Delco re:View Winter 2018 - 19

www.DelcoBar.org

Delaware County's
new DistriCt attorney
MEDIA, PA - Delaware County
officially has a new District
Attorney, as Katayoun "Kat"
M. Copeland was sworn into
office Friday, January 19, 2018
at an induction ceremony in the
Delaware County Courthouse.
President Judge Kevin F. Kelly
presided over the ceremony
at 10:00 a.m. Friday, in The
Honorable John V. Diggins
Ceremonial Courtroom.
"I am returning home, to an office
where I spent 19 years, with the same
passion and vigor that I brought to
the office when I arrived as a newly
minted, eager prosecutor," Copeland said at the ceremony.
"Moving forward, I pledge that under my leadership this office
will approach its mission, and pro-actively pursue new ideas and
listen to those with suggestions on how we can together face
the real and present challenges to our criminal justice systems
in creatively, courageously, and compassionately seeking
restorative justice."
Copeland was administered the Oath of Office by Kelly; her
introduction was done by Zane David Memeger, former United
States Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania; and
the Bible was held by her mother Shahin M. Copeland and her
brother Cyrus Copeland.
The invocation and benediction were given by Sister
Marguerite O'Beirne, Vice President for Mission Ministry at
Neumann University; the Pledge of Allegiance was led by retired
Captain John J. McKenna, and the National Anthem was sung by
Delaware County Probation Officer Jennifer Green.
Copeland was appointed District Attorney on Friday,
January 5, 2018. She takes over the District Attorney's office
after former District Attorney Jack Whelan was elected to the
Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in November.

Copeland is a graduate of The
Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr College
and Temple University's Beasley
School of Law.
She has spent 25 years as a career
prosecutor, working for Delaware
County District Attorney's office for
19 years with its drug task force and
criminal terrorism unit, as well as the
United States Attorney's Office for
the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
where she worked on cases involving
drug operations, attempted murders,
racketeering, and other major crimes.
During her prosecutorial career,
Copeland has earned honors, awards,
and recognition from various agencies, including police in
Marple Township, Media Borough, Upper Darby Township;
Pennsylvania State Police; and Delaware County agencies.
The county said it received 20 applications for the DA
position. However, Copeland's familiarity with the county,
experience as a federal prosecutor, and appreciation for concerns
about restorative justice and re-entry opportunities set her apart
from the crowd, the county said.
"With my appointment," she said in a statement, "I pledge to
lead this vigorous fight to ensure that Delaware County continues
to be a wonderful, safe place to thrive." *

Winter 2018

| 19
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