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Philadelphia, Pa. – December 16, 2009 – Edward (Ned) W. Madeira, Jr., senior counsel and chair emeritus with Pepper Hamilton LLP, was presented with a Decree of Distinction designating him an Exemplar Summa Juris by the Pa. Superior Court during a special en banc session in Philadelphia on Dec. 10th. Stephen J. McEwen, Jr., president judge emeritus of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania, presented Madeira with the decree during a special en banc session in the Founders Courtroom, the court’s Philadelphia forum.
On behalf of the Court, President Judge McEwen read the citation and commended Madeira on his work in support of the judiciary and judicial independence as well as his efforts as Chair of the Pennsylvania Commission for Justice Initiatives which had been created at the request of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court by the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 2004. The Commission has, among other initiatives, recommended to the Supreme Court first the recognition and then the expansion of drug and mental health treatment courts in Pennsylvania.
In presenting the Decree, President Judge Emeritus speaking on behalf of the Court said, “The fact is that Ned, in his over five decades of service to the law, has mastered every role he has assumed upon the stage of jurisprudence, and by reason of his wisdom and grace, as well as his inclination to hunt in the field beyond, he has moved from oracle to icon.”
Madeira is a recent recipient of the John Marshall award by the Justice Center of the American Bar Association.
In accepting the honor, Madeira expressed his appreciation to the Court, noting that our Superior Court is the busiest and most productive appellate court in the country and, emphasizing the importance of prompt resolution of appeals, complimented the Court for its important and relatively unheralded work in these times of increased public scrutiny and decreased fiscal support of our courts.
Nina M. Gussack, Chair of the Pepper Hamilton Executive Committee, praised Mr. Madeira for what she described as a well-deserved honor. “We're delighted Ned has received the recognition for a career of contribution to the judiciary,” said Gussack.
Madeira has long been an advocate for promoting judicial independence, judicial reform and increased access to justice, and has enjoyed a long and successful legal career. He joined Pepper Hamilton in 1953 and has served as chair of its Litigation Department, as well as vice chair and co-chair of the firm.
About the Superior Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
The Superior Court is one of Pennsylvania's two statewide intermediate appellate courts. This court, which was established in 1895, reviews most of the civil and criminal cases that are appealed from the Courts of Common Pleas in the Commonwealth's 67 counties. The Superior Court consists of 15 judges who serve ten-year terms. The president judge of the Superior Court is elected to a five-year term by his or her colleagues.
About Pepper Hamilton
Pepper Hamilton LLP is a multi-practice law firm with more than 500 lawyers nationally. The firm provides corporate, litigation and regulatory legal services to leading businesses, governmental entities, nonprofit organizations and individuals throughout the nation and the world. The firm was founded in 1890.
