May 3, 2013 4 min read

WAYNESBURG – It started in 1958 under the administration of President Dwight Eisenhower. Three years later, in 1961, Congress signed a joint resolution designating May 1 as the official date for Law Day. Each year, courts across the United States pause the business of law to celebrate it.

Fittingly, the efforts of students from the West Greene High School mock trial team who competed in the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Mock Trial Competition were recognized. The competition is an opportunity for nearly 300 teams from high schools across the state to act as lawyers and witnesses in simulated civil trials before actual judges and panels of juries. Local lawyers assist the students as team advisers, scorekeepers and regional coordinators. Each year, the winning team goes on to represent Pennsylvania in the national competition.

On the local level, the Greene County Bar Association, which sponsors the county teams, selects its best team to receive a traveling trophy cup to be placed in the winning team’s school showcase until the following year. The team also receives a plaque to permanently recognize the achievement. The 2013 West Greene High School team consists of Tara Hall, Sommer Howard, Justin Gilbert, Morgan Stover, Tyler Whipkey, Caleb Wilson and Sarra Zimmerman.

Attorney Kelly Stepp commended the students for the amount of work and dedication it took to be part of the competition.

The theme of law day for 2013 was realizing the dream of equality for all. That was best addressed by Greene County Public Defender Harry Cancelmi Jr., who gave the audience a history lesson.

“Who said these words, ‘I believe that each era finds an improvement in law for the benefit of mankind?'” Cancelmi queried. After giving several hints, Cancelmi told the story of Clarence Earl Gideon, who was part of a precedent-setting case for the legal system and the rights of the accused.

In 1961, Gideon had an established record as a thief when he was arrested for a break-in at a Florida pool hall. His last conviction was 10 years prior. Gideon requested that the judge appoint him council. The judge said he could not since this was not a capital case, and that was the only instance in which Florida allowed council to be appointed. Gideon eventually was tried and convicted while representing himself. He appealed to the Florida Supreme Court, which voted unanimously in 1963 to give him a new trial with a lawyer. The jury in the second trial found Gideon not guilty. The quote from Gideon was part of the letter he wrote to the Supreme Court. It is also etched on his tombstone.

“That was the case that established the right to council,” Cancelmi said.

In addition to recognizing the students, the day was also a time of remembrance and gratitude. The service of the late Audrey Szoyka, who worked in the Greene County Courts for more than two decades, and Waynesburg Borough Police Chief Timothy Hawfield and Greene County Sheriff Richard Ketchem, both of whom are retiring this year, were honored.

Szoyka, who died in December, began her career in the courthouse as a tipstaff for the late Judge Glenn Toothman Sr. Later she was appointed deputy court administrator, followed by court administrator, where she served under Senior Judge Terry Grimes, President Judge William Nalitz and Judge Farley Toothman.

Grimes spoke about the service of Greene County Police Chief Timothy Hawfield, who will retire in July, calling him, “the epitome of a leader.”

“He is not one of the boys and he is not aloof but he is able to walk the fine line between being aloof and as one of the boys with his officers,” Grimes said. “He has the respect not only of his patrolman but the public. I have some trepidation about bidding you farewell.”

Toothman spoke next, conducting a roast of Ketchem, who has been sheriff for 28 years. He will “turn off the lights in his office one last time in December 2013 and ride his Harley Davidson low rider into the sunset,” Toothman concluded.