Six New Attorneys Admitted in Lycoming County

>On December 5, 2014, the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas sat for a special session of court at which six attorneys were admitted to practice before the “several Courts of the County of Lycoming.” Judges Nancy Butts, Dudley Anderson, Richard Gray, Joy McCoy and Marc Lovecchio presided over the admission ceremony.

Each of the new attorneys, Jan M. Rumsey, Jonathan Vender, Joshua Marcus Bower, Mark Patrick Burns, Schawnne K. Kilgus, and Kurt Schmitt, was moved for admission by a current member of the bar, who outlined the admittees' background and qualifications.

Joshua Marcus Bower  has joined the Lycoming County Public Defender's office, and was introduced by Jeffery Frankenburger. He is recently passed the bar exam, and had been working as an intern in the office.

Joining the Steinbacher Law Firm is Mark Patrick Burns. He graduated from Penn State University and Penn State Dickinson School of Law. His admission was moved by Jennifer E. Linn.

Mary C. Kilgus moved the admission of her daughter, Schawnne K. Kilgus. Schawnne is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and William Mitchell College of Law, and is working in the Kilgus Law Office.

Jan M. Rumsey was introduced by Elliott B. Weiss. She is presently working in the Weiss Law Office, after having graduated from Mansfield University and Penn State Dickinson School of Law.

The admission of Kurt Schmitt was moved by Samantha Wolfe. He has a BS from Kutztown University, an MS from Bucknell University and a JD from Widener Law School. Although he is a resident of Lycoming County, he is presently serving as an assistant District Attorney in Montour County.

The final admission was of Jonathan Vender, who is currently serving as Judge Butt's law clerk. His admission was moved by Jeffery Frankenburger. He is a graduate of Boston College and Villanova University School of Law.

After the individual petitions were presented, Prothonotary Suzanne M. Fedele administered the oath.

Each of the new attorneys was welcomed to the bar by the judges and by LLA President Tom Waffenschmidt, who also presented them with the volume Historical Sketches of the Bench and Bar of Lycoming County. Young Lawyers division chair Corey Mowrey encouraged the new members to become active in the division, and also to participate in the American Inns of Court. Jonathan Butterfield spoke on the importance of providing pro bono service to the poor of Lycoming County.

All were invited to a reception held at The Old Corner that followed immediately after the court session.