11/13/2022
As President of the Wilkes-Barre Law Library Association (Luzerne County Bar), I want to thank the Bench Bar Committee for the fantastic job they did in preparing an outstanding training program for our members, including a presentation by Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty, as well as the Charitable Foundation who raised funds which will be donated to non-profit organizations.
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Pa. Supreme Court justice addresses local bar association on autism
BY JAMES HALPIN STAFF WRITER Nov 11, 2022
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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty speaks at the Bench Bar Conference at Mohegan Pennsylvania on Thursday.
Sean McKeag / Staff Photographer
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PLAINS TWP. — A Pennsylvania Supreme Court judge addressed the members of the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association on Thursday about the importance of having awareness of autism in the courts.
Speaking to a crowd of more than 250 attorneys and judges gathered for lunch in the convention center at Mohegan Pennsylvania, Justice Kevin M. Dougherty discussed the state high court’s “autism and the courts initiative,” which he said is developing programs for attorney continuing legal education about autism awareness.
Such training will help ensure judges and attorneys can make “competent and rational decisions” about courtroom participants with autism, he said.
“The people who come through our courts are usually the marginalized,” Dougherty said, adding that they often don’t have the resources for proper diagnosis and treatment. “All I want is people to be aware that we are blessed, and there are people who are blessed but not as blessed as we are.”
The justice told attendees of the Luzerne County bar association’s 2022 Bench Bar Conference that he was inspired to learn more about autism in the courts after hearing a juvenile case in which the defendant was unable to keep still. When he asked why the child wouldn’t stop fidgeting, the mother informed him at sidebar that the child was autistic, he said.
“All I was was ignorant about how the world is perceived by those who don’t perceive it the way I do,” Dougherty said. “With that, I decided to delve into it. … I went on this mission to learn about autism.”
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The justice also devoted some time in his speech to note the state high court celebrated its 300th anniversary this year and to remember the life of his late colleague Max Baer, the court’s chief justice who died suddenly in his sleep on Sept. 30.
“We’ve had a tumultuous year,” he said.
The bar association also recognized the career of retired Luzerne County Judge Joseph J. Van Jura, who was awarded the 2022 President’s Award.
In presenting the award, association President Girard J. Mecadon recalled an instance early in his career where Van Jura took the time to help him prepare for his first trial.
“I was so overwhelmed at that,” Mecadon said. He noted that at Thursday’s conference, 20 years later, he finally had the opportunity to repay the favor. “To me, Joseph Van Jura is our gift.”
The association gave Van Jura a standing ovation.
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