Melinda C. Ghilardi

Melinda Ghilardi is a trial lawyer with more than 30 years of experience. Prior to joining Munley Law Personal Injury Attorneys, Melinda worked as a First Assistant Federal Public Defender for the Middle District of Pennsylvania for nearly three decades. Melinda began her career as an Assistant District Attorney in Lackawanna County.

Honors and Awards

• Pennsylvania Super Lawyer, 2022
• Lackawanna Pro Bono, Robert W. Munley Distinguished Service Award, 2016
• Athena Award, Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, 2005
• Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession, Lynette Norton Award, 2004
• Scranton-Pocono Council, Girl Scouts of America, Woman of Distinction, 2000
  University of Scranton, Frank J. O’Hara Alumni Award, 2000

Education

• The University of Pittsburgh School of Law, Juris Doctor
• The University of Scranton, Bachelor of Science, Public Administration, magna cum laude

Bar Admissions

• Pennsylvania
• District of Columbia
• Supreme Court of the United States
• Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
• United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
• United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas

Professional Affiliations

• American Bar Association
• Pennsylvania Bar Association:
  • Board of Governors
    • Unit County Governor 2019 – present
    • Woman Governor 2012 – 2015
  • Bar Leadership Institute
    • Co-Chair 2016 – 2019
  • Commission on Women in the Profession
    • Executive Council 2006 – present
    • Co-Chair 2010 – 2012
    • Secretary 2003 – 2004
  • House of Delegates, Zone Five
  • Committee on Credentials and Admission
  • Review and Certifying Board
  • Federal Practice Committee
  • Healthcare Law Committee 2020 – present
  • Diversity Team 2019 – present
  • Elder Law Section, 2019 – present
  • Judicial Administration Committee, 2019 – present
  • Government Lawyers Committee, 2019 – 2020
  • Finance Committee, 2012 – 2015
  • Legal Services to Persons with Disabilities Committee, 2012 – 2015
• American Association for Justice
  • Insurance Law Section, Business Interruption Task Force, 2020 – present
  • Nursing Home Litigation Group, 2020 – present
  • Women Trial Lawyers Caucus, 2019 – present
• Melvin M. Belli Society, 2019 – present
• Pennsylvania Association for Justice
  • Women Leaders Section, 2021 – present
• Lackawanna Bar Association
  • President, 2004
• Lackawanna Bar Foundation, Vice President
• Association of Women Lawyers of Lackawanna County, Treasurer
• National Association of Federal Defenders, Secretary
• National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys
• Federal Bar Association, Middle District of Pennsylvania Chapter, 1993 – 2019

Presentations and Speaking Engagements

• Speaker,  “Insurance Broker/Agent Liability,” AAJ Summer Convention, July 2022.
• Speaker, “State of Women in the Law in Pennsylvania: Lessons from Two Pennsylvania Initiatives to Track  Advance Women Leaders and Lawyers,” Pennsylvania Bar Institute, December 2016.
• Course Planner, “Best Sentencing Practices in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania Bar Association, Federal Practice Committee, October 2016.
• Participant, “Sentencing Strategy Session for Federal Public and Community Defenders (Restorative Justice, Challenging Relevant Conduct, Mental Health, Brainstorming Immigration Cases, Crimes of Violence/Violent Felonies, Consequences of Race, Ethnicity and Wealth Inequality, The Future of Sentencing),” Administrative Office of the United States Courts, Defender Service Office, Training Branch, September 2016
• Course Planner, “Federal Criminal Defense Training (Ethics, The Ins & Outs of Social Media Records, Sentencing Guidelines Update, Case Budgeting and Excess Compensation Cases, E-Voucher 101, Third Circuit Update & Practice Tips, Update on Johnson Litigation),” Federal Public Defender’s Office, Middle District of Pennsylvania, March 2016
• Presenter, “Impact and Preview of the Supreme Court of the United States on Federal Practice,” Pennsylvania Bar Association Young Lawyers Division Summer Meeting, August 2015

Community

• Women’s Resource Center of Scranton, Barbara J. Hart Justice Center Legal Committee
• Geisinger Northeast Advisory Council, Co-Chair
• Geisinger Women’s Health Volunteer Leadership Council, Co-Chair
• University of Scranton Panuska College of Professional Studies Board of Visitors
• University of Scranton Counseling and Human Services Advisory Committee
• Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, Board of Directors 2013-2019
• Pennsylvania Business and Professional Women’s Club
• Circle 200 Forum for Senior Level Executive Women, Board of Directors