Member LoginHistory of the Monroe County Bar Association
The original association of the Monroe County Bar was an informal gathering of local attorneys. As far back as 1868, there were efforts to form an organization to assist its members in providing high quality legal services to the community.
On April 19, 1915, the Monroe County Bar Association was formed when a constitution, by-laws and minimum fee bill were adopted. On May 29, 1915, the association became incorporated by the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County. The first President was Dr. Joseph H. Shull, Esquire. Attorney Shull was first admitted to practice on May 31, 1878, and continued in the legal field for more than fifty-seven years. The original subscribers at the time of incorporation were:
Joseph H. Shull, Rogers L. Burnett, John B. Williams, Cicero Gearhart, A. Raguel Brittain, Harvey A. Huffman, Wilton A. Erdman, Stewart S. Shafer, Frank B. Holmes, William B. Eilenberger, Claude C. Shull, Chester B. Rhodes and Ira A. LaBar
The members of the Board of Directors were:
Joseph H. Shull, Wilton A.Erdman, Frank B. Holmes, John B. Williams, and Chester B. Rhodes.
The purpose of the organization, according to the incorporation decree was to maintain the honor and dignity of the profession of the law, to cultivate social interaction among its members and to increase its usefulness in promoting the due administration of justice.
Today the Monroe County Bar Association continues to assist its members and the public of Monroe County by providing an opportunity for interaction, education and community related services. The Bar Association has grown to over 250 members and maintains a permanent center at 913 Main Street, Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.
In 2015 we celebrated our 100th anniversary. For more history on the Monroe County Bar Association, we invite you to read Celebrating 100 Years - A Reflection of our History
Monroe County Bar Association Presidents
1915 - 1944 Joseph H. Shull
1945 - 1955 Harold C. Edward
1956 - 1958 Russell L. Mervine
1959 - 1965 Arlington W. Williams
1966 - 1966 Phillip H. Williams
1967 - 1968 George T. Robinson
1969 - 1970 Elmer D. Christine, Sr.
1971 - 1971 James C. Scanlon
1972 - 1973 Detleff A. Hansen
1974 - 1977 Kennard Lewis
1978 - 1978 Richard E. Deetz
1980 - 1981 Alex L. Bensinger
1982 - 1982 Jerome P. Cheslock
1983 - 1984 Linda Wallach Miller
1985 - 1986 Maxwell H. Cohen
1987 - 1987 Robert Williamson
1988 - 1989 Charles P. Eyer
1990 - 1991 James F. Marsh
1992 - 1993 C. Daniel Higgins, Sr.
1994 - 1995 Daniel M. Corveleyn
1996 - 1997 Jerry F. Hanna
1998 - 1999 Bernard M. Billick
2000 - 2001 William J. Reaser, Jr.
2002 - 2003 Mary Louise Parker
2004 - 2004 Charles J. Vogt
2005 - 2005 Mark S. Love
2006 - 2006 Joseph P. McDonald, Jr.
2007 - 2007 Thomas V. Casale
2008 - 2008 Gerard J. Geiger
2009 - 2009 Alan P. Young
2010 - 2010 Stephen M. Higgins
2011 - 2011 David J. Williamson
2012 - 2012 F. Andrew Wolf
2013 - 2013 Jane Roach Maughan
2014 - 2014 Lori J. Cerato
2015 - 2015 Todd W. Weitzmann
2016 - 2016 Jeffrey A. Durney
2017 - 2017 Timothy J. McManus
2018 - 2018 Mark A. Primrose
2019 - 2019 Elizabeth Bensinger Weekes
2020 Brian C. Jordan
Sources of Information:
History of Monroe County Pennsylvania
Robert Brown Keller, The Monroe Publishing Company - 1927
The Founding of Monroe County
Addresses Delivered before The Monroe County Historical Society Meeting - January 16, 1936
The Bench and Bar and Official Life of Monroe County
Illustrated Review by Emil Held - 1915