Remembering George R. Boynes, "a true gentleman"

     A distinctive, friendly voice was noticeably absent from the courtrooms and hallways of the Montgomery County Courthouse in recent weeks.

     But that deep, smooth, tone of George R. Boynes still lingered in the memories of fellow courthouse workers saddened to learn that the 72-year-old popular and gracious court crier died July 2 at his Norristown home.

George R. Boynes/Photo by Carl Hessler Jr.

    “George was a true gentleman who exuded confidence every step he took,” said Judge Steven C. Tolliver Sr., who met Boynes in December 2013 while interviewing prospective criers for his courtroom. “He was a great personal crier who I will miss greatly.”

    Tolliver said upon meeting Boynes he immediately thought Boynes exhibited “a demeanor and stately qualities” much like actor Morgan Freeman portrayed as Batman’s confidant in “Dark Knight” and as the sergeant in “Glory.”

    “I feel privileged to have known George. I was extremely fortunate to have him assist me in keeping courtroom decorum.  It was easy with George’s command of the courtroom. Litigants respected George at the very first moment they entered the courtroom.”

That voice, it commanded attention when as a crier Boynes announced Tolliver’s arrival on the bench.

    “He was very commanding with that deep voice,” said court clerk Monica Pokorny, lowering her own voice to make her point. “No one asked any questions when George was talking. When he started with that voice you could hear a pin drop. He commanded attention.”

That voice led some to refer to Boynes as “Smooth Jazz.”

    “Tall and handsome,” said Irene Grozinski, adding Boynes reminded her of a crooner with an R&B band.

    “He sounded like one of the Commodores with that deep voice. He could hit a really low note,” said Grozinski, a Clerk of Courts staffer. “He was a very kind man. We loved him.”

    Linda Adornetto, a clerk in the district attorney’s office, recalled a common exchange she had with Boynes and his wife, Mary, who works in Clerk of Courts.

    “I would tell her that George’s voice reminded me of Barry White,” Adornetto smiled. “Of course Mary would give one of her quick comebacks and say, ‘I wish he was. I’d be rich!’ Ahh, the memories."

That voice, John Salamone said, was “the disc jockey voice.”

    “George was always straightforward and he had a very dry sense of humor. He was always polite and a no-nonsense kind of guy,” Salamone, a court file clerk, remembered, adding Boynes, like clockwork, always checked on his wife at lunchtime. “To kind of make sure things were good with her.”

    Grozinski said Boynes embraced family and was dedicated to his wife.

    “They loved each other very much,” Grozinski said.

    At the end of a work day, Salamone recalled, he would wish Boynes a “good night.”

    “He would always say, ‘If God willing.’ That was his favorite ending statement,” said Salamone, recalling now poignant moments.

Others recalled George’s gentle nature, his calm demeanor.

    “What can I say about George....he was a wonderful man, a true gentleman in every sense of the word,” said Meg McMullen, who also works in Clerk of Courts. “He was a devoted husband to Mary.  He and Mary are good people.  You couldn't find a nicer, kinder man anywhere. I will never forget how mild and kind he always was.  He will not be forgotten.”

George R. Boynes, "sharp dresser"

    Rosemarie Durante recalled Boynes as a “sharp dresser” and someone who always acknowledged the love he had for his wife.

    “George was a kind man. He always had something nice to say all the time. I think everyone loved George. He always looked like ‘GQ,’ right out of a magazine. I’d say, ‘George I love your tie and your shirt and everything matches so perfectly.’

    “I’d ask him if he picked that out. He’d say, ‘Mary put me together. Go thank Mary,’” Durante smiled. “He loved his wife.”

    Boynes, a graduate of Norristown High School who served 32 years in the U.S. Air Force, was always impeccably dressed, usually wearing a brightly colored shirt and matching tie each day. He was a fixture at the courthouse, working as a tipstaff for many years before becoming Tolliver’s crier.

