Dear MBA Members:

 As we move forward in 2026 and celebrate America 250 together, I wanted to follow the footsteps of Immediate Past President Seth Wilson and take a moment to reinforce the principles that define our Montgomery Bar Association. As in the past, we will continue to be guided by our Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Values, and Diversity Statement:

Mission Statement

The mission of the Montgomery Bar Association is to promote professional excellence, facilitate access to justice, and protect the integrity of the legal system through service to our members and community.

 Vision Statement

Montgomery Bar Association embraces its responsibility to provide access to justice for all, empower members to exhibit the highest ethical conduct, civility, and technical competence, and work cooperatively with the judiciary in addressing emerging legal issues in Montgomery County.

 Values

Civility
Collegiality
Diversity
Education
Integrity

 Diversity Statement

The Montgomery Bar Association ("MBA") is committed to increasing its diversity and inclusion efforts to better reflect the demographics of Montgomery County; developing opportunities for community involvement and improved access to justice; and ensuring that leadership roles within the profession and the Montgomery Bar Association are accessible to all attorneys, especially those historically under-represented in the legal profession. The MBA recognizes that achieving actualized, meaningful diversity is an evolutionary process that requires a continued commitment to these efforts. The MBA disavows discrimination and strives to remain thoughtful of diversity representation among MBA leadership on a continuous and revolving basis.

 Your MBA leaders remain committed to serving the interests of all of our members by continuing to follow these established guidelines. We are fortunate to have such a diverse group of attorneys that constitute our membership. By steadfastly adhering to our guiding principles, I am confident that our MBA will continue to serve the interests of each and every one of our members and continue to attract future members to our association.

I thank you for your continued support of the Montgomery Bar Association as we further out mission together in 2026. I hope to see you at many of our upcoming events, CLEs, meetings, and other gatherings.

Colin J. O’ Boyle

President, Montgomery Bar Association

JUDICIAL RETENTION RECOMMENDATION

OF THE MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

FOR THE 2025 GENERAL ELECTION

 

August 13, 2025 (Reissued November 3, 2025)

 

The Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association is charged with interviewing and rating candidates for the position of Judge on the Court of Common Pleas. The Judiciary Committee is composed of 34 lawyers of diverse backgrounds, ages, practices and geographic areas of Montgomery County with several hundred years of combined legal experience.

 

The Committee is charged to rate a sitting Judge as recommended for retention or not recommended for retention.

 

The Committee considers and rates the candidates on the following criteria:

 

Integrity;

Good moral character;

Industry;

Good health;

Legal ability;

Bench trial, jury trial or evidentiary hearing experience;

Judicial temperament (patience, courtesy, compassion, impartiality, humility, even temper, sense of fairness).

 

The Bar considers this process a service to educate the public concerning judicial candidates.

 

The Montgomery Bar Association RECOMMENDS that the following Judges be retained:

 

The Honorable Daniel J. Clifford               RECOMMENDED

The Honorable Todd D. Eisenberg             RECOMMENDED

The Honorable Risa Vetri Ferman             RECOMMENDED

 

 

Report of the Autonomous Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association

Posted on: Nov 3, 2025   Edit | Delete

REPORT OF THE AUTONOMOUS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
OF THE MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION

 

January 28, 2025 (Reissued November 3, 2025)

 

The autonomous and non-partisan Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, tasked with the obligation to pass objectively upon the qualifications of candidates for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has rated the following candidates Highly Recommended or Recommended.

 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Raymond McGarry
                        

            These candidates possess superior qualifications to serve with distinction as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  They possess an exceptional level of integrity, good moral character, industry, legal ability and experience, courtroom experience, humility, and judicial temperament, to be rated HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  These candidates, through these traits and their legal experience, their commitment to justice, the community, and the practice of law, have earned this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating from the Committee.  A candidate earns the rating of HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if eighty percent (80%) or more of the voting members of the Committee deem the candidate “Highly Recommended.”

 

RECOMMENDED

Lauren Hughes

Mary Pugh

            These candidates possess the qualifications to serve as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  Each candidate possesses the appropriate level of integrity, good moral character, industry, legal ability and experience, courtroom experience, humility, and judicial temperament, to be rated RECOMMENDED.  Each candidate has the legal experience, the commitment to justice, the community and the practice of law, and the regard of the legal profession to be rated RECOMMENDED by the Committee.

