the drumbeat of calls for so-called judicial restraint and strict construction of the law, because we know that these are sim- ply code words for the de facto nulli- fication of a free and autonomous judiciary, Feldman told Association members at the Dec. 6 Annual Meet- ing Luncheon at the Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue. Remember: We are the Philadel- phia Bar Association, with a magnifi- cent history and tradition of standing up and speaking out against those who would make judges subservient to the political whims of the moment We have no greater calling than to protect judicial independence, and to make sure that what happened to Justice Nigro never happens again to another judge in this Common- wealth, he said, referring to the fail- ed retention bid of Pennsylvania Su- preme Court Justice Russell M. Nig- ro, who was denied a seat on the state's highest court amid voter back- lash over legislative and judicial pay raises. Feldman called on the state to adopt merit selection of judges. Legislation introduced earlier this year by State Senators Fumo and Williams to amend our Constitution in order to bring merit selection of judges to Philadelphia is an impor- Chancellor Alan M. Feldman outlined his plans for 2006 to Bar members at the Dec. 6 Annual Meeting Luncheon. tant step forward. The amendment would establish a broadly representa- tive Commission to develop a list of eminent nominees for consideration and appointment by the governor, he said. Feldman also proposed a plan that would grant continuing legal educa- tion credit to attorneys who perform pro bono legal services. Pro bono service is a moral re- sponsibility, as well as a professional obligation imposed by Rule 6.1 of the Rules of Professional Conduct. But the fact is that this isn't enough to over- come real-world time and billing pressures, which inhibit even lawyers who have a genuine interest in pro- viding pro bono representation. If continued on page 10 Pratt to Become Chancellor in 2008 A. Michael Pratt, a partner at Pepper Hamilton LLP, will serve as Vice Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2006 after running unop- posed in the Tuesday, Dec. 6 election. Pratt will serve as Chancellor-Elect in 2007 and Chancellor in 2008. The following candidates for Bar offices also ran unopposed and will be serving in their positions on Jan. 1: Treasurer, Scott F. Cooper; Assistant Treasurer, Jeffrey M. Lindy; Secretary, John E. Savoth; Assistant Secretary, Kathleen D. Wilkinson; and Board of Governors, Judy F. Berkman, Kim R. Jessum, Matthew Perks, Stephanie Resnick and Eric G. Zajac. The following seven candidates were elected to three-year terms on the Young Lawyers Division Executive Committee: May Mon Post (241 votes), Hope Caldwell (235), Jocelyn A. Gabrynowicz (230), Katherine Skubecz (224), Shawane L. Lee (217), Alexis J. Gultanoff (216) and Brian S. Chacker (215). Also receiving votes were Agatha Lambris (119) and Henry Yamplosky (103). 4 4 4 4 4 In This Issue ... In Their Own Words Year-End Events Feasts to Famine Section Spotlight According To... KNIPES-CON COURT REPOTIG 215-928-9300 ROBERT COHEN, PRESIDENT COURT REPORTING VIDEOGRAPHY * VIDEOCONFERENCING AD HEPOUTED®

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