Jane Shields to represent members on issues relative to the State Constitution.

West Chester, PA, February 26, 2010 – The law firm of MacElree Harvey announced today that Jane M. Shields, attorney in the firm’s Land Use and Litigation departments, has been appointed to the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s newly formed internal commission chartered with reviewing and making recommendations for improvements to the Pennsylvania Constitution.  Ms. Shields is a member of Zone 9 of the PBA House of Delegates, which represents Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware counties. 

The thirty-member commission will consider issues relative to:  legislative reapportionment, local government, public education, structure of the general assembly and taxation and the uniformity clause.  Eighteen months after the commission first convenes, a report on its recommendations will be submitted to the House of Delegates.

The commission is chaired by former Commonwealth Court President Judge James Gardner Colins of the Philadelphia law firm Cozen O’Connor.  He commented on the composition of the membership saying, “The commission brings together some of the best legal minds in the state – constitutional scholars, practicing lawyers, sitting judges, and policy experts. As members of the legal profession or citizens who work closely with the justice system, these men and women deal with constitutional issues every day and, therefore, are uniquely qualified to study the complex constitutional issues that confront our state government.”

Ms. Shields  notes, “It is an honor to be appointed to serve on this commission which will attempt to address some of the most vexing problems in this Commonwealth. I look forward to the challenge.”  

Ms. Shields has been practicing law for over 30 years and concentrates on issues related to land use and zoning, commercial litigation and administrative proceedings.  Ms. Shields is a graduate of Temple University School of Law and Purdue University.  She dedicates her time to West Chester community involvement and is on the board of the West Chester Cycling Classic.

About MacElree Harvey
MacElree Harvey is a full service law firm located in West Chester and Kennett Square, PA and Centreville, DE.  Providing initiative in the practice of law for more than a century, MacElree Harvey serves clients in over twenty-five areas of law. To learn more about MacElree Harvey, please visit www.macelree.com.

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