    “He was big on being efficient. He was big on making sure the courts, as well as the judge, had everything that they needed. He was very gracious and polite and just a wonderful person to be around,” said Kim White, supervisor of court clerks.  “George was somewhat of a serious person but he also laughed and joked after his work was done. He believed in getting the job done while court was in session but afterwards George was a joy to be around. He was great for telling stories and making others laugh.”

On a personal note, I will remember Boynes for his quiet strength. I never heard him complain as he waged a fight against illness in recent weeks and illness didn’t seem to bruise his spirit while he was at work. He was dedicated to his work and I think he captured the hearts of all of those fortunate enough to pass his way in these courthouse hallways on a daily basis. He collected friends easily and he was always kind to me and I enjoyed our daily conversations. Yes, George was "a true gentleman."

One of my last memories of Boynes is his being by Mary’s side in May during a public courthouse ceremony at which she was presented a courthouse employee of the year award by Montgomery Bar Association. I remember Boynes beaming with pride, flashing one smile after another.

George and Mary Boynes/May 1, 2015 Photo by Carl Hessler Jr.

    While his voice has been silenced in death, his kindness and graciousness will continue to live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

    In the wake of his absence, I urge you all to celebrate George’s life with a memory or two today and bid him safe passage. His courthouse family will never forget him.

Rest in peace, George. You will be missed.

Montco DUI Court Prosecutors Arm Themselves with the Latest Science

As Montgomery County prosecutors work to get drunken drivers before a judge quicker and repeat offenders off the roads faster through the county’s new DUI Court, they’re learning all they can about the science behind blood-alcohol testing.

Montgomery County Courthouse

In addition to spending weekends monitoring and observing DUI checkpoints in the county, a group of DUI prosecutors last week toured NMS Labs, a nationally renowned clinical and forensic toxicology laboratory located along Welsh Road in Willow Grove. The lab provides diagnostic toxicology services for law enforcement, lawyers and medical examiners and is utilized by county prosecutors in cases heading into DUI Court.

“We put them on (in court) so much and we deal with them by email and phone that we decided it would be a good idea to go out there and spend some time with them,” said Assistant District Attorney Bradford Richman, who leads the district attorney’s DUI prosecution unit. “We heard from a number of their toxicologists and expert services representatives who were the ones who get us the various reports.

Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney Bradford Richman at NMS Labs/Photo courtesy of Brad Richman

“It was a very productive day. We learned a lot hearing from these various experts. We got a chance to tour their laboratories, which gives us a good understanding of how the process works and how their chain of custody works and how the pieces of equipment work,” Richman added.

“It was a great day for the unit. I think we all learned a lot. The prosecutors assigned to the unit were right in there down in the lab, asking questions about science and how the science works,” Richman said.

Montco DUI Court prosecutors meet NMS Labs representative Reynold Dyson (on right) during a tour of Willow Grove facility./Photo courtesy of Bradford Richman

Richman said it was good too for NMS officials to be able to meet prosecutors, “to put names with faces.”

“They wanted to hear from us too. We live in separate worlds. They’re in the science world and we’re in the criminal courts,” said Richman, explaining prosecutors explained to NMS officials how the DUI unit is set up and how it works.

Montco Prosecutor Douglas Lavenberg (in foreground) has some questions for NMS Labs representative Reynold Dyson/Photo Courtesy of Bradford Richman

Spearheaded by District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, the county’s DUI Court was implemented in January 2014 after several years of discussions with the county judiciary.

The new way of handling DUI cases developed as court officials looked for ways to track and expedite DUI cases, which historically comprise nearly one quarter of the county’s total criminal court caseload, and to protect society from habitual offenders and to obtain consistency in punishments.

Kudos to Richman for arranging the educational trips for his staff of young prosecutors in the DUI Unit. I’m sure that observing DUI checkpoints and learning about the science of blood-alcohol testing can only make prosecutors better at their jobs and give them the necessary tools to prosecute cases fairly and accurately.

