HARRISBURG (May 27, 2008) - Smethport lawyer James P. Miller will serve a three-year term on the Pennsylvania Bar Association Board of Governors upon his election to the position of Zone Seven Governor during the association's annual meeting June 4 - 6 in Hershey.

One of 12 zone governors, Miller will represent Clarion, Crawford, Erie, Forest, Jefferson, McKean, Venango and Warren county lawyers. His term will expire in 2011.

Currently a solo practitioner, he served as an Assistant Public Defender for McKean County from 1995 through 1997. In 2001 he helped found the partnership of Sciarrino, TeWinkle & Miller, with offices in Erie and Smethport. He was the managing partner of the firm's Smethport office, until resuming practice as a solo practitioner in October 2006. Miller also is a former Magisterial District Judge for District Court 48-3-02 in McKean County, serving from June 2004 to January 2006.

Miller is a member of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, The Justice Robert H. Jackson Inn of Court, and the McKean County Bar Association. He is the immediate past chair of the PBA Solo and Small Firm Practice Section, and he has served as the Section's Treasurer and as a member of the Section's governing council, a position he will resume in June. He is an elected delegate from Zone 7 to the PBA House of Delegates and is a member of the PBA Planning Committee. He also has served on the PBA Nominating Committee. He is a member of the PBA Civil Litigation and Workers' Compensation sections. He is a former treasurer of the McKean County Bar Association.

Miller is active in the Smethport community through his involvement in the Smethport Rotary Club and has served as its president. He is a member and former director and vice president of the Smethport Area Chamber of Commerce. He also was a member of Smethport Heritage Community Stakeholders Group Committee (Pennsylvania Route 6 Heritage Communities Program). He is an active member of the Smethport United Methodist Church and a member of the Keating Sportsman Club.

Miller received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Allegheny College and his Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law.

He resides in Smethport with his wife, Pamela, and daughter, Caroline.

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 notes: A photo of James P. Miller is available to download from the PBA Web site at: http://www.pabar.org/public/news%20releases/0809newofficersphotos.asp