Fox Rothschild LLP issued the following announcement on Jan. 22.
Governor Tom Wolf has appointed Fox Rothschild partner Kelley B. Hodge to serve on the Pennsylvania State Law Enforcement Citizen Advisory Commission (PSLECAC).
Created last year by executive order following concerns raised by residents, leaders of black communities and Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus members, the Commission’s goal is to improve policing practices within law enforcement agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction by examining events and conducting reviews of policies, practices and procedures. It is comprised of 21 voting members, including one representative from each of the Pennsylvania State Police’s current 15 Troop geographic areas and six citizen members chosen at large.
“Although evaluating practices and policies that have contributed to the lack of trust in law enforcement is an important first step, it is implementation and accountability that must follow if any policy changes are to be truly successful in practice,” said Hodge. “I look forward to working with members of the Commission to answer the calls for justice and implement policies that promote transparency and create change.”
The first African American woman to lead the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office in its 167-year history, Hodge has spearheaded key initiatives throughout her career in public service addressing juvenile justice and school violence, criminal justice reform, gun violence and the opioid epidemic. In 2013, she served on the Pennsylvania Joint State Commission on Violence Prevention following the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut, and was appointed to the Interstate Compact for Juveniles Pennsylvania State Council.
In December 2011, former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett appointed Hodge to serve as the Safe Schools Advocate under the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. In this role, she worked closely with the First Judicial District Juvenile and Adult Courts, local law enforcement, mental and behavioral health agencies, community-based agencies, Philadelphia City Council, Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office, Philadelphia Mayor’s Office and human relations agencies and national organizations that advocate for civil rights protections for marginalized or minority communities.
Last summer, Fox Rothschild launched a firm-wide pro bono initiative partnering with organizations throughout the country to assist and support Black communities, including working with Black-owned businesses and assisting individuals with legal issues related to criminal justice and housing. In the fall, Fox was also proud to be the lone firm sponsor of training on implicit bias held by the National Black Prosecutors Association for prosecutors and attended by prosecutors from across the United States and Canada. In addition to contributions made to national organizations actively promoting civil rights, social justice and racial equality, the firm’s efforts have focused on helping small business owners with insurance claims for property damage incidental to the protests, as well as individuals who were detained as a result of their participation in nonviolent protests and marches for racial justice.
Original source can be found here.