[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23479]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               HONORING THE BUCKS COUNTY BAR ASSOCIATION

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                         HON. PATRICK J. MURPHY

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 29, 2008

  Mr. PATRICK J. MURPHY of Pennsylvania. Madam Speaker, I rise today to 
honor the Bar Association of Bucks County for its 125 years of service 
and dedication to the legal professionals of Bucks County. In 1683, 
William Penn established the first courts in the county, holding an 
orphan's and common pleas court in Falls Township, Pennsylvania. Twenty 
five years later, in 1708, Bucks County appointed its first Deputy 
Attorney General. In 1812 the first ``old'' courthouse was built, 
followed by the second ``old'' courthouse in 1877. This second 
courthouse was demolished in 1960 to construct the courthouse we still 
use today.
  In 1853, seventeen attorneys formed an organization of legal 
practitioners, creating the Association of the Bar of Bucks County. The 
organization was incorporated in 1883 and had grown to 40 members. They 
worked then, as they do now, to improve the welfare of the judicial 
system, the courts, the administration of justice and service to the 
public.
  Now with more than 700 members, the Bucks County Bar Association has 
made huge advancements. It now has its own legal journal, the Bucks 
County Law Report. They also have established a lawyer referral 
program, Legal Aid Society, and mock trial and law day programs. What 
once consisted of just 40 members now has 30 committees within the 
organization. The Bar Association of Bucks County has come a long way 
since it was incorporated over 100 years ago.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in celebrating the 125th Anniversary of 
the Bucks County Bar Association and its service and dedication to the 
residents and legal professionals of Bucks County.

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