Montco Officials at the Forefront of History and Cultural Change

Montgomery County Courthouse/file photo by Carl Hessler Jr.

Hope everyone had a happy Fourth of July holiday, or if you prefer, Independence Day!

As local residents celebrated all the cherished freedoms they have, it must be noted that just 10 days ago, in a landmark ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to legalize same-sex marriage in all 50 states, a freedom sought by same-sex couples for many years. It should be pointed out that Montgomery County played a pivotal role in the national debate on the issue and that the county made state history early on in the debate.

In July 2013, Montgomery County was ground zero for the same-sex marriage debate when D. Bruce Hanes, the register of wills in the state’s third-largest county, issued the state’s first same-sex marriage licenses to Loreen Bloodgood and Alicia Terlizzi of Limerick. At the time, Hanes said he wanted to come down “on the right side of history and the law.”

Montco Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes/Times Herald Photo by Gene Walsh

At that time, Pennsylvania law defined a marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman and did not recognize civil unions or same-sex marriages from other states.

Hanes’ decision came shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the section of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that failed to guarantee equal benefits to same sex couples.

Hanes’ decision sparked peaceful protests by members of the Pro-Life Coalition of Pa. who showed up at Hanes’ office, holding rosaries and signs reading “Children Need a Mom and Dad,” to pray as same-sex couples obtained marriage licenses. To his credit, a respectful Hanes didn't interrupt the protesters and likewise didn’t let them interrupt him from carrying out the business of his office.

“There’s always going to be protests. They have a right to be here just as much as we have a right to be here. You know what, they can’t hurt me,” Sander Schlichter told me as he and his partner Charles Burrus, of Penn Valley, appeared at Hanes’ office to obtain a marriage license that day.

Sander Schlichter & Charles Burrus/Mercury photo by Carl Hessler Jr.

In the weeks that followed, supporters of Hanes held a marriage equality rally on the steps of the courthouse, ground zero again in a state and national debate.

A legal hotbed ensued when the state Department of Health sued Hanes to stop issuing the licenses. At one point, Hanes ceased issuing the licenses when a state judge ruled he didn’t have the legal authority to do so and while an appeal to the state Supreme Court was filed. Between July and September 2013 Hanes’ office had issued more than 170 marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

But by May 2014, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled that Pennsylvania’s DOMA law was unconstitutional. The state Supreme Court subsequently lifted the ban that prevented Hanes from issuing the same-sex marriage licenses.

While it was local, Hanes’ decision forced him into the national spotlight. I remember being at the health club and seeing Hanes’ face on the big screen TV overhead, being interviewed on a national, evening newscast.

“It’s not and it never was about me, I’m not a crusader,” Hanes told The Mercury last week after the historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling was announced. “This was always about equal protection under the law and due process.”

The June 26 high court ruling prompted county Commissioner Chairman Josh Shapiro to shout, “Love is the law! Today’s ruling marks a great step forward for our democracy and our gay friends and family.”

It’s difficult to gauge if Hanes moved national or local public opinion about the issue. But whether you agree with the ruling or not, Hanes’ role in the debate made history in Montgomery County and put the county in the national spotlight for a brief period of time.

Last week, Bloodgood told The Mercury, “I knew the winds of change were blowing in our direction, but it has been like hurricane-force winds changing everything. Just think, it was not even two years ago now that the Supreme Court ruled on the Defense of Marriage Act and Bruce Hanes decided he would start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples and now it’s the law of the land."

Bloodgood added, prophetically, “I think it’s ironic that while the Confederate flag is falling, the flag of pride is rising.”

 

A man supports Hanes' decision outside courthouse in July 2013/ Mercury Photo by Carl Hessler Jr.

Social media went bonkers when the ruling came down, with tweets from supporters and detractors alike about the new freedom.

I think a colleague, @Smoore1117 sarcastically tweeted it best when he wrote, “Woke up this morning, looked a @armoore815 & decided our traditional marriage is irrevocably damaged. Gay marriage is ruining everything.”

