About Us

The Monroe County Bar Association has been an important resource for the community for more than 100 years. The programs and services of the Association continue to evolve to meet the ever-changing needs of its members and the community. The Association is committed to working with attorneys and the Courts to improve the operation of the legal system in Monroe County. If you are in need of an attorney, the Association provides a “Find a Lawyer” program that will assist you in locating an attorney who specializes in your area of need.

The Association further provides a range of programs and educational opportunities throughout the year, including community programs for students and seniors. Through its charitable arm, the Monroe County Bar Foundation, the Association makes financial contributions to worthy organizations throughout the community, with a particular emphasis on helping children. Please browse our site to find more information about MCBA-sponsored community events, as well as links to legal forms and other helpful information.

MCBA Mission

The mission of the Monroe County Bar Association is to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law, to cultivate social interaction among its members and to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice.

In support of its mission, the Monroe County Bar Association shall:

  • Provide quality continuing legal education programs;
  • Work with the Court and County government to improve administrative procedures in the Monroe County Court system and related row offices;
  • Provide opportunities for collegiality and networking among its members;
  • Promote high standards of civility, professionalism and ethical conduct;
  • Keep the community informed of the role and work of the legal profession; and
  • Provide opportunities for its membership to contribute to the community through public education and charitable giving.

Hours of Operation:

The Bar Association is currently closed to the public.

Operating hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday.
Closed on some Holidays.

Contact Information:

913 Main Street
Stroudsburg, PA 18360
Telephone: 570.424.7288
Fax: 570.424.8234

MCBA Staff:

Lori Ann Siegle
Executive Director
lori@monroebar.org

Vacant
Journal Coordinator & Bookkeeper
journal@monroebar.org

Paige Kelly
Administrative Assistant / Journal Coordinator
reception@monroebar.org

The original association of the Monroe County Bar was an informal gathering of local attorneys. As far back as 1868, there were efforts to form an organization to assist its members in providing high quality legal services to the community.

On April 19, 1915, the Monroe County Bar Association was formed when a constitution, by-laws and minimum fee bill were adopted. On May 29, 1915, the association became incorporated by the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County. The first President was Dr. Joseph H. Shull, Esquire. Attorney Shull was first admitted to practice on May 31, 1878, and continued in the legal field for more than fifty-seven years. The original subscribers at the time of incorporation were:

Joseph H. Shull, Rogers L. Burnett, John B. Williams, Cicero Gearhart, A. Raguel Brittain, Harvey A. Huffman, Wilton A. Erdman, Stewart S. Shafer, Frank B. Holmes, William B. Eilenberger, Claude C. Shull, Chester B. Rhodes and Ira A. LaBar

The members of the Board of Directors were:

Joseph H. Shull, Wilton A.Erdman, Frank B. Holmes, John B. Williams, and Chester B. Rhodes.

The purpose of the organization, according to the incorporation decree was to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law, to cultivate social interaction among its members and to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice.

Today the Monroe County Bar Association continues to assist its members and the public of Monroe County by providing an opportunity for interaction, education and community related services. The Bar Association has grown to over 250 members and maintains a permanent center at 913 Main Street, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

In 2015 we celebrated our 100th anniversary.  For more history on the Monroe County Bar Association, we invite you to read Celebrating 100 Years - A Reflection of our History

Sources of Information:

History of Monroe County Pennsylvania
Robert Brown Keller, The Monroe Publishing Company - 1927

The Founding of Monroe County
Addresses Delivered before The Monroe County Historical Society Meeting - January 16, 1936

The Bench and Bar and Official Life of Monroe County
Illustrated Review by Emil Held - 1915

