Created on 03/25/2024 04:53 PM
Courthouse dome

The court en banc will recognize the newest members of the WBA at the annual New Members Ceremony scheduled for Wednesday, March 27, in Ceremonial Courtroom No. 3 at the Westmoreland County Courthouse at 3:00 p.m.

Please join us for a complimentary reception at the Courthouse immediately following the ceremony.

Share your stories about being a young lawyer, spend time with colleagues and celebrate this next generation of Westmoreland County lawyers.

Register online here.

 

Created on 03/21/2024 02:00 PM

The Annual Meeting of the Westmoreland Bar Foundation and the Westmoreland Bar Association will be held on Monday, April 1, 2024, at Rizzo's Banquet Hall in Crabtree.

We will recognize and thank outgoing WBA President Maureen Kroll and welcome Angelea Allen Mitas as she assumes the office of President of the Westmoreland Bar Association. The business meeting begins at 4:30 pm.

Elections will be held to fill the open positions on the Board of Directors and the Membership, Building, and Investment Committees.

The Nominating Committee has recommended the following members for these positions:

  • Vice President (1 Year, 1 Opening): Adam J. Long
  • Director (3 Years, 1 Opening): Jacquelyn Knupp
  • Membership Committee (5 Years, 1 Opening): Keegan Miller
  • Building Committee (5 Years, 1 Opening): David S. DeRose
  • Investment Committee (5 Years, 1 Opening): Robert P. Lightcap

Those WBA members with participating status attending the Annual Meeting of the association on April 1, 2024, will vote "yea" or "nay" to fill these positions. (According to the Bylaws of the Westmoreland Bar Association, associate members, judicial members, and honorary members do not have voting rights.)

THIS MEETING IS FOR CURRENT MEMBERS OF THE WESTMORELAND BAR ASSOCIATION ONLY.

Register online here.

Sign up for 2024-2025 Committees here.

Download the Annual Meeting packet here. (Accessible to WBA members only)

 

Dinner Sponsor

Somerset Trust logo

 

 

Created on 03/20/2024 10:35 AM

Betty Ward dutifully served as the Westmoreland County Law Librarian for 32 years. Join friends and colleagues in saluting her as the Westmoreland County Law Library is renamed in her honor on Friday, April 12, at Noon, at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.

Speeches and light refreshments are on the agenda.

If you are unable to attend the ceremony, but would like to pay tribute to Betty, stop in the Law Library to sign a commemorative guest book.

RSVP online or call 724-834-6730.

Betty Ward
 

Created on 02/28/2024 10:50 AM

In observance of the holiday and the Courthouse being closed, the Honorable Harry F. Smail, Jr. will not be hearing Civil or Orphans’ Court motions on Friday, March 29, 2024.  Motions will instead be heard on Thursday, March 28, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.

With a conflict arising in his schedule, the Honorable Harry F. Smail, Jr. will not be hearing Civil or Orphans’ Court motions on Friday, April 5, 2024. Counsel should make arrangements to present on a prior or subsequent Friday.

 

Created on 02/22/2024 11:12 AM

Law Day 2024We invite you to join us for this year’s Judges and Lawyers Go Back to School program held in conjunction with 2024 Law Day. The Westmoreland Bar Association wants to provide Westmoreland County schools with as many lawyers and judges as we can recruit to discuss topics that are pertinent to today’s students and today’s citizens. We will begin the classroom visits in late April and conclude by mid-May.

The 2024 Law Day theme “Voices of Democracy” recognizes that in democracies, the people rule. For nearly 250 years, Americans have expressed their political views and wishes by speaking their minds and voting in elections. In 2024, the United States will hold its 60th presidential election, and Americans will address fundamental questions about democracy and the rule of law.

The Voices of Democracy Law Day theme encourages Americans to participate in the 2024 elections by deepening their understanding of the electoral process; discussing issues in honest and civil ways; turning out to vote; and, finally, helping to move the country forward after free and fair elections. In this way, Americans ensure that our government remains responsive to the wishes of the people.

The American Bar Association has put together some informative and engaging lesson plans, materials, and resources for K-12 classroom visits. View them online at abateacherportal.org/law-day/.

If you are a judge, attorney, or magisterial district judge and want to volunteer to visit a classroom for Law Day 2024, fill out this form.

If you are a teacher in Westmoreland County and would like to request a presentation for your class, fill out this form.