The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN RECOGNITION OF JUDGE THOMAS MUNLEY FOR HIS SERVICE TO LACKAWANNA
COUNTY
______
HON. MATT CARTWRIGHT
of pennsylvania
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Mr. CARTWRIGHT. Madam Speaker, today I honor Judge Thomas J. Munley who, after 16 years on the bench, recently retired from the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. Judge Munley is beloved by his colleagues and community as a fair and skilled jurist who treats everyone with respect and dignity.
A native Northeastern Pennsylvanian, Judge Munley graduated from Jessup High School in 1964. He continued his studies at East Stroudsburg University, graduating in 1968 with a degree in education. Judge Munley returned to his hometown to teach at his alma mater from 1968 to 1969. In 1969, he was drafted to serve in the Army and was sent to Vietnam on an 11-month tour as an infantryman with the 11th Infantry Brigade, Americal Division. For his meritorious service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal.
After returning home from military service in 1971, Judge Munley enrolled in law school at Loyola University Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana. He earned his JD and was admitted into the Pennsylvania Bar in 1974. From 1976 to 1979, he served as Assistant Public Defender in Lackawanna County. In 1979, Judge Munley founded his own law practice and was renowned as a fiercely competent defense attorney, a formidable opponent in the courtroom.
In 2005, after 25 years at his own practice, Judge Munley ran for the seat on the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. He won the Democratic and Republican nominations in the May primary and easily prevailed in the November election. Judge Munley quickly earned the respect of his colleagues on the court, building on his acclaimed reputation as an attorney. The integrity and principle with which he conducted himself on the bench led his colleagues to elect him president-judge in 2011.
Inspired by his own time in the service and his experience as a veteran, Judge Munley has been a longtime, fierce advocate for veterans and their families. Since 2014, he has hosted the popular television program ``Veterans Views'' on NBC/WBRE-TV which aims to inform those who have served about the benefits and services to which they are entitled. He often receives a deluge of calls after the show from veterans seeking assistance, and he diligently calls them back. He is also a proud member of the American Legion and the VFW.
On January 1, 2022, Judge Munley retired to senior status as required by Pennsylvania's mandatory retirement age of 75. In his role of senior judge, he will serve in every county where the state Supreme Court grants him authority to hear matters. He also plans to continue his work on behalf of veterans and their families in his retirement.
I am honored to recognize the judicial career and lifetime of public service of Judge Thomas Munley. It is a privilege to call him a colleague in the legal profession, and I join with the entirety of Lackawanna County in thanking him for his service to his country and his community. May he continue to find fulfillment and purpose in this new chapter of his life.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 168, No. 37
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up