I serve as the Secretary of the Kent County Bar Association. As a professional association comprised of practicing and retired lawyers and judges, the organization’s credibility, accuracy and neutrality are paramount. Having conferred with Harris Murphy, the current president of KCBA and a candidate for the Office of State’s Attorney, I write this letter to set the record straight regarding the membership in KCBA of Andrew Meehan, also a candidate for the Office of State’s Attorney.
The Kent County Bar Association records reflect that Mr. Meehan has been a dues paying member of the Association since circa January 2002. Having witnessed Mr. Meehan at a swearing-in ceremony before the Circuit Court for Kent County in January 2014, Mr. Murphy believed that such event marked the beginning of Mr. Meehan’s membership in KCBA. Contrary to that impression, membership in KCBA is distinguished from a ceremonial swearing-in of local attorneys in the Circuit Court.
The Kent County legal community prides itself on a unique and rich tradition whereby a local lawyer is formally presented and recognized as a member of the local bar by the Circuit Court for Kent County in an open-court ceremony that includes a swearing-in and the signing of a ceremonial test book maintained for posterity by the Clerk of the Court. This custom is separate and distinct from a local lawyer joining KCBA as a dues paying member.
So for the record, Andrew Meehan has been a member of KCBA since 2002 and Mr. Murphy regrets any confusion caused by his assertion to the contrary.
Charles D. MacLeod
Secretary
Kent County Bar Association
I think that the Secretary of the Kent County Bar Association should comment on factual information only and not ascribe any feelings or opinions of Mr. Murphy -that should be up to Mr. Murphy to state.