In the high court’s 5-4 ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote,” No longer may this liberty be denied…No union is more profound than marriage.” Kennedy, who was joined by the court’s four more liberal justices, Breyer, Ginsburg, Kagan and Sotomayer, added those who sought the right to marry revealed “that they seek not to denigrate marriage but rather to live their lives, or honor their spouses’ memories, joined by its bond.”

Several religious organizations have criticized the decision. Sam Rohrer, a former Berks state legislator and onetime candidate for governor, issued a statement on behalf of the American Pastors’ Network, saying “this landmark decision had deep biblical, historical and constitutional roots, and unfortunately, our justices chose to redefine marriage for the entire nation, ignoring other constitutional rights and opening the door to a dangerous infringement on religious liberties.”

But the high court’s ruling ensures that constitutional protections will continue to allow churches to decide who they will marry.  So, I don't know what all the religious fuss is about.

Personally, I never understood how anyone could be against love.  So, I am glad my gay and lesbian family and friends have this new freedom.

For someone who covers the courts on a daily basis, it was interesting to have a front row seat to the legal battles and protests that brewed in Montgomery County during the last two years. For a brief period of time, county officials stood at the forefront of history and cultural change.

Scenes From a Courtroom

Montgomery County Courthouse

Some of the most unusual moments in court come on pretrial hearing days when courtrooms are packed to the judicial rafters, sometimes standing-room-only, with defendants, prosecutors and defense lawyers. At those hearings, judges get an idea of where cases are headed and defendants can plead guilty or seek delays for any number of reasons.

As one Pottstown man pleaded guilty to a DUI charge recently, Judge Steven T. O’Neill, as he typically does with substance abusers, asked the man about the last time he drank alcohol or ingested drugs. The man told the judge he smoked some “weed” recently.

The judge, who presides over the county’s drug treatment court, was not amused. The defendant realized he just stuck his foot in his mouth.

At that exact moment an infant in the courtroom in the lap of a spectator let out an excruciatingly loud wail.

“Yeah, that’s exactly what he’s expressing right now,” said O’Neill, acknowledging the baby's cry while referring to the defendant, eliciting laughter from spectators and lawyers in the courtroom.

When the laughter died down, the judge got serious.

O'Neill's Gavel of Truth

“You want to smoke weed, go ahead. But they’re going to lock you up,” O’Neill told the man, explaining that while he’s on probation he’s prohibited from drinking or using drugs and that random testing will uncover it. “You’re not allowed to smoke weed. You have to find some support in your life. Get some support or get treatment.”

At one point a woman claiming to be the fiancée of a man facing criminal charges rose from her seat and demanded to speak to the judge. The woman proceeded to tell O’Neill that her paramour wanted to plead guilty to his charges. However, that was in direct contrast to what the man’s lawyer communicated to the judge.

“I want him to just come home,” the woman told O’Neill, who kindly thanked the woman for her comments but advised her that her boyfriend has a qualified lawyer who will speak on his behalf. The woman, in a huff, headed for the courtroom door, all the while complaining loudly.

“He has counsel,” the judge reiterated to the woman.

“That sucks,” the woman shouted back, referring to the lawyer.

“She didn’t just say that did she?” the judge asked courtroom staffers.

“Yes, I f------ did,” the woman said as she left the courtroom in a huff, stunning spectators with her unapologetic expletive.

Judge Steven T. O'Neill/Mercury file photo

Much later in the day, as one of the last cases on the pretrial list was addressed, defense lawyer Keith Harbison asked for a routine continuance on behalf of his client.

O’Neill told Harbison that he wouldn’t have had to wait around to handle that simple transaction.

“And miss the whole show?” Harbison said with quick wit.

That about summed it up for this day in court! Harbison wins Quote of the Day.

The Case of the Missing 'M'

It was the case of the missing ‘M’ and oh what a stir it created in Montgomery County last week.