1915 - 1944   Joseph H. Shull
1945 - 1955   Harold C. Edward
1956 - 1958   Russell L. Mervine
1959 - 1965   Arlington W. Williams
1966               Phillip H. Williams
1967 - 1968   George T. Robinson
1969 - 1970   Elmer D. Christine, Sr.
1971               James C. Scanlon
1972 - 1973   Detleff A. Hansen
1974 - 1977   Kennard Lewis
1978 - 1979   Richard E. Deetz
1980 - 1981   Alex L. Bensinger
1982               Jerome P. Cheslock
1983 - 1984   Linda Wallach Miller
1985 - 1986   Maxwell H. Cohen
1987               Robert Williamson
1988 - 1989   Charles P. Eyer
1990 - 1991    James F. Marsh
1992 - 1993   C. Daniel Higgins, Sr.
1994 - 1995   Daniel M. Corveleyn
1996 - 1997   Jerry F. Hanna
1998 - 1999   Bernard M. Billick
2000 - 2001   William J. Reaser, Jr.
2002 - 2003   Mary Louise Parker
2004              Charles J. Vogt
2005              Mark S. Love
2006              Joseph P. McDonald, Jr.
2007              Thomas V. Casale
2008              Gerard J. Geiger
2009              Alan P. Young
2010              Stephen M. Higgins
2011               David J. Williamson
2012               F. Andrew Wolf
2013               Jane Roach Maughan
2014               Lori J. Cerato
2015               Todd W. Weitzmann
2016               Jeffrey A. Durney
2017               Timothy J. McManus
2018               Mark A. Primrose
2019               Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes
2020               Brian C. Jordan
2021               Hillary A. Madden
2022               Deborah L. Huffman
2023               Vincent Rubino
2024               Victoria Strunk

I. RULES FOR PROFESSIONALISM

The practice of law is a profession, a genuine calling inspirited with the service to the system of justice, not a common business enterprise. The quality of the profession is as worthy as the character of the people who practice it.

Self-esteem, shared respect for each other, the clients we serve, the judges and the officers with whom we work, are essential to it.

Civility is a virtue, not a shortcoming. Willingness to temper zeal with respect for society's interest in preserving responsible judicial process will help to preserve it.

Unwritten rules of professional courtesy have long sustained us. Since they are sometimes forgotten, or sometimes ignored, we should set them down again and conscientiously observe them.

  1. Treat the lawyers, client, opposing parties, the Court, and all the officials with whom we work with civility. Professional courtesy is compatible with vigorous advocacy and zealous representation.
  2. Communications are lifelines. Keep the lines open. Telephones calls and correspondence are a two-way channel; respond to them promptly.
  3. Respect other lawyers' schedules as your own. Seek agreement on meeting, depositions, hearings and trial dates. A reasonable request for a scheduling accommodation should never be unreasonably refused.
  4. Be punctual in appointments, communications and in honoring scheduled appearances. Neglect and tardiness are demeaning to others and to the judicial system.
  5. Procedural rules are necessary to judicial order and decorum. Be mindful that pleadings, discovery processes and motions cost time and money. They should not be needlessly used. If an adversary is entitled to something, provide it without unnecessary formalities.
  6. Grant extensions of time when they are reasonable and when they will not have material, adverse effect on your client's interest.
  7. Resolve differences through negotiation, expeditiously and without needless expense.
  8. Enjoy what you are doing and the company you keep. You and the world will be better for it.

