HARRISBURG (June 6, 2007) - Andrew F. Susko, a partner in the Philadelphia-based law firm of White and Williams LLP, will become the 113th president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association during the organization's Annual Meeting June 20-22 in Philadelphia. Susko will receive the gavel of office June 21 at the PBA Annual Dinner at The Park Hyatt Philadelphia at the Bellevue.

Susko's top priority as PBA president will be to lead efforts by the organized bar to make the justice system more accessible to all citizens, regardless of their income. "The fairness of Pennsylvania's justice system is best measured by its availability to the poor," said Susko. "I challenge every Pennsylvania lawyer to aspire to have at least one active case representing a client unable to pay."

Susko also will spearhead a statewide movement to urge the retention and election of competent, qualified judges in the fall election. Under his leadership, the PBA will take steps to educate voters about judicial candidates and their qualifications. "It's vitally important to the health of the legal profession and the justice system of the commonwealth that competent, qualified judges get a fair look by the voters."

Susko is a past chair and present member of the PBA House of Delegates and a past chair of the PBA Young Lawyers Division. He serves as the co-chair of the PBA Task Force on the Judicial System and was a chair of the PBA Membership Development Committee, the Law-Related Education Committee, the PBA Planning Committee and a tri-chair of the PBA Public Relations Task Force Implementation Committee.

Susko chaired the PBA's Legislative and Governmental Affairs Committee and is a past chair of the PBA "Project Peace" subcommittee, which worked with the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office to establish a statewide dispute resolution program for elementary and middle school students.

He is the chairman of the Litigation Department at White and Williams LLP, a 220-lawyer firm, and leads the insurance fraud practice group. He is a past president of the Pennsylvania Defense Institute. He also is a past chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Young Lawyers Section and later served as an elected member of the Philadelphia Bar Association's Board of Governors. Active in the Philadelphia area pro bono community, he serves on the board of the Legal Clinic for the Disabled and was a member of the board of the Homeless Advocacy Project.

Susko is a summa cum laude graduate of The Florida State University and a graduate of the Villanova University School of Law, where he was a member of the Law Review and was selected for its Board of Editors.

He and his wife, Pamela, have two sons and reside in Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.

Editor's note: A photo of Andrew F. Susko is available to download from the PBA Web site at: http://www.pabar.org/public/news%20releases/0708newofficersphotos.asp.