First Assistant D.A. in Chesco wins award

After hours of interacting with alleged rapists, murderers or child abusers, a prosecutor might not relish summoning the energy to teach a class - especially for no pay.

But the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Institute says three area law enforcers have exceeded that challenge, and for the third year in a row, a prosecutor from the Philadelphia region will receive the institute's Distinguished Faculty Award on Wednesday.

The 2010 recipient is Chester County First Assistant District Attorney Patrick Carmody. Last year's honoree was Montgomery County First Assistant Kevin R. Steele, and in 2008, the award went to Philadelphia Deputy District Attorney John P. Delaney Jr.

The three were selected from dozens across the state who volunteer each year, said Allison Hrestak, training manager for the institute, the education affiliate of the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association.

Hrestak said the three share an uncommon ability to engage students on diverse legal topics, ranging from drug investigations to juvenile law.

The courses provide lawyers with state-mandated continuing legal education hours known as CLEs, Hrestak said. She added that the program requires student evaluations of the instructors, who are rated on a scale from one to five, which is the top score.

She said Delaney, Steele and Carmody earