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Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association Elects New Officers

July 17, 2013

Harrisburg, PA – Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association (PDAA) today announced its newly elected officers for the 2013-2014 business year. The election took place during the association’s annual business meeting. The new officers are:

President:  Hon. David J. Freed, Cumberland County District Attorney

Vice President:  Hon. D. Peter Johnson, Union County District Attorney

Secretary-Treasurer: Hon. Risa Ferman, Montgomery County District Attorney

“Pennsylvania’s District Attorneys have always stood for the highest ethical standards and integrity of the criminal justice system and I look forward to continuing that legacy,” said Freed.  “I am honored by the trust my colleagues have placed in me as we move ahead with a busy agenda including strengthening the commonwealth’s child abuse laws, finding financial support for Children’s Advocacy Centers, being smart on crime related to sentencing and embracing proven methods of ensuring conviction integrity through DNA collection and data.”

David Freed was appointed Cumberland County District Attorney in 2005.  He has since been elected twice to the office.  Freed has served on the PDAA Executive Committee, the PDAI Board of Directors and as chair of the PDAI Education and Training Committee.  Prior to becoming district attorney, he served as first assistant district attorney of Cumberland County (2001-2005), assistant district attorney of Cumberland County (1998-2000) and as York County deputy prosecutor (1997-1998).

The Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association is comprised of approximately 1,000 members and is charged with providing uniformity and efficiency in the discharge of duties and functions of Pennsylvania’s 67 District Attorneys and their assistants. Since it was established in 1912, the association has sponsored extensive training programs and reported legal and legislative developments of importance to Pennsylvania prosecutors. In addition, the association is often asked by legislative leaders at the state and national level to address public policy issues and efforts, which will impact the prosecution of criminal cases, victim rights and public safety.

Throughout its history, PDAA has been well known for its leadership.  Most recently the association successfully led efforts to fix loopholes in Megan’s Law, ban the use and sale of dangerous synthetic drugs, reform Pennsylvania’s prison system, and institute new, more stringent practice standards for juvenile prosecutors.

About the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association: PDAA is comprised of approximately 1,000 members and is charged with providing uniformity and efficiency in the discharge of duties and functions of Pennsylvania’s 67 district attorneys and their assistants.  Since its founding in 1912, the association has dutifully sponsored extensive training programs and reported legal and legislative developments of importance to Pennsylvania prosecutors.  In addition, the association is often called upon by legislative leaders at the state and national level to address public policy issues and efforts, which will impact the prosecution of criminal cases, victim rights and public safety.