II. GENERAL RULES OF ETIQUETTE

  1. Lawyers should ask permission to address the Court rather than just jumping up and starting to talk. The proper method of requesting such permission is to preface one's remark by the phrase "May it please the Court..."
  2. Lawyers should request permission to approach the bench prior to doing so.
  3. Lawyers should first address the Court and opposing counsel before addressing the jury. The proper form of doing this is "May it please the Court, Counsel, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Jury."
  4. Lawyers should always stand when addressing the Court at all proceedings.
  5. Lawyers when making objections should stand and state a brief basis for the objection, such as "Objection: hearsay." If it necessary to enlarge the record after an objection, lawyers should request to approach the bench and quietly, out of the hearing of the jury, state their reasons.
  6. Lawyers should refrain from crowding the witness. This makes it difficult for both the Court and jury to hear the witness' testimony, since it tends to encourage the witness to lower his or her voice.
  7. When marking exhibits for identification, is is suggested that the courteous way of doing this is to give the exhibit to the court reporter to have the exhibit marked, and to then exhibit it to the Court and to opposing counsel. All these actions should be performed before questions are again directed to the witness. The court reporter cannot possibly mark and exhibit and record testimony at the same time. Where there are a multitude of exhibits, they should be marked in advance by the court reporter.
  8. Lawyers should always keep their voices up and remind their witnesses to do the same.
  9. Lawyers should never directly address opposing counsel in Court. Lawyers should directly address only the Court, the jury and the witness.
  10. A lawyer should not call any witness, even his or her client, by the witness' first name.
  11. Lawyers should limit voir dire questions to the proper purpose of voir dire and should not attempt to instruct the jury as to the law or to argue their case to the jury by means of voir dire questions.
  12. Lawyers should be on time for all Court appearances, including all calls of the list.
  13. Lawyers who have cases on a miscellaneous hearing list should remain immediately available, so that when their case is called they are ready to begin promptly.
  14. All lawyers, in accordance with the Court Rules, should be prepared at all times when they appear before the Court.
  15. Lawyers should exhibit courtesy in the courtroom toward opposing counsel as well as to the Court.
  16. Trial Counsel should include the authority relied upon in points for charge and refrain from unduly repetitious points.
  17. Lawyers should wait until all of the assignments have been announced on an argument or other list before engaging others in conversation or gathering their briefcases, charts, and other paraphernalia and leaving the courtroom.
  18. Counsel should be available in their offices or at the Court House to respond to telephone calls during civil and criminal trials.
  19. Trials or hearings may not be continued without court approval. Discovery deadlines fixed by court order may not be extended without court approval. The mere agreement of counsel to a continuance or to an extension is insufficient.

President's Welcome

Hello Members and Happy New Year! I will have the honor of serving as President of the Monroe County Bar Association in 2024. I look forward to continuing to build on the success of my predecessors in carrying out the MCBA mission.

My membership in the MCBA began the moment I became a law clerk and was sworn in by then President Judge Ronald E. Vican. Judge Vican heavily encouraged his law clerks to become involved in the bar association because he was well aware of how that involvement would benefit our future careers when our clerkships came to an end. Initially, I was heavily involved in the Young Lawyers Division of the MCBA and I was soon recruited to be the YLD President. That position gave me a seat on the "Big Board" and allowed me to make connections and learn from more seasoned attorneys in the bar. Those connections continued throughout the years and many of those same attorneys continue to mentor and guide me as we grow together in our profession.

There is such value in the relationships we build when we choose to devote ourselves to the mission of the MCBA: “to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law and to cultivate social interaction among its members...” My goal as president for 2024 is to welcome and encourage all new members and young lawyers to become active participants in the camaraderie that has made my experience of practicing law in Monroe County so fulfilling, rewarding and enjoyable.

I wish all my fellow members of the MCBA family a healthy, happy and prosperous 2024.

Victoria A. Strunk, Esquire
President


BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Victoria A. Strunk, Esquire
President
Gross McGinley LLP
411 Main Street, Suite 101
Stroudsburg PA 18360
610.820.5450
David N. Marra, Esquire
Mr. Marra is currently serving on military leave.
Brandie J. Belanger, Esquire
Secretary
ARM Lawyers
220 Delaware Avenue
Palmerton PA 18071
484.765.8140 Fax: 484.544.8625
Noelle Wilkinson, Esquire
Treasurer
Office of the District Attorney
1000 Madison Avenue, #310
Norristown PA 19403
610.592.6339
Vincent Rubino, Esquire
Interim Vice President (2024)
Immediate Past President
Newman Williams, P.C.
712 Monroe Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360
570.421.9090 Fax: 570.424.9739
Gerald Brunell, Esquire
President-Young Lawyers Division
Cramer, Swetz, McManus & Jordan, P.C.
711 Sarah Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360
570.421.5568 Fax: 484.544.8625
Patrick J. Best, Esquire
Member at Large
ARM Lawyers
18 North Eighth Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360
570.424.6899 Fax: 484.544.8625
Kelly L. Lombardo, Esquire
Member at Large
Lori J. Cerato Elder Law
729 Sarah Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360
570.424.3506
Lori Ann Siegle
Executive Director
Monroe County Bar Association
913 Main Street
Stroudsburg PA 18360
570.424.7288 Fax: 570.424.8234