PENNSYLVANIA DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has appointed Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell to serve as Vice Chairman of the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board, which oversees accreditation of all CLE programs across the state. Powell was appointed to the CLE Board in 2021. "I'm honored that the Supreme Court has appointed me to this statewide leadership position," Powell said. "I am a big believer in education to improve the practice of law and ultimately further the cause of justice." Powell sits on PDAA's Executive Committee and previously served on the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania District Attorney Institute, the education and training arm of PDAA.

Congratulations to Nathan L. Boob, Esq., PDAA's Traffic Safety Resource Prosecutor, who was awarded the "PA DRE Award of Excellence" by the Pennsylvania DUI Association. The award recognizes a recipient for their support, outstanding contributions, and commitment to the Pennsylvania Drug Recognition Evaluation and Classification Program.

PDAA remembers former Cumberland County District Attorney and past PDAA President Skip Ebert as a dedicated public servant and a leader among county prosecutors. https://lnkd.in/ecTBqSfh

PDAA thanks the faculty members who presented this week at the "Achieving Justice for Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Victims" training conference. The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute, the training arm of PDAA, held the three-day conference in Gettysburg. Presenters discussed topics such as best practices for victim impact statements, how to strengthen domestic violence and sexual abuse cases, and how to work with forensic nurses. In addition, attendees learned about introducing expert testimony, assisting victims through the legal process, and prosecuting human trafficking. PDAA is grateful for all who attended and participated in this important training conference.

PDAA congratulates York County District Attorney Dave Sunday, who has been elected Pennsylvania Attorney General. PDAA looks forward to working with Attorney General Sunday to make Pennsylvania communities safer, assist crime victims, and hold offenders accountable.

District attorneys across Pennsylvania are ready to ensure a safe and fair election on Tuesday. District attorneys share jurisdiction with the Office of Attorney General, allowing collaborative investigations into suspected violations of the Election Code. PDAA has spent months offering training to prosecutors about the requirements of the state election laws. In addition, PDAA has offered guidelines to local and county law enforcement agencies about election laws. https://www.pdaa.org/pdaa/

PDAA officials last night met with law students from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and the Thomas R. Kline School of Law of Duquesne University. The law students attended the 14th Annual Judicial, Government and Public Interest Law Reception held at Duquesne University. Throughout October, PDAA has focused on the recruitment and retention of prosecutors in Pennsylvania. PDAA held panel discussions at law schools, seeking to attract law students who are interested in serving our communities and helping victims. Prosecutors on the panels discussed careers in public service, work-life balance, and student loan forgiveness. If you know any law school students interested in a public service legal career, encourage them to contact the district attorneys' offices in Pennsylvania and inquire about legal internship programs.

PDAA thanks the prosecutors who participated last night in a panel discussion on the duties and benefits of being a prosecutor. The discussion was held at Penn State Dickinson Law School in Carlisle. Panel members included: Dauphin County District Attorney Fran Chardo, Montgomery County Deputy District Attorney Kelly Lloyd, Dauphin County Senior Deputy District Attorney Chelsea Robbins, and Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Christian Taffe. Several PDAA members, including some PDAA Past Presidents, joined the panel and law students at a reception following the discussion. They included Cumberland County District Attorney Sean McCormack, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele, former Pennsylvania Attorney General LeRoy Zimmerman, former U.S. Attorney and former Cumberland County District Attorney David Freed, and Clinton County District Attorney and current PDAA President David Strouse. Panelists covered topics including the work-life balance of a prosecutor, wellness programs in district attorney offices, and a student loan forgiveness program for prosecutors with law school loans.

District Attorneys across Pennsylvania are committed to ensuring a fair and safe election. "Our law enforcement community is prepared to make sure this is a free and fair election, and everyone who is eligible to vote will be able to vote," says Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele. https://lnkd.in/eRdiqiip

PDAA today participated in a joint state Senate committee hearing on proposed updates to the laws protecting older Pennsylvanians from financial scams and abuse. Chelsea Robbins, a Senior Deputy District Attorney in Dauphin County, testified on behalf of PDAA. Robbins said more collaboration is needed among agencies to prevent older Pennsylvanians from being victimized and to punish those who commit the crimes. Robbins said lawmakers should consider adopting reporting requirements for elder abuse. "We are talking about another vulnerable population in our society," she said. In response to questions from Senators, Robbins said lawmakers also should consider a hold period for some older Pennsylvanians on suspicious wire transfers, allowing authorities to ensure that the entities receiving the funds are legitimate and not scams.