Latest News

• Philadelphia Bar Association Supports Limited Diploma Privilege for Individuals Currently Registered for Bar Exam

  The Philadelphia Bar Association issued the following statement today on adopting the position that individuals who are currently registered for the Pennsylvania Bar Examination are granted a limited diploma privilege.

• Statement About Philadelphia NAACP Executive Director Rodney Muhammad

  Chancellor Snyder released the following statement today on the anti-Semitic actions of Rodney Muhammad, local Executive Director of the Philadelphia NAACP.

• Announcement of the Death of Judge Leon Katz

  It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of The Hon. Leon Katz (Ret.), 52nd Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association on August 3, 2020.

• Take Action Philly Virtual Panel, Aug. 19

  Mail-in voting will serve a more prominent role than ever before in the upcoming November General Election. As governments across the nation ramp up efforts to increase the capacity for fielding an influx of mail-in votes in November, what is the status of Philadelphia’s preparations?

• Honorable Lisette Shirdan-Harris Appointed Supervising Judge of Trial Division - Civil Section

  Honorable Jacqueline F. Allen, Administrative Judge of the Civil Trial Division of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, has announced the appointment of the Honorable Lisette Shirdan-Harris as the Supervising Judge of the Trial Division, succeeding the Honorable Arnold New, effective August 3.…

• Fall Civil Jury Trials Postponed, Non-Jury Trials Held Remotely

  All Philadelphia civil jury trials scheduled through January 4, 2021 are postponed and will be rescheduled, non-jury trials scheduled after September 6 will be heard using remote technology.

• Statement on the Right to Peaceably Assemble

  Chancellor Snyder released the following statement today on the right to peaceably assemble…
  

• Affidavit of CARES Act Compliance Required in Evictions

  The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ordered that all landlords filing evictions between March 27 and August 24, 2020 must file an Affidavit of Compliance with the federal CARES Act in the form attached to the order…

• Dr. Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham to Deliver Lecture on 19th Amendment at Summer Quarterly Virtual Meeting

  The Summer Quarterly Virtual Meeting will feature the delivery of the Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr. Memorial Public Interest Lecture by Dr. Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Professor of Afro-American Studies, African American Religion and the Victor S. Thomas Professor of History and of African and African American Studies at Harvard University, and wife of the late Judge A. Leon Higginbotham Jr.…

• Statement in Response to FJD Release of CURE Study

  Chancellor Snyder released the following statement in response to the release of a study by the First Judicial District of Philadelphia and conducted by the Washington-based Center for Urban and Racial Equality (CURE)…

• Reggie Shuford to Receive Diversity Award at Summer Quarterly Virtual Meeting

  The Association will proudly present the Justice Sonia Sotomayor Diversity Award to Reggie Shuford, Esq., Executive Director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania at its virtual Summer Quarterly Meeting on Friday, August 7 at 12:00 p.m.…

• Wolf Issues Exec. Order Extending Moratorium on Foreclosures and Evictions Through Aug. 31

  Governor Tom Wolf has issued an Executive Order suspending most evictions and mortgage foreclosures through August 31, 2020. Foreclosure proceedings subject to the notice requirements of Act 6 and Act 91 cannot commence until August 31…

• 2020 PA Bar Exam to be Done Remotely in October

  In light of continued concerns of the spread of COVID-19, the Board of Law Examiners, with the approval of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, has decided to administer a remote bar exam in lieu of an in-person exam…

• Phila. Civil Courts Set Protocol for Discovery Motions

  Administrative Judge Allen and Supervising Judges Glazer and New have set new protocol for the handling of Discovery Motions filed after July 6 through September 7.

• Statement on the Restoration of Funding for the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Program

  Chancellor Snyder released the following statement on the restoration of funding for the Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Program…

• Commerce Court: New Program to Help Businesses, Nonprofits Impacted by COVID-19

  Philadelphia's Commerce Court has started a Temporary Financial Monitor Program designed to help small businesses and nonprofits impacted by COVID-19…

• Philadelphia Bar Associations Offices Closed Friday, June 19

  On Tuesday, June 16, Mayor Jim Kenney announced the designation of June 19 as an official city holiday. Also known as Juneteenth, the day commemorates the end of slavery in the United States…

• Bench-Bar 2020 Cancelled

  A philosopher once said, "We live in interesting times." This statement, made many years ago, has tremendous relevance to life in 2020.

• Philadelphia Bar Association Statement on the Supreme Court Affirming Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Protected Under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

  Chancellor Hon. A. Michael Snyder (ret.) issued the following statement on the Supreme Court decision affirming that sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under Title VII Civic Rights Act of 1964…