 

About the Montgomery Bar Association’s Autonomous Judiciary Committee

In its present form since 1965, the Committee is an autonomous, self-governing, committee within the Montgomery Bar Association charged with the obligation to pass upon the qualifications of every candidate for the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and to advise the public accordingly.  The Committee is composed of the Association’s ten most recent Past-Presidents as well as elected rotating panels of 24 of the Association’s members-at-large.  The Committee’s members are lawyers of diverse background, ages, practices and geographic areas of Montgomery County and hundreds of years of collective legal experience.

Page 1 of 1

REPORT OF THE AUTONOMOUS JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
OF THE MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION

 

January 28, 2025 (Reissued November 3, 2025)

 

The autonomous and non-partisan Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, tasked with the obligation to pass objectively upon the qualifications of candidates for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, has rated the following candidates Highly Recommended or Recommended.

 

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Raymond McGarry
                        

            These candidates possess superior qualifications to serve with distinction as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  They possess an exceptional level of integrity, good moral character, industry, legal ability and experience, courtroom experience, humility, and judicial temperament, to be rated HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.  These candidates, through these traits and their legal experience, their commitment to justice, the community, and the practice of law, have earned this HIGHLY RECOMMENDED rating from the Committee.  A candidate earns the rating of HIGHLY RECOMMENDED if eighty percent (80%) or more of the voting members of the Committee deem the candidate “Highly Recommended.”

 

RECOMMENDED

Lauren Hughes

Mary Pugh

            These candidates possess the qualifications to serve as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.  Each candidate possesses the appropriate level of integrity, good moral character, industry, legal ability and experience, courtroom experience, humility, and judicial temperament, to be rated RECOMMENDED.  Each candidate has the legal experience, the commitment to justice, the community and the practice of law, and the regard of the legal profession to be rated RECOMMENDED by the Committee.

 

About the Montgomery Bar Association’s Autonomous Judiciary Committee

In its present form since 1965, the Committee is an autonomous, self-governing, committee within the Montgomery Bar Association charged with the obligation to pass upon the qualifications of every candidate for the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and to advise the public accordingly.  The Committee is composed of the Association’s ten most recent Past-Presidents as well as elected rotating panels of 24 of the Association’s members-at-large.  The Committee’s members are lawyers of diverse background, ages, practices and geographic areas of Montgomery County and hundreds of years of collective legal experience.

Page 1 of 1

JUDICIAL RETENTION RECOMMENDATION

OF THE MONTGOMERY BAR ASSOCIATION JUDICIARY COMMITTEE

FOR THE 2025 GENERAL ELECTION

 

August 13, 2025 (Reissued November 3, 2025)

 

The Judiciary Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association is charged with interviewing and rating candidates for the position of Judge on the Court of Common Pleas. The Judiciary Committee is composed of 34 lawyers of diverse backgrounds, ages, practices and geographic areas of Montgomery County with several hundred years of combined legal experience.

 

The Committee is charged to rate a sitting Judge as recommended for retention or not recommended for retention.

 

The Committee considers and rates the candidates on the following criteria:

 

Integrity;

Good moral character;

Industry;

Good health;

Legal ability;

Bench trial, jury trial or evidentiary hearing experience;

Judicial temperament (patience, courtesy, compassion, impartiality, humility, even temper, sense of fairness).

 

The Bar considers this process a service to educate the public concerning judicial candidates.

 

The Montgomery Bar Association RECOMMENDS that the following Judges be retained:

 

The Honorable Daniel J. Clifford               RECOMMENDED

The Honorable Todd D. Eisenberg             RECOMMENDED

The Honorable Risa Vetri Ferman             RECOMMENDED

 

 

On April 25, 2025, our Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) will observe Law Day. For almost 70 years, Americans have celebrated Law Day as a way to honor the principle of the rule of law as well as the judges, lawyers, and law-abiding members of our community who actively work to preserve our liberties under law. This Law Day the MBA reaffirms our respect for all individuals and our commitment to upholding the rule of law. As members of the legal profession, we are uniquely positioned to come together to promote a deeper understanding of the U.S. Constitution and how our democracy strives to serve all members of our community. We support judicial independence. We support the right of lawyers and law firms to provide legal services to all those in need of representation. We join national, state, and local bar associations across the country to reject and denounce attacks on the judiciary, law firms, and our noble profession.

On Law Day and beyond, our MBA’s mission remains focused on our constituents in Montgomery County. Knowledge and education are vital to ensure that all members of our community are informed of their rights and responsibilities. For decades, our MBA has served as a vital resource to promote the rule of law and civics understanding in our communities. We are steadfast in our commitment to this goal.

