Six New Attorneys

On Friday, December 14, 2007, The Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas sat, en banc, for a special session of court. Judges Kenneth Brown, William Kieser, Nancy Butts, Dudley Anderson and Richard Gray presided over the admission of six new attorneys to practice before the “several Courts of the County of Lycoming.” Although admission to the local courts is no longer required by law, Lycoming County has continued the tradition of an admission ceremony. The ceremony serves several purposes: to formally recognize the accomplishments of the newly admitted attorneys, to introduce the new faces of the bar to the legal community and to allow the Judges and Law Association officers the opportunity to introduce new attorneys to the services available to them through the Association and to offer opportunities to serve the community, as attorneys.

The attorneys, Robin C. Buzas, Melody Lynn Hanisek, Trisha D. Hoover, Jeana Longo, Rebecca Penn, and Rebecca Reinhardt, were introduced to the Court by current members of the Lycoming County Bar, and then the oath of office was administered by Prothonotary, William J. Burd.

Robin C. Buzas was introduced by Robert Cronin. She graduated from Notre Dame University and Rutgers School of Law and presently works in the Public Defender's office.

Melody Lynn Hanisek works at the Miele & Rymsza law firm. Although William J. Miele, was listed as her sponsor, he prevailed upon Melody's father, James Protasio, a long time member of the Lycoming County bar, to introduce her.

Trisha D. Hoover, Judge Butts' law clerk, was moved for admission by U.S. Attorney Thomas A. Marino. Her family is from Cogan Station. She graduated from Lock Haven University and Weidener University School of Law.

The Public Defender's Office also employs Jeana Longo. Her sponsor, Janan M.E. Tallo noted she graduated from John Jay College of Criminal Justice and Weidener University School of Law.

Rebecca Penn is Judge Kieser's Law Clerk. She was introduced by Mary C. Kilgus, who noted that "Becky" graduated from the University of Seattle Law School.

Rebecca Reinhardt is employed in the office of Matthew J. Zeigler, and he was her sponsor. She graduated from Southern Illinois University and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

Each of the new attorneys was welcomed to the bar by the judges. Lycoming Law Association President, John Pietrovito presented the new members with the volume, Historical Sketches of the Bench and Bar of Lycoming County. Young Lawyer's Division Chair Ryan Tira invited all to participate in meetings and activities of the division. New and existing members were encouraged to participate in the Inns of Court, by Jennifer Ayres and Rick Baldys.