PACDL Awards Nominations and History

Annually, PACDL selects individuals to recognize for their service to the association and the criminal defense bar.  Nominations for awards are sought from January - February on an annual basis.  If you want to nominate an individual for an award, please complete the interactive nomination form or print and email/scan the form and timely submit it to PACDL's staff.  Please see below for a list of the individuals who have received recognition over the past several years.
 
2022 Annual Meeting
Charles P. Gelso President's Award - Leonard Sosnov
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award - Brian McMonagle
President's and Directors Commendations - Ashely Shapiro, Cheryl Brooks, Jed Silversmith, and Sheryl Willson

2021 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: The Atlantic Center for Capital Representation, Marc Bookman Executive Director
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Mark Sheppard
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: David Rudovsky and Leonard Sosnov
President's and Directors' Commendations:  Michael Winters, Philip Gelso, Wana Saadzoi, and Heather J. Mattes

2019 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award:  Andrew Christy
Charles P. Gelso Award:  Ellen C. Brotman
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award:  Christopher Hall and Justin Danilewitz
President's and Directors' Commendations: Jed Silversmith, Petra Gross and Laurel Gift

2018 Annual Meeting
Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf for service to criminal justice reform
​Liberty Award:  Bradley Bridge
​Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award:  Brian J. McMonagle, Philadelphia
Charles P. Gelso President's Award:  Philip Gelso
President's and Directors Commendations:  Amicus Committee and Authors; Maria Goellner, Harry J. Cancelmi, Jr., Paul Boas, and Philadelphia Chapter of PACDL

2017 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Leonard Sosnov
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Michael Engle
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Paul Titus, Arleigh Helfer, III, and Peter Goldberger
President's and Directors' Commendation: Peter E. Kratsa

2016 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Pennsylvania Innocence Project
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Barbara Zemlock
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Ronald Levine and Abraham J. Rein
President's and Directors' Commendation: Heather J. Mattes and Steven Breit

2015 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Ellen Greenlee
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Robert Dunham
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Abigail Horn and Aaron Marcus
President's and Directors' Commendation: Ari Weitzman, Brian Jordan, Barb Zemlock, Jordan Barnett and Edward Spreha

2014 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Bradley Bridge
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Jules Epstein

2013 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Jules Epstein
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Arthur T. Donato, Jr.

2012 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Dante Bertani
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Marc Bookman
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Peter Goldberger
President's and Directors' Commendation: Arthur T. Donato, Jr., Albert J. Flora, Jr. and Brad V. Shuttleworth

2011 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Bernard L. Siegel
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Ronald L. Greenblatt
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Caroline M. Roberto
President's and Directors' Commendation: David B. Chontos, Arthur T. Donato, Jr., Joseph Gavazzi, Philip Gelso, and Anne Gingrich Cornick, Steven A. Mimm, Kelly J. Stewart, and Peter F. Vaira

2010 Annual Meeting
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: James A. Swetz
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Wieslaw T. Niemoczynski
President's and Directors' Commendation: Brad V. Shuttleworth, Bernard L. Siegel, and L. Roy Zipris

2009 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: The Juvenile Law Center
Special Plaque for John L. Heaton, Secretary, Pennsylvania Board of Pardons
Charles P. Gelso President's Award: Peter Goldberger
President's and Directors' Commendation: Diane L. Morgan, Philip Gelso, and Marissa Boyers Bluestine

2008 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Hon. Justin M. Johnson
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: L. Roy Zipris
President's and Directors' Commendation: Ellen Brotman, John A. Knorr, and Tim Lucas

2007 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: The Federal Community Defender Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Capital Habeas Corpus Unit; The Federal Public Defender, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Capital Habeas Corpus Unit; and The Federal Public Defender, Western District of Pennsylvania, Capital Habeas Corpus Unit
President's Award: Senator Stewart Greenleaf
President's and Directors' Commendation: Dante G. Bertani, John A. Knorr and William Ruzzo

2006 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Fred R. Goodman and Andrea I. Konow
President's Award: Senator Vincent J. Fumo
President's and Directors' Commendation: Debra H. McGovern

2005 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: John W. Packel
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Robert Brett Dunham, Jules Epstein, Bernard L. Siegel and Nathan M.Schenker
President's Award: Michael J. Engle

2004 Annual Meeting
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: John P. Moses
President's and Directors' Commendations: Anne M. Dixon and John J. Waldron 

2003 Annual Meeting
President's Award: David R. Crowley

2002 Annual Meeting
President's Award: Theodore E. Hinckley

2001 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Robert M. Rosenblum
President's Award: Anne M. Dixon

2000 Annual Meeting
Alan Jay Josel Advocacy Award: Sharon R. Meisler
Meeting dedicated to the memory of Arthur L. Goldberg

1999 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Robert Brett Dunham, Ellen Berkowitz, Billy H. Nolas, and James H. Moreno (LEADA)
President's Award: David R. Crowley, Roy K. Lisko, Debra H. McGovern, and Deby M. Kurtz

1998 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Robon L. Dahlberg, Claudia Davidson, Jere Krakoff, and Witold J. Walczak
President's Award: Arthur T. Donato, Jr., Betsy J. Moore, and Andrew F. Schneider

1997 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: John B. Mancke, Esquire
President's Award: Ann Beck, David R. Crowley, Joseph P. Green, Jr., Caroline M. Roberto, and Sara M. Webster
Special Awards: outgoing President Joel P. Trigiani, and a special plaque to Superior Court Judge Joseph P. DelSole

1996 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Bradley S. Bridge
President's Awards: Robert N. Tarman, John Packel, Leonard G. Ambrose, III, Burton A. Rose, David R. Eshelman,and Stanton D. Levenson
Special Awards: John P. Flaherty, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania and President Charles P. Gelso

1995 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: the staff attorneys of the Public Defender Offices of Pennsylvania
President's Awards: Arthur T. Donato, Jr., Joseph P. Green, Jr. Joshua D. Lock, John B. Mancke, Richard K. Renn, and Sara M. Webster
Special Award: President, J. Richard Gray

1994 Annual Meeting
No areas of recognition

1993 Annual Meeting
No areas of recognition

1992 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Arthur L. Goldberg

1991 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Thomas Livingston

1990 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Arthur T. Donato, Jr.
President's Award: Joshua D. Lock
Special Recognition: Joel P. Trigiani (CLE), Lester Nauhaus (Newsletter), Joseph P. Green, Jr. (Membership), Kenneth Rapp (Legislation), and Michael Kennedy (Keynote Speaker)

1989 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: A. Charles Peruto, Sr.
President's Award: David M. McGlaughlin

1988 Annual Meeting
Liberty Award: Bruce Ledewitz
Special Recognition: Neal Sonnett (Keynote Speaker)