It was a slow Friday at the courthouse and several of us in the pressroom finally took the time to read, and really notice, the new maroon sign erected on the courthouse lawn at the corner of Swede and Airy streets. 

What was that I saw? Were my eyes bleary from writing too much copy for The Mercury and playing tricks on me?

Nope.

There it was, right before the names of Josh Shapiro, Chair, Val Arkoosh, Vice Chair, and Bruce L. Castor Jr., the word ‘COMISSIONERS’ sans the additional required ‘M’ in the center of the title. OOPS!

It was like finding gold on a lazy, rather boring pre-summer afternoon at the courthouse. So, I, as @MontcoCourtNews, and two of my colleagues, went right to Twitter to have a little fun with hashtags.

“How do you spell ‘commissioners?’ Someone who erected new #MontcoPa Courthouse sign apparently didn’t know. #blunder”

“#MontcoPa #blunder New courthouse sign misspells ‘commissioners’ Wonder how much that sign cost? #Ooops”

“Hey @JoshShapiroPA @BruceCastor @VAArk How do you spell ‘commissioners?’ #MontcoPa #blunder as new sign goes up”

Yes, I was having some good-natured fun on Twitter and quite a few followers re-tweeted those tweets, joining the fun. One editor, @SMoore1117, tweeted “#CopyEditorsArePeopleToo” showing a little sympathy.

Frank Custer, county communications director, took to Twitter too with a sense of humor, tweeting “@MontcoCourtNews @Danclark08 you got us, Carl. Just seeing if you were awake. Took you awhile. Being fixed.”

To which I responded, “@Frank_Custer it did take me awhile to notice it; it took a slow Friday Court day for me to take the time to read it. Humorous moment”

I didn’t see a direct response from Shapiro or Arkoosh to my tweets, but Castor responded with what I think was humor by tweeting, “@MontcoCourtNews @JoshShapiroPA @VAArk We have a sign?”

Chester County DA Thomas P. Hogan even replied with a lighthearted tweet, “@MontcoCourtNews Never a problem for Chesco Commissioners #whatupmontco”

I ended the day with one final Tweet, “#Friday #Folly #MontcoPa has sign #blunder Was ‘commissioners’ misspelled or did budget cuts allow for only one ‘M’”

Don’t know who made the mistake or how it went missed by county proofreaders. Yes, one could probably say that mistake should not have occurred with so many county administrators and officials on duty to proofread. But mistakes do happen. Yes, readers have shot me emails from time to time about misspellings in my copy too.

I meant no harm showcasing the mistake. It was really all about having some social media fun on a Friday afternoon, to express a little humor from a place that is usually filled with sad, stressful situations on a daily basis.

In the week that has followed, the Associated Press picked up on the story of the missing “M” – so the blunder is likely known statewide now - and even one local TV station had a short report about it. Looks like it was a slow news week all around.

Well good news. Today, the missing “M” was discovered and the sign at Swede and Airy now properly reads “COMMISSIONERS.” Those in charge say the cost to repair several signs countywide that went without the “M” was about $4,000.

Thank you, comissioners for allowing me to have a little fun at your expense.

(Yes, I eliminated the “M” on purpose, couldn't resist.)

POSTSCRIPT: I am still scratching my head as to why most county signs say "Court House" instead of "Courthouse." But don't get me started. That's for another blog.

Before 

After

Court Reporters Rule

Court reporters, those women and men who sit in courtrooms on a daily basis and record the hearings in civil and criminal cases, are some of the hardest working people at the courthouse.

They sit for hours listening to endless testimony, making sure to capture every word correctly - which can be difficult when a witness is soft-spoken or speaking way too quickly - and then spend hours transcribing that testimony for judges and lawyers. The reporters must keep track of all prosecution and defense exhibits and make sure they are properly marked as evidence during trials.

And they are often summoned to court by judges at a moment’s notice, having to drop whatever else they’re working on.

