HARRISBURG (Nov. 13, 2020) — Pa. State Court Administrator Hon. Geoff Moulton, Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Harrisburg, will be honored with the Pennsylvania Bar Association (PBA) C. Dale McClain Quality of Life/Balance Award at a virtual awards luncheon during Committee/Section Day on Nov. 19.
Presented by the PBA Quality of Life/Balance Committee, the annual award recognizes the substantial contributions made by Pennsylvania attorneys in identifying issues relevant to balancing the professional and personal lives of their peers, as well as the progress made in assisting attorneys in maintaining and improving their overall quality of life.
The award is named after C. Dale McClain, one of the founders of the Quality of Life/Balance Committee and the 114th president of the PBA. McClain spent much of his career fulfilling the mission of the committee through educating attorneys on the importance of attaining a quality of life/balance in the practice of law.
Appointed as Pennsylvania state court administrator by the Pa. Supreme Court in December 2019, Moulton heads the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) and oversees court operations statewide. He is being recognized for his efforts in leading the AOPC during the pandemic, going above and beyond to assure the safety, well-being and quality of life of lawyers, particularly those appearing in Pennsylvania courts for hearings, arguments, trials and conferences.
Moulton has demonstrated the necessary leadership needed as the legal profession adapts to these changing times. He has responded to many calls, emails and other communications from bar leaders to help ensure that lawyers are not only safe but comfortable knowing that, in most of courts, everything that can be done is being done to protect against the spread of COVID-19.
Prior to his current position, Moulton served as counsel to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. From August 2016 through December 2017, he was nominated to serve as a judge on the Pennsylvania Superior Court by Gov. Tom Wolf. During his time on the court, he authored over 330 opinions.
Moulton has devoted the bulk of his career to public service. Following law school graduation, he served as a law clerk on both the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. After his clerkships, he spent eight years as a federal prosecutor in Philadelphia, including four years as first assistant United States attorney.
Other positions include: chief counsel to a U.S. senator, chief of staff at the office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program and first deputy general counsel to Governor Wolf. He also represented media clients in private practice and taught for many years at Widener University Delaware Law School on a wide range of subjects, including evidence, criminal law, criminal procedure and professional responsibility.
Moulton received a bachelor's degree from Amherst College in 1980 and a J.D. from Columbia University School of Law in 1984.
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 of legal services; and serve the lawyer members of the state’s largest organized bar association.