for TREASURER Marion Munley Munley Law PC

Candidate Statement

I am honored to be your candidate for Treasurer of the American Association for Justice.  I am proud to be a trial lawyer and a member of this organization for over 34 years.

As your Treasurer, I will continue to bring my experience and passion for the law to focus on AAJ’s core values:  Education, Community, and Advocacy.

Over the past year, I traveled to several states, meeting with members and state trial lawyer organizations to find out how AAJ could best benefit their practices and the justice system. I hope to continue my visits to the states and to work with my fellow officers to create new ways to increase the value of an AAJ membership. I will continue to promote diversity in our membership so that AAJ looks like the clients we represent.

I am committed to working closely with and supporting AAJ education and the NCA Board of Trustees to ensure that AAJ continues to offer state-of-the-art legal education, so that our members can successfully represent their clients in court rooms across the country. 

I pledge to honor the promise of our founders to preserve and defend the right to trial by jury. I will speak out at every opportunity against those who attempt to trample on our clients’ rights. I am indebted to the lawyers who came before me, men and women who volunteered their time, talent, and resources to speak with one powerful voice against those who have attempted to destroy our civil justice system.  

As your Treasurer, I promise dedicated service, hard work and devoted commitment to the AAJ mission.
In the words of the late Federal Judge William Dwyer: “The jury is the canary in the mine shaft of our democracy. If it goes, our people lose their inherited right to do justice in the courts, and other democratic institutions will lose breath too.”

I am proud to be a trial lawyer. It is who I am and what I do.

Finally, I congratulate Tad Thomas on his leadership this past year, as well as our CEO Linda Lipsen who, together with our outstanding staff, have done much to advance the cause of justice and AAJ. 

University of Scranton, B.A. Cum Laude; London School of Economics (Junior Year Abroad); Temple University School of Law, J.D.

AAJ Parliamentarian 2022-2023; Member, AAJ Executive Committee 2018-present; Member, AAJ Board of Governors 2013-present; Chair, AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus 2016-2017; Chair, AAJ Trucking Litigation Group 2017-2018; Co-Chair, Evergreen Fund 2021-2022; Chair, AAJ Bus Litigation Group 2021-2022; Member, AAJ Evergreen Fund 2015-present; Member, AAJ National Finance Council 2015-present; Member, Board of Trustees, AAJ National College of Advocacy 2013-2021; Member, AAJ PAC Board of Trustees 2016-present; Member, AAJ Publications Committee 2016-2021; Member, AAJ Audit Committee 2016-2022; Member, AAJ Retirement Committee  2017-present; Member, AAJ Legal Affairs Committee 2016-present; Member, AAJ Committee on the Judiciary 2021-present; Member, AAJ Evergreen Fund Advisory Board 2016-present; Member, AAJ Products Liability Section 2013-present; Member, AAJ Medical Negligence Information Exchange Litigation Group 2012-present; Member, AAJ Professional Negligence Section 2014-present; Member, AAJ Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Section 2013-present; Member, AAJ Trucking Litigation Group 2008-present; Member, AAJ Nursing Homes Litigation Group 2012-present; Member, AAJ Leaders Forum 2005-present; Member, AAJ PAC Eagle; PAJ Executive Committee 2020-present; PAJ Board of Governors 1990-present; Chair, Pennsylvania Association for Justice (PAJ) Auto Law 2020-2022; Chair, PAJ Women’s Caucus 2012-2013. Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice, best Lawyers 2023; Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs, Northeastern Pennsylvania, 2022; Lawyer of the Year, Medical Malpractice-Plaintiffs, Allentown Metro Area, 2021; Lawyer of the Year, Personal Injury Litigation-Plaintiffs, Allentown Metro Area, Best Lawyers, 2020; Lawyer of the Year, Product Liability Litigation-Plaintiffs, Allentown Metro Area, Best Lawyers, 2017, 2019; “Best Lawyers in America” as selected by Best Lawyers, 2012-present; LawDragon 500 Leading Lawyers. 2007, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023; Pennsylvania Trailblazer, as recognized by the Legal Intelligencer, 2019; Super Lawyer, via Thomson-Reuters, a distinction limited to only 5% of the legal community in Pennsylvania, 2004-present; Top 10 Lawyers in Pennsylvania 2023; “Top 50 Women Lawyers in Pennsylvania,” Super Lawyers, 2013-present; Top 100 Lawyers in Pennsylvania Super Lawyers 2022-present; Marie Lambert Award, AAJ Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, 2020; Distinguished Service Award, AAJ Board of Governors 2020, 2021; Above and Beyond Award, AAJ, 2018, 2019, 2021; Robert W. Munley Pursuit of Justice Award, AAJ Trucking Litigation Group, 2020; Lynette Norton Award, Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Commission on Women in the Profession, 2016; Diplomat, National College of Advocacy; International Society of Barristers; AV-Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell; Irish Legal 100; Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyers, The National Trial Lawyers; Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania, The National Trial Lawyers; Member, Million Dollar Advocates Forum; Recognition in The Legal Intelligencer’s list of Largest Awards and Settlements in Pennsylvania, 2018 (Stevens v. Canyon Environmental); Recognition by the National Law Journal: a truck accident case settlement reached by Daniel and Marion Munley was the 2nd highest settlement in Pennsylvania, and the 25th highest in the U.S. in 2015; US. News and World Report’s Best Law Firms; Recipient, Athena Award, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, 2021; Woman of Excellence Award Winner, as selected by the Scranton Chamber of Commerce, 2014.