As we continue to lead the way in Montgomery County, we do so with the recognition that actions speak louder than words. Civics education and engagement are at the core of our vision and values. In 2025, our MBA initiated an adult civics education program at Gwynedd Mercy University that we will expand to other local universities and many community organizations throughout the county. We continue to provide, support, and sponsor elementary and high school students’ events that teach civics at their level as well as the opportunity to tour our courthouse and learn about the vital function of the courts and the judicial system. We sponsored mock trial competitions for almost thirty high schools in Montgomery County as well as the local chapters of Scouting America. We are coordinating our efforts with the federal bench to foster juror participation amongst all eligible citizens, and also to support the Third Circuit’s essay contest for elementary students focused on civics, citizenship and the concept of “We the People.” These actions are at the heart of Law Day and ensure that the rule of law is at the forefront of our community.

We celebrate our efforts to date, but without complacency. This Law Day we call on our members to join us on April 25^th at 11:30 AM in Courtroom “A” to observe and celebrate an important, longstanding tradition. We also call our members to join us in action by participating in our programs and initiatives to ensure that our constitutional system is understood, respected, and revered in Montgomery County. 

Dear MBA Members:

As we move forward in 2025, I wanted to take a moment to reinforce the principles that define our Montgomery Bar Association. Our MBA is guided by our Mission Statement, Vision Statement, Values, and Diversity Statement:

Mission Statement

The mission of the Montgomery Bar Association is to promote professional excellence, facilitate access to justice, and protect the integrity of the legal system through service to our members and community.

Vision Statement

Montgomery Bar Association embraces its responsibility to provide access to justice for all, empower members to exhibit the highest ethical conduct, civility, and technical competence, and work cooperatively with the judiciary in addressing emerging legal issues in Montgomery County.

Values

Civility
Collegiality
Diversity
Education
Integrity

Diversity Statement

The Montgomery Bar Association ("MBA") is committed to increasing its diversity and inclusion efforts to better reflect the demographics of Montgomery County; developing opportunities for community involvement and improved access to justice; and ensuring that leadership roles within the profession and the Montgomery Bar Association are accessible to all attorneys, especially those historically under-represented in the legal profession. The MBA recognizes that achieving actualized, meaningful diversity is an evolutionary process that requires a continued commitment to these efforts. The MBA disavows discrimination and strives to remain thoughtful of diversity representation among MBA leadership on a continuous and revolving basis.

Your MBA leaders remain committed to serving the interests of all of our members by continuing to follow these established guidelines. We are fortunate to have such a diverse group of attorneys that constitute our membership. By steadfastly adhering to our guiding principles, I am confident that our MBA will continue to serve the interests of each and every one of our members and continue to attract future members to our organization. I thank you for your continued support of the Montgomery Bar Association and look forward to furthering our mission in 2025.

Seth D. Wilson

President, Montgomery Bar Association

 

Above: 2025 MBA President Seth D. Wilson receives the ceremonial gavel from outgoing 2024 MBA President Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. at last Friday’s Annual Business Meeting Luncheon at the Blue Bell Country Club.

BLUE BELL, PA - On Friday, January 10, 2025, the Montgomery Bar Association (MBA) held its Annual Business Meeting Luncheon at Blue Bell Country Club. Over 200 members, legal professionals and community leaders attended the event which included the election of the MBA’s officers for 2025, an awards presentation honoring outstanding contributions to the MBA and community, as well as the installation of its new president, Seth D. Wilson, Esq. with the ceremonial “passing of the gavel.”

Seth D. Wilson is an attorney specializing in medical malpractice, product liability, and personal injury, as well as commercial litigation. He is a partner at the law firm of Morris Wilson Knepp Jacquette, P.C., which has offices in Conshohocken and Philadelphia, and serves clients in the Greater Philadelphia region of PA and NJ.

Mr. Wilson earned his Juris Doctor from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 2003, with a focus on trial advocacy. Prior to that, he attended Lafayette College, graduating with a degree in International Affairs in 2000.

