For the Defense - Vol. 8, Issue 3 - 4

OPENING
STATEMENT
rthur Ashe described simple rules for volunteering:
" Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you
can. " The members of PACDL give of their time, treasure,
or talent and empower this organization to serve almost 900
criminal defense lawyers and the Pennsylvania system of justice.
Each committee fills a particular need in the support of our
members, and, ultimately, the protection of all Pennsylvanians.
The Advocacy Committee purposefully engages with the
Pennsylvania legislature to educate and advocate for important
issues from bail reform to anti-death penalty positions. Members
carefully monitor legislative activity and thoughtfully undertake
outlining and debating principled positions. The Advocacy
Committee, in coordination with our Executive Director Beth
Winters, has assiduously pursued a myriad of issues from funding
for public defenders to opposition to mandatory minimums.
The Amicus Committee is a powerful voice echoing through
our state and federal courts on critical issues of constitutional
magnitude. Each amicus brief from PACDL is a tour de force
of eloquent legal reasoning. The Amicus Committee is widely
recognized as its own, distinguished voice.
The Board Governance concentrates on recruiting to PACDL
diverse, thoughtful, and good people. Our organization is built
upon friendships. As our organization grows, more and more
leaders are needed.
PACDL also responds to unique and pressing legal issues
as they spontaneously appear. The Chichkin Task Force is an
example of PACDL providing laser focus to an issue that effects
practitioners every day throughout Pennsylvania. Also, members
have served on our Grand Jury Task Force and the Probation
and Parole Reform Task Force. These members are sometimes
called to testify before the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The
Bail Reform Task Force has demonstrated a new trend of reform
by critiquing the pitfalls of the cash bail system and propelling
the issue to the attention of decisionmakers in the state judicial
system.
The Education Committee year after year rolls out an
academic calendar covering virtually every facet of state and
federal criminal practice in Pennsylvania. The DUI Summit in
Hershey is a perpetual member favorite. The Annual Conference
in April contains a capital track and a separate general session
covering search and seizure, evidence, trial tips, sentencing, and
appellate procedure. The Capital Defense seminar on December
15, 2023, completes the year with skill sessions on very relevant
topics such as mitigation, jury selection, and evidence. The
Education Committee evaluates hot topics as well as time-tested
good practices. The committee recognizes the importance of
keeping CLEs current by bringing speakers in from all over the
United States to speak to PACDL seminar attendees.
4 For The Defense l Vol. 8, Issue 3
The Platform Committee maintains our attention on the
important and overarching purposes of our organization-
protecting the rule of law by guaranteeing individual rights
preserved in the Pennsylvania and United States Constitutions.
The Publications Committee accomplishes a remarkable feat
every quarter with the publication of For The Defense. The
magazine's variety of subjects, depth of research, and quality
of writing is competitive with, or superior to, any similar
publication.
The Rules Committee regularly produces exemplary and
comprehensive letters in response to announced proposed rule
changes by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, as well as other
governmental entities affecting criminal justice. The committee
has commented this year on rules related to juvenile justice,
fees and costs, grand jury procedure, as well as numerous other
issues.
The White Collar Practice Committee members provide
educational opportunities such as the White Collar Practice
Seminar
every
November,
other
standalone
educational
opportunities, and timely articles for our digital magazine
throughout the year. These presentations and articles are
provided by a sophisticated collection of practitioners focusing
upon topics built by those who practice white collar issues daily.
C. S. Lewis wrote, " Friendship is born when one person
says to another: 'What! You, too? Thought I was the only
one.' " Our committees are built on friendship and a common
interest in justice. The PACDL committee friendships produce
continuous, multi-level study, critique, and, at times, plaudits
of the Pennsylvania criminal justice system. Thank you to our
committee members for their work. We seek your help in
staffing our committees. If you wish to be on a committee,
please call Beth Winters at 717.234.7403, and say, " How can I
help? "
A
Patrick A. Casey, PACDL President
The Executive and Finance and Audit Committees give
leadership and guidance to assure PACDL continues to serve and
grow its membership.
The Lawyers' Assistance Strike Force is a unique safety net.
When you need it-speaking from experience-you're glad you
are a member of PACDL.
The Next Gen Committee started the uncommon opportunity
of organizing a trip to Washington, D.C. to be sworn in by the
Chief Justice before the entire United States Supreme Court. The
Next Gen Committee brings in the fresh and current trends to
our organization.
For the Defense - Vol. 8, Issue 3

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of For the Defense - Vol. 8, Issue 3