It’s not uncommon to see the registered professional reporters working late into the evening in their offices next to the press room at the courthouse. There is a lot of reliance on court reporters and I have no doubt the judicial system would come to a screeching halt if they weren’t around.

Judges, often in subtle ways marked with humor, express their appreciation and recognize just how important those reporters are.

A court reporter stands ready to transcribe

During the trial of a Lansdale pawn shop robber last week that played out before Judge Thomas P. Rogers, jurors needed an explanation of the law during their deliberations. The judge summoned everyone to the courtroom and the jurors ended up being seated before trusted court reporter Shellie Camp made her way from her office to the courtroom to record the legal instructions.

“You might think it’s the judge who’s most important but it’s the court reporter,” Rogers joked, eliciting laughter from jurors. “She’s on her way.”

Indeed, not until Camp was in her seat could anything commence. COURT REPORTERS RULE!

On another day in Courtroom 5, defense lawyers, prosecutors and even Judge Steven T. O’Neill began noticing the temperature rising. With a courtroom overflowing with defendants awaiting pretrial conferences and their lawyers, it was noticeably warm.

Judge Steven T. O'Neill/Photo Carl Hessler Jr.

“What did you do to that air conditioning?” O’Neill jokingly inquired of his indispensable court reporter Ginny Womelsdorf, who he suggested has an in with maintenance officials when she complains the air conditioning makes the courtroom too cold.  “You have too much power.”

The judge was referring to the fact that Womelsdorf’s husband, Rich, is the skilled trades supervisor who fixes everything at the courthouse, the go-to man for all problems mechanical, who often is summoned to courtrooms to either turn down or turn up the temperature.

Court reporter Ginny Womelsdorf /Photo by Carl Hessler Jr.

“The princess of the courtroom,” O’Neill lightheartedly said about the shivering Womelsdorf, during a break in the court's business.  “We’re going to get you gloves. We’ll get you a blankie.”

I was left wondering, was Womelsdorf dethroned? Just a week earlier, O’Neill referred to Womelsdorf as the “Queen of the courtroom,” giving judicial notice that she was aware of everything and kept track of everything that occurred in his courtroom.

Yes, I truly believe COURT REPORTERS RULE!

So here's a tip of the hat to Womelsdorf and Camp and all those reliable, hardworking court reporters in Montgomery County: Amy Boyer, Odalys Cummins, Magdalena Dineen, Mary Faino, Norma Gerrity, Jennifer Gillespie, Charles Gorgol, Mary Lou Hoelscher, Anita Huber, Donna Jones, Susan Laucella, Joan Mork, Michele Sherry, Linda Piersig, Charles Holmberg, Robin Hansell, Mary Morella, Megan McCartin, Tim Kurek, Ed McKenna, Lisa Neal, Bernadette Berardinelli, Anthony DiPrinzo, Mark Manjardi, Robin Smith, Debra Flamer, Deborah O'Dell, Paula Meszaros, Chanel Pyatt, Cynthia Pratt and George Frey.

Trial Tidbits: From Backpack to Farewell

     It was an interesting week, to say the least, during the trial of a Pottstown man who was convicted of sexually assaulting two women in the borough.

     The trial took an unexpected turn last Thursday when midway through an alleged victim’s testimony, a deputy sheriff entered the courtroom and suggested through hand signals to Judge Steven T. O’Neill that the judge should call for a break in the proceedings. Turns out deputies discovered a suspicious, lone backpack setting outside Courtroom 5. During these troubling times, unattended backpacks are never ignored, especially at a courthouse, are taken very seriously by security officials.

     So, Judge O’Neill interrupted the testimony and asked all those in the courtroom if anyone inadvertently left a backpack outside the courtroom door. As the witness, one of the victims, left the witness box and began to leave the courtroom to see if it was her backpack, one of the young legal interns in the gallery suddenly realized he didn’t have his backpack and went to retrieve it.

