16dmcguire

As a private practitioner, representation was provided for clients in an array of criminal proceedings including: preliminary hearings, omnibus pretrial hearings, sentencing hearings, bench trials and jury trials. Representation in family law proceedings were provided for private clientele which included: custody conferences and hearings; divorce master conferences and trials; child support and spousal support/alimony pendente lite conferences and hearings; as well as defending and prosecuting Protection From Abuse (PFA) actions.

The primary litigation responsibilities as Assistant Counsel for the Pennsylvania State Police included: representing the Commonwealth in administrative hearings before the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General in Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) denial appeals and challenges to the accuracy of criminal history record information maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. Moreover, statewide representation of the Commonwealth before the Court of Common Pleas defending records maintained pursuant to the Mental Health Procedures Act (MHPA). As Assistant Counsel, representation was also provided to the Department of Discipline in arbitration proceedings defending against grievances filed on behalf of members by the Pennsylvania State Trooper Association (PSTA). Assistant Counsel duties also included: acting as liaison counsel with representatives from the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, providing legal counsel to Department members, composing intra-agency legal memorandum, and working collaboratively with other members of the Office of Chief Counsel on an array of legal actions and projects. The appellate representation provided for the Department included briefing and arguing actions before the Commonwealth, Superior, and Pennsylvania State Supreme Court.

The adjudicative responsibilities of Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) include presiding over: preliminary arraignments, preliminary hearings, summary trials, civil action hearings, landlord-tenant hearings, and traffic hearings. The administrative duties fulfilled as MDJ include: the issuance of criminal complaints, arrest/bench warrants, civil/summary criminal judgments, commitments, and eviction notices. Supervision of an administrative staff and contingent of the constabulary. Working with members of law enforcement, members of the Bar; other court, correctional facility and probation/parole staffs throughout the Commonwealth; and meeting with constituents and other members of the community. The fiduciary duties of MDJ include: establishing and overseeing time payment orders; collection of fines, court costs and filing fees; and the proper and accurate deposit, disbursement, and accounting of significant monetary sums.