Mr. Wilson is very active in legal and professional organizations. He sits on the Board of Governors of the Pennsylvania Association of Justice and the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. He served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of the Montgomery Bar Association, is a Past President of the Trial Lawyers Section, Co-Chaired the Lawyer Referral Service Committee, chaired the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee and the Law Reporter Committee, served as Editor of the Law Reporter, and was President of the Young Lawyers Section. Mr. Wilson is a Fellow of the Montgomery Bar Foundation and previously served on the Foundation's Board of Directors. He is a Lifetime Member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum. He is a frequent speaker and presenter of continuing legal education seminars, and has been published in Trial Magazine which is the official publication of the American Association of Justice.  He has appeared as an invited guest on Executive Leaders Radio.

Mr. Wilson is a resident of Upper Dublin Township in Montgomery County, where he lives with his wife and two daughters.

For the 2025 Bar Year, Colin J. O'Boyle, Esq. of Elliott Greenleaf P.C. in Blue Bell will serve as will serve as President-Elect;  Hon. Joseph P. Walsh of Walsh Pancio, LLC in Lansdale will serve as Vice President;  Mary Kay Kelm, Esq. of Kilcoyne & Kelm, LLC in Montgomeryville will serve as Treasurer; and Montgomery County Solicitor Lauren A. Hughes, Esq. will serve as Secretary.  

Also of Note: Michael J. Lyon Esq. will serve as President of the MBA’s Trial Lawyers Section, Franqui-Ann J. Raffaele, Esq. was named Chair of the MBA’s Young Lawyers Section, Inna G. Materese, Esq. was named Chair of the MBA’s Family Law Section, and George M. Riter Esq. will continue as Chair of the MBA’s Probate and Tax Section.

Presenting Sponsors for the 2025 Annual Business Luncheon included Repario, Steno Court Reporting and Morgan Wentworth.

In addition to the election and installation of new leadership, the following community awards were given:

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MBA Lifetime Achievement Award
Sponsored by The Pugh Family Lawyers

Awarded to: Hon. Thomas C. Branca and Hon. Thomas P. Rogers

Above: Retiring Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judges Thomas C. Branca and Thomas P. Rogers accept the 2025 Montgomery Bar Association Lifetime Achievement Award from 2024 MBA President Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. at the 2025 Annual Business Meeting of the Montgomery Bar Association on Friday, January 10, 2025.  This prestigious award chosen by members of the Pugh Family is presented at the Annual Business Luncheon.   Chosen honorees must be an MBA member whose principal office is in Montgomery County or Federal and Appellate Judges who are MBA members.

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Hon. Horace A. Davenport Diversity Award

Awarded to: Hon. A. Nicole Tate-Phillips

Above: Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge A. Nicole Tate-Phillips receives the 2024 Honorable Horace A. Davenport Diversity Award from 2024 MBA President Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. at the 2025 Annual Business Meeting of the Montgomery Bar Association on Friday, January 10, 2025. This prestigious award goes to a person, organization or MBA committee who has not only supported the principles espoused in the MBA's Diversity Statement, but advanced them through an extraordinary singular effort, a sustained and impactful commitment, and/or a significant and effective contribution.

 

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Committee of the Year Award

Awarded to: The 2024 MBA Lawyer Referral/ Modest Means Legal Access Program Committee

Above: Members of the 2024 MBA Lawyer Referral/ Modest Means Legal Access Program Committee accept the 2024 MBA Committee of the Year Award from 2024 MBA President Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. at the 2025 Annual Business Meeting of the Montgomery Bar Association on Friday, January 10, 2025.  Selected annually by MBA president based on overall activity, service and other criteria.

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2024 President's Awards

Presented to: MBA Membership Coordinator Sherry Sutton and MBF President Jacqueline Reynolds, Esq. (Marshall Dennehey, P.C.)

 

 

Above: MBA Membership Coordinator Sherry Sutton Receives one of two 2024 MBA President’s Awards given by 2024 MBA President Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. during the 2025 Annual Business Meeting of the Montgomery Bar Association on Friday, January 10, 2025. 

Above: Montgomery Bar Foundation President Jacqueline Reynolds, Esq. (Marshall Dennehey, P.C. receives the second of two 2024 MBA President’s Awards given by 2024 MBA President Lisa A. Shearman, Esq. during the 2025 Annual Business Meeting of the Montgomery Bar Association on Friday, January 10, 2025.  MBA President’s Awards are presented at the discretion of the outgoing President.  Traditionally this is the outgoing President’s final matter of business before passing the ceremonial gavel to the new president. 

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This year's Annual Business Luncheon Meeting was co-sponsored by Repario, Steno Court Reporting and Morgan Wentworth.

click here to view more photos from this year’s Annual Business Meeting Luncheon.