     I am sure that young man, one of many college students serving internships with either the district attorney or public defender this summer, got a lecture or two from sheriff’s officials and I’m sure was a bit embarrassed by his mistake. What a way to begin your summer internship.

     Lesson to all interns this summer: DON’T LEAVE YOUR BACKPACKS UNATTENDED IN COURTHOUSE HALLWAYS!

     When the trial got back on track, and every day thereafter, Assistant District Attorney Brianna Ringwood and defense lawyer R. Emmett Madden ferociously presented their cases to the jurors each day and often challenged and interrupted each other with “Objection!” during their questioning of witnesses.

     While Ringwood and Madden were staunch competitors it was obvious it wasn’t personal and the two enjoyed some friendly banter during downtime at the trial and when the jury wasn’t present.

     “You two are going to miss each other over the weekend,” Judge O’Neill quipped out of earshot of jurors after he adjourned court on Friday, eliciting laughter from those in the courtroom who witnessed the intense, sometimes contentious legal wrangling all week.

     “We’re going to be texting each other,” Madden responded lightheartedly.

Judge Steven T. O'Neill

     Finally, the trial marked the end of the courthouse career of Judge O’Neill’s trusted court clerk Kevin Frankel, who left Monday after more than five years of clerking to begin his career as an attorney at law. Frankel, well known at the courthouse for his sense of humor and ever friendly demeanor, has landed a job with the firm Banks & Banks in Lafayette Hill, where he will practice real estate and business law.

     When he began working as a court clerk Frankel was a floater and worked with most of the judges in civil, family and criminal court. But since July 2013, Frankel worked exclusively as O’Neill’s court clerk, a full-time job while finishing his law degree at night.

     “It’s been a great experience watching cases unfold, watching justice be dispensed. I learned a ton,” Frankel told me. “The most exciting moment was getting verdicts.”

     All eyes were on Frankel last fall when he took the verdict from jurors who convicted Raghunandan Yandamuri, 28, of Upper Merion, of two counts of first-degree murder and sentenced him to death in connection with the Oct. 22, 2012, fatal stabbing of 61-year-old Satyavathi Venna and the suffocation of her 10-month-old granddaughter, Saanvi, in an Upper Merion apartment during a botched kidnapping attempt. It was the most high profile trial at the courthouse in recent memory and Frankel had a front row seat.

     “That was a big verdict,” Frankel recalled.

     Frankel said he’ll never forget all those he worked with over the years, adding “It’s a really good community and I’m definitely appreciative to be a part of this community, especially starting my legal career.”

     “Judge O’Neill is great to work for. He definitely cares about what he’s doing. The drug court he runs is very impressive and he’s making a change in Montgomery County,” Frankel said.

     O’Neill had some nice words for Frankel too.

     “He was a great asset to the court. He will be sorely missed and I wish him the best of luck in his new endeavor,” O’Neill said.

     Ginny Womelsdorf, O’Neill’s court reporter, said she will miss Frankel.

     “Kevin gave us comic relief, that’s what I’m going to miss the most,” Womelsdorf laughed. “Kevin was a part of our family, worked his way into our hearts and I’m going to miss him a lot. I’m proud of him.”

     Fellow court clerk Monica Pokorny, who previously worked in the Clerk of Courts Office, recalled Frankel was a member of the Clerk of Courts Coffee Club.

     “We got to chit chat every day. I will miss his positivity. He was always positive, funny and always in a good mood,” said Pokorny, who shadowed Frankel when she was learning the ropes of being a court clerk. “He was very efficient, no wasted time, he was right to the point.”

     Pokorny joked she also blamed Frankel for the minor earthquake that shook the Philly region and the courthouse several years ago.

     “I was sitting at my desk and my chair moved and I turned around and I expected to see Kevin,” said Pokorny, recalling Kevin loved to joke. “I thought that he was shaking my chair. Turns out it wasn’t Kevin, it was an earthquake. But I still blame him. It’s his fault.”

Best of luck, Kevin, in your legal career.