Bar Associations

Chancellor Scott F. Cooper Issues Statement on the Passing of Judge Charles P. Mirarchi, Jr.

By Philadelphia Bar Association

Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor Scott F. Cooper issued the following statement on the passing of former Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas and Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge Charles P. Mirarchi, Jr.:

Judge Charles P. Mirarchi, Jr. exemplified the ideals of keen intellect, sound judgment, personal character and professional commitment. Judge Mirarchi served on the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas from 1972 to 1995, and the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court from 1995 to 2004.

In every sense he was a consummate lawyer and judge.

But more than that, he was a pioneer in the legal profession, a touchstone for so many who followed him and a treasured friend and colleague to countless lawyers, judges, public officials and ordinary citizens.

His work as a lawyer and a judge spanned nearly seven decades and his life and his work remind us that we must be involved in our neighborhoods, our community our profession and our world.

Judge Mirarchi always found the time to help - time for the Bar Association; time for Widener Law School and the Beasley School of Law at Temple University; time for the Justinian Society of Italian-American lawyers, time for the Boy Scouts and time for so many other civic, charitable and community groups and organizations.

Through it all, Judge Mirarchi remained calm, remarkably humble and always cheerful. His ready smile and his willingness to listen were his trademarks.

Judge Mirarchi brought people together. He was a natural born leader who remembered Abraham Lincoln's admonition that "as a peacemaker the lawyer has a superior opportunity of being a good man."

Judge Mirarchi was a peacemaker. As such, he was richly blessed. And those of us who knew him and benefitted from his advice, counsel and friendship were richly rewarded.

On behalf of the entire legal community, we extend our condolences to Judge Mirarchi's family at this difficult time. We do this gratefully with the knowledge that they and we are sustained by the warm and shining memory of this great man.

There will be a viewing for Judge Mirarchi at Monti-Rago Funeral Home, 2531-35 South Broad St., in Philadelphia on Friday, May 14 from 7 to 9 p.m. and again on Saturday, May 15 from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 10 a.m. at Annunciation B.V.M. Church, 1511 S. 10th St. in Philadelphia.

Full post as published by Philadelphia Bar Association on May 12, 2010 (boomark / email).