 

 

A Message from 2025 President Seth D. Wilson, Esq.

The Montgomery Bar Association (“MBA”) Autonomous Judiciary Committee evaluates the qualifications of candidates for the Court of Common Pleas.

Individuals who are considering filing as a judicial candidate for any open seat on the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania in the 2025 primary election should obtain a copy of the Judicial Evaluation Questionnaire, and a copy of the committee's guidelines and bylaws.  To receive these materials, contact the MBA by phone at 610-279-9660, ext. 202, by email at jcq@montgomerybar.org, or by writing to: Montgomery Bar Association, Attn: Judiciary Committee, 100 W. Airy Street, P.O. Box 268, Norristown, PA 19404.

Completed questionnaires must be received by close of business Monday, January 6, 2025.  Complete questionnaires may be returned in PDF format via email to jcq@montgomerybar.org or by hand-delivery at the address above.

The ratings that are completed at each evaluation session will be announced at the conclusion of that session. Under the Committee's guidelines, any candidate who does not participate in the evaluation process will receive a "Not Recommended" rating. Candidate in-person interviews will be held on January 23 and 24, 2025.  The Committee will contact candidates who have submitted completed questionnaires to schedule the interviews.

About the Montgomery Bar Association’s Autonomous Judiciary Committee

In its present form since 1965, the Committee is a non-partisan autonomous, self-governing, committee within the Montgomery Bar Association charged with the obligation to pass upon the qualifications of every candidate for the office of Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, and to advise the public accordingly.  The Committee is composed of the Association’s ten most recent Past-Presidents as well as elected rotating panels of 24 of the Association’s members-at-large.  The Committee’s members are lawyers of diverse background, ages, practices and geographic areas of Montgomery County and share nearly 1,000 years of collective legal experience. 

New Montgomery County Register of Wills Uses Technology to Increase Efficiency

Montgomery County Register of Wills and Clerk of the Orphans’ Court, Tina Lawson, has had a whirlwind first 100 days of office – rising to the challenge to improve overall efficiency and operation of the office.

Within a month of taking office in January 2024, Lawson has worked to clear the backlog of the processing of inheritance tax returns. The office is also the agent for the State of Pennsylvania in the collection of inheritance taxes, averaging $200 million annually. Just last week the office collected over $10 million in Inheritance taxes resulting in increased revenue for the County and State.

Lawson observed that the office’s staff were “working harder, not smarter,” and began incorporating needed technology, including check processors and scanners, and each employee is equipped with a double monitor to make their jobs easier. Lawson predicts that the efficiencies provide better support to residents seeking such services as a marriage license, filing Inheritance tax returns, submitting Orphans’ Court filings and probating of estates.

“I’m trying to make the office run more efficiently,” she said. “(Residents) need services. We need to be responsive.”

Now, instead of keeping a handwritten log of the many checks received per day, Lawson and her staff are scanning checks. The office has also recently changed its phone system to make sure every call is answered.

“We brought every employee in initially and asked ‘what are you doing? How can we make this easier for you?’” Lawson said, adding that staff had previously worked piecemeal completing a task before passing it to another employee and then another. “Now they can do the work from beginning to end.”

To ensure tasks are completed seamlessly, Lawson upgraded the office’s software and is adding credit card machines.  Employees are excited about the upgrades, including the planning of a new state-of-the-art video conference room that’s being transformed from a storage room.

“We have to be accessible to the public,” she said. “The technology we put in place will help constituents coming to the office in person or applying online obtain services a bit faster.”

In addition, under Lawson’s leadership, the office is beta testing a new self-scheduling feature that will allow residents to complete online filings and schedule appointments online for probates and marriage licenses.

The next step to increasing efficiency is to go paperless, which Lawson is moving toward with the addition of scanners.

“We’re cutting down on paper,” she said. “We’re cutting down on time to accomplish tasks. We’re making it all very efficient.”

Lawson is planning an open house very soon so that constituents can see the amazing changes.

Lawson, a longtime Upper Dublin resident, has been an attorney in the probates and Estates field for the last 30 years. She hopes to impress upon the general public the grave importance of creating Estate planning documents, including Wills. She also intends to help the office engage with the public about the services the Register of Wills offers.

To help get her message out about the revamped Register of Wills, Lawson plans to offer educational seminars. The new Register will also perform community outreach at community fairs, senior centers, local events and through partnering with a variety of organizations and governmental agencies.