Stress, Attorney Wellness, and Its Impact on the Practice of Law: A Discussion with the Court

Elected to bench November 1993. Retained November 2003, 2013, and 2023. Elected as President Judge 2024. Born October 11, 1957, in Harrisburg, PA. Graduate of Harrisburg High School, Dickinson College and Delaware Law School of Widener University. Harrisburg City School Board 1977-78. Dauphin County Assistant Public Defender 1981-83; litigation associate with Melman, Gekas, Nicholas, and Lieberman 1983-85; Solicitor, Dauphin County Treasurer 1984-85; Dauphin County Chief Public Defender from 1985-94. NLADA (death penalty subcommittee), PACDL, PDAPA. Graduate National Criminal Defense College at Mercer Law School, Macon, GA Program. Former Adjunct professor Widener University Law School (trial advocacy; product liability); Board of Overseers 1989-2000; Lecturer, Pennsylvania State Police Academy, Dickinson School of Law, Dickinson College, Elizabethtown College, and Harrisburg Area Community College. Member of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Criminal Procedural Rules Committee 1998-2004. Member Environmental Hearing Board Rules Committee 2003-2004. PIAA Lacrosse Official (CPLOA) 2003-2016. Drummer, "All Jacked Up" cover band 2006 - 2018; "Fully Stocked" cover band 2020-Present. Currently assigned as Criminal Court Supervising Calendar Judge, Mental Health judge, Court Administration, Prison Board, CJAB and MDJ oversight Married to Barbara A. Zemlock, Esq., Share Holder, Tucker Arensberg Four Children: Laura, Megan, Samuel & Julie. Grandchildren McArthur Lee Cullison, Alistair Llewellyn Cullison, and Brecken Evans Cullison, and Ivy Fae Sharbaugh.

After more than 25 years as an attorney, Judge Morris was elected to serve as a Judge on the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas in 2018. He began his career working for the Dauphin County Public Defender’s Office in 1991 and served as Chief Deputy in that office from 1996-1999. In 1999, Judge Morris joined the law firm of Goldberg Katzman and was elevated to Partner in 2002. Judge Morris is currently an adjunct professor at Penn State and teaches in their Criminal Justice program. He also serves as the Jurist in Residence for Widener University Commonwealth Law School. Judge Morris was a member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing. Named by Philadelphia Magazine as a “Pennsylvania Super Lawyer” from 2008-2017, his peers rated him at the highest level of professional excellence, AV preeminent. He is a graduate of Temple University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland. Since joining the bench Judge Morris has been assigned to supervise family and juvenile court. He also receives assignments in orphans court and handles criminal trials.

The Honorable Courtney K. Powell attend the Pennsylvania State University where she majored in Speech Communications and minored in Business Administration. She received her Juris Doctorate from the Widener University School of Law in 1997, and then spent the next 25 years in both the public and private sectors. After graduating from law school, Judge Powell served six years in the Dauphin County Public Defender’s office representing minors in juvenile delinquency proceedings, and later adults in all stages of their criminal matters, including appeals to both the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts. Upon leaving her role with the Public Defender’s office, she received a Proclamation from the Dauphin County Commissioners for her years of outstanding service and legal work for the community and county. In 2001, Judge Powell turned her focus to private practice, and in 2002 joined the Hershey firm of James, Smith, Dietterick and Connelly, now known as JSDC Law Offices when she practiced both family law and criminal law. She became a partner with JSDC Law Offices in 2022. Judge Powell also served as one of the Solicitors for Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging, where she handled guardianship matters. Professionally, Judge Powell is a member of the Pennsylvania and Dauphin County Bar Associations, and the William W. Lipsitt American Inn of Court. She is active in her community, and volunteers with her children’s schools and activities, and the Calvery United Methodist Church food pantry. She resides in Harrisburg with her husband Mark, two children.