While there may be times that it seems like we may be poised to lose some of our hard-fought and hard-won rights as a society, I have hope. My hope comes from every one of you who have used your positions to preserve and keep safe the rights that have been bestowed upon us by our founders in creating the U.S. Constitution and the United States of America.

Whether you've served in a Philadelphia Bar Association leadership position in the past, or this would be your first time, all are encouraged to participate in this year's Bar Association elections. Here's what you need to know. 

The Philadelphia Bar Association applauds retired Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman on the naming of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Philadelphia Courtroom in her honor.

It is with deep sadness that the Philadelphia Bar Association shares with its members about the passing of an esteemed member of the Philadelphia community, former President Judge Frederica Massiah-Jackson.

Please see funeral information here

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari issued the following statement in memory of Bruce Lee Castor Sr., a retired attorney who worked for Ballard Spahr for 48 years, who passed away on July 29.

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Katayun I. Jaffari issued a statement congratulating U.S. District Judge Honorable Wendy Beetlestone for being selected Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and thanking outgoing Chief Judge Mitchell S. Goldberg for his leadership.

The Philadelphia Bar Association held its 2025 Summer Quarterly: Advancing Justice – Commemorating the 60^th Anniversary of the Voting Rights Act on Wednesday, June 25 at the Independence Visitor Center. The event included a presentation on the past, present and future of voting access, presentation of the 2025 Cheryl Ingram Advocate for Justice Award, and honoring outgoing executive director Harvey Hurdle. 

We are proud of all that we have done as an Association in the past six months and are committed to continue the work to be responsive to our members’ messages and asks.

What follows is a summary of some of the most pressing steps that we have taken in advancement of our mission to serve the profession and the public by promoting justice, professional excellence and respect for the rule of law. We have done all of these things while continuing to serve our members with countless CLEs, happy hours, substantive meetings and programming from our nine Sections, our many committees, and our Young Lawyers’ Division.

The Philadelphia Bar Association issued the following statement today in response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. CASA, a ruling that threatens to upend longstanding protections for birthright citizenship. The Court did not rule on whether Executive Order 14160 – the order to end birthright citizenship – is constitutional. However, it did lift the nationwide injunction that had blocked enforcement of such order and ruled that individual federal judges lack the authority to issue universal injunctions. Under today’s Supreme Court ruling, states have 30 days to obtain injunctive relief from the Executive Order. Currently 28 states, including Pennsylvania, must act within this 30-day timeframe to protect birthright citizenship.

As threats to judicial and attorney independence continue, the Philadelphia Bar Association remains committed to our mission.