DelcoReviewSpring2017 - 6

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President's Message

continued from page 5

President's Special Recognition Award to
Robert F. Kelly, Jr., Esquire

Tonight I have the privilege
of offering a President's Special
Recognition Award to a friend
and colleague. Over the years,
Bob has dedicated much time
to the Bar Association in a very
quiet and unassuming manner;
never seeking recognition or
praise, never seeking the spot
light. He has spoken at various
CLEs and presentations, serves on multiple committees and
generally does things for the Bar Association simply for the
good of the Association. Bob has worked in assisting with
the revision of by-laws, provided valuable input at Board
meetings, served as a Zone 9 representative in our Zone in the
PBA, volunteered for events and served on committees and
groups such as the Inns of Court where he is an officer and
past President. What I most want to recognize Bob for is his
continued service in planning and coordinating the high school
program for the annual Law Day Ceremony. This is a program
that takes place over several weeks involving presentations
to multiple high schools throughout Delaware County and it
takes significant effort and time to plan and coordinate. I know
the efforts are appreciated but tonight I want to acknowledge
and thank Robert Kelly not only for his years of service to the
Bar but for his tremendous efforts for many years planning
and coordinating the Law Day high school presentations. I am
delighted to present Robert Kelly with a President's Special
Recognition Award for his service to the Bar Association.

President's Special Recognition Award to
Colleen M. Neary, Esquire

It is also with great honor
that I recognize another
member of our association this
evening. This is a member who
we all know as a dedicated
individual who has given
numerous hours of herself
over the course of years to
help make our Association
great. Colleen Neary is an
individual who has served on numerous committees as a
member and chair including the Family Law Section, the Past
President's committee, the solo and small firm committee.
She encourages firm members to participate and get involved,
and works tirelessly to remember and educate us all about our
Association's history and to honor our deceased members with
remembrances at our functions. Tonight I want to focus on her
efforts for many years in working as the Chair of the Bench Bar

6 | Spring 2017

Committee to give us great bench bar conferences that provide
an opportunity, at reasonable costs, to obtain a full year of CLE
credits in just a few days, great dinners and award ceremonies,
fantastic opportunities to socialize and get to know other
members. In 2016, we celebrated one of the best and most well
attended bench bar conferences in the history of the Association.
This evening, I wanted to take the opportunity to recognize
Colleen for her efforts over the years. It is truly a pleasure to
present Colleen Neary a Special Recognition Award and
thank her for her service to the Bar Association and for
helping make the 2016 Bench Bar Conference a fantastic
event this year.

Special Recognition
Award to President
Judge Chad F. Kenney
Presented by Cynthia
M. McNicholas to President
Judge, Chad F. Kenney . . .
In recognition of the strong
support, guidance and
encouragement provided by
President Judge Kenney to the
Delaware County Orphans'
Court Rules Committee over
the past few years.

NEW PENNSYLVANIA AND DELAWARE COUNTY
ORPHANS' COURT RULES
Since 2013, and continuing through today, the Delaware
County Orphans' Court Rules Committee has been engaged in
and supporting the process of overhauling the state and local
Orphans' Court Rules, the first major revision of the Orphans'
Court Rules since 1975. Most of the prior Rules were vacated as
of September 1, 2016, which was also the date that new state and
new local Delaware County Rules became effective.
In April, 2013, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Orphans'
Court Procedural Rules Committee (OCPRC) had published
a proposal for new Orphans' Court Rules, with a comment
period expiring in June, 2013. Our local Committee reviewed
the proposal and submitted extensive comments concerning
the proposed changes. The newly-proposed Rules were more
comprehensive than the then-existing Rules, and the OCPRC
borrowed heavily from the Rules of Civil Procedure, in
furtherance of the Supreme Court's stated goal of harmonizing
practice in Orphans' Courts across the state.
On December 1, 2015, the Supreme Court issued an order
rescinding then-current Orphans' Court Rules 1.1 through 13.3
and Rule 17, replacing them with new Rules set to take effect on
September 1, 2016. The Court also ordered that any local rules
deemed necessary by a county President Judge be submitted to
the OCPRC by June 1, 2016, for review and approval by the
OCPRC. Any local rules not submitted and approved by that
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