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A Time-Honored Tradition The Delaware County Bar Association Annual Bench Bar Conference
A TIME-HONORED TRADITION …
THE 49th ANNUAL BENCH BAR CONFERENCE … June 8, 2022 through Friday, June 10, 2022 at the Annapolis Waterfront Hotel
The Delaware County Bar Association, in keeping with a time-honored tradition, offers their signature event, the Annual Bench Bar Conference. The Conference is designed to be educational, improve the working relationship between members of the bench and bar, and promote lawyers’ participation in various programs to benefit the community of Delaware County.
The 2022 Bench Bar Conference delivered yet another year of outstanding Continuing Legal Education seminars providing for a full year worth of credits, including 3.0 ethics credits. In addition to the State of the Bench, Bar and Courthouse, the Workshops ran the gamut from Cryptocurrency Issues in Family Court; the YLS Case Law Update; How Bankruptcy Impacts Your Civil, Criminal or Family Law Cases; Expungement and Sealing – Clearing a Path to the Future; Batten Down the Hatches: Tightening Your Computing Security; Right to Know Law Update; Civil Law Update – Part 11: Recent Cases, New Rules of Civil Procedure, and Ethical Considerations; Family Law Judicial Roundtable; the Legal Impact of COVID on Education, Title IX, Harassment and Assaults in School, School Funding in Pennsylvania; Immigration Law: Best Practices for Immigrant Advocacy in State Courts –Your Talents Are Needed; USI Affinity: Professional Liability Issues; to the ever-popular Legal Jeopardy.
The Conference featured the Plenary Session, a DCBA 150th Anniversary Special: “Inside the John E. du Pont
Case,” sponsored by the George B. Lindsay Foundation.
Judicial Liaison: Hon. Kevin F. Kelly and Hon. William C. Mackrides; Facilitators/Panelists: Carrie A. Woody, Esquire, and Robert F. Kelly, Jr., Esquire.
John E. du Pont Trial: 1997
Defendant: John E. du Pont
Crimes Charged: Murder, assault Chief Defense Lawyer: Thomas Bergstrom
Chief Prosecutor: Joseph McGettigan
Judge: Patricia H. Jenkins
Place: Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Dates of Trial: January 21-February 25, 1997
Verdict: Guilty of third-degree murder and assault
Sentence: 13-30 years in prison
SIGNIFICANCE: The trial focused national attention on the insanity defense, particularly as used by wealthy defendants. 2022 marked the 25th anniversary of the successful prosecution of John E. du Pont for the murder of Olympic wrestler David Schultz on the Foxcatcher Estate in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. DuPont stands as the wealthiest individual to be convicted of murder in American history, and likely in international history. McAndrews and McGettigan fought nearly 80 pretrial motions and appeals, and worked feverishly to prepare the case during the one year from the tragic murder of Dave Schultz, and they were committed to doing everything possible to prevent du Pont’s wealth and influence from evading criminal responsibility for this terrible crime. Despite having an armada of lawyers and an army of psychiatrists who attempted to establish an insanity defense, the month-long trial (including a week-long jury deliberation) concluded with a conviction for third-degree murder and a lengthy sentence which du Pont served until his death in prison.
McAndrews and McGettigan provided a video interview to the Delaware County Bar Association for its annual Bench Bar Conference to describe their work as prosecutors in that case in recognition of the 25th anniversary of the successful prosecution. The video can be viewed at www.mcandrewslaw.com “MLO Publications and Videos.”
49th Annual Bench Bar Conference Award Recipients THE NICHOLAS D. VADINO, JR. MEMORIAL AWARD – 2022 Recipient Jennifer L. Galante, Esquire
For significant contributions by a young lawyer to the organized Bar.
THE E. WALLACE CHADWICK MEMORIAL AWARD - 2022 Recipient Joseph T. Mattson, Esquire
In recognition of services to the legal profession in the furtherance of intra-professional development, communication and education.
DONALD J. ORLOWSKY MEMORIAL AWARD – 2022 Recipient Honorable Richard M. Cappelli
Presented annually at the Delaware County Bar Association’s Bench Bar Conference to the individual who has contributed most to the improvement and fostering of good Bench Bar Relations.
HALL OF FAME AWARD – 2022 Recipient Michael F. Wenke, Esquire
To an attorney or judge who fosters camaraderie, goodwill, volunteerism, team play, selflessness, enthusiasm and sportsmanship in the legal field.
Like the Judge in whose name this Award was given, the Honorable Frank T. Hazel, Michael F. Wenke, Esquire, cares deeply for our Association and has worked tirelessly to continue to develop its rich history, as we celebrate its 150-year anniversary, its ideals, and the benefits it provides its members.
Wenke attended Cardinal O’Hara High School and then went to Washington and Lee. At both schools he was a standout point guard for the basketball teams. He was the only senior from a non-Ivy League university to be selected for the prestigious Henry Luce Foundation Scholarship that took him to Korea, where he used the opportunity to continue his enjoyment of basketball by coaching the Korean National Women’s Basketball team where he met his future wife – Il Hee. He then attended Dickinson Law School, graduating in 1983. He began his law career with the firm of Kassab, Cherry and Archbold. When that firm dissolved, he joined with Robert “Reb” Speare and Kristine Hughey continuing his personal injury practice. He later joined with the late Hugh Bracken and Michael Sheridan before ultimately partnering with Brian Dietrich.
Throughout his legal career, Mike has been totally devoted and unselfish with regard to anything having to do with the Delaware County Bar Association, serving as a Board member, then holding a number of offices, ultimately becoming President. He chaired numerous Association Committees, including the Long-Range Planning and Solo and Small Firm Practices Committees. Also, Mike is a charter member and former President of the Guy G. DeFuria American Inn of Court. At the state Bar Association level, he represented our Association by serving a number of years in its House of Delegates and as a member of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice. His unfailing commitment to our Bar Association has previously been recognized by receiving multiple Bar Association awards including the Chadwick Award, the Nicholas D. Vadino Award and the Lawyer’s Club Man of the Year Award.
Particularly important to Michael was encouraging younger lawyers to become involved in the Bar Association, usually by means of his sense of humor and his very personable, unassuming way. In part, that was displayed by his role in so many Lawyer’s Club Skits, and his serving as a presenter in multiple seminars where he combined his humor with his indepth knowledge of all aspects of personal injury issues. He has that special ability to make people feel comfortable and appreciated with his kind, enthusiastic manner. He is a very good lawyer and a very good person.
Words by Robert M. Firkser, Esquire
Kathryn A. Meloni, Esq., P.C.
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