MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOSEPH M. PACELLA

Please remember to sign up for the annual HCBA golf tournament and/or dinner on May 16^th at the Ranch Golf Club in Southwick.  Space is very limited, so act fast!  This is a great member benefit that is subsidized by our many sponsors.  You could not play a round at the Ranch for what we are charging, let alone get a few gifts, lunch and dinner.  We are always looking for additional sponsors and raffle prizes, so please take a moment to solicit a sponsor or gift and let us know if you can help. 

It is election time again.  President Theodore Roosevelt once said that,...

I want to start by saying that Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Congressmen Richard Neal deserve a lot of credit for working hard to get us what we need with respect to filling the judicial vacancy here in Springfield.  A few months ago, our own Nate Olin spearheaded a campaign by the local chapter of the Federal Bar Association, Western Mass. Bar Association Presidents and other leaders to meet, discuss and, then, co-author a request of Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Congressman Neal and others to move swiftly...

Please consider making whatever arrangements are needed in order to hear U.S. District Court Judge William Young speak at Judge’s Night on April 2nd at the Log Cabin.  Judge Young is a vivacious speaker with a storied career, including many famous criminal cases, including the “Big Dan” rape case (which was the inspiration for the Jodie Foster movie - The Accused), the Richard Reid shoe bomber case and the Boston Strangler case.  Judge Young is

Please save the date as there is a “Springfield Day” in the works whereby our new Court Administrator, Lewis ‘Harry’ Spence, will visit the Hall of Justice tentatively on February 28^th from 1-3 pm for an informational meeting.  Please consider attending as this is an important opportunity to depict the local impact from recent spending cuts and the 4 or 5 year hiring freeze and to lobby for relief.

As part of my duties as President, I have the privilege of serving on the House of Delegates (HOD) of the Massachusetts Bar Association.

Happy New Year!  I want to start by thanking Mass Mutual Financial Group for its continued support of the Hampden County Bar Association.  Since taking the position, Mass Mutual’s Executive Vice President and General Counsel, Mark Roellig has been an active member of the HCBA, and he has been instrumental in the renewed local pro bono initiatives that they support.  This support has not only been financial through a recent $17,000 award in support of the Hampden County Legal Clinic, but an increased number of Mass Mutual attorneys and paralegals

 MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOSEPH M. PACELLA

 If you were unable to attend the Holiday Party or we did not get the chance to talk then, I want to start by wishing you a safe and joyful holiday season on behalf of myself, Noreen, all of our dedicated staff and the entire Board of Directors. I personally would like to thank all of you that attended, especially our many honored guests from the Committee for Public Counsel Services, Community Legal Aid, the Hampden County District Attorney Mark G. Mastroianni and his Office as well as the Board members and attorneys from the Hampden County Lawyers for Justice, Inc. who made this a very memorable event.

 MESSAGE FROM PRESIDENT JOSEPH M. PACELLA

First, I would again urge all of you to contact Michelle at the Hampden County Legal Clinic to sign up to volunteer for the District Court Lawyer for the Day program. It has been very well received by the community and a good use of one’s time. You staff the lobby of the bar association and answer questions and help pro se litigants fill out forms. You will not have to file an appearance in any case.  If District Court is not your area of expertise talk to Michelle about other volunteer opportunities in Housing Court and Probate & Family Court. Although the next two months are part of the busy holiday season, please consider making this an easy way to give something back to those in need.

This past month has been marked by the loss of two well known and well respected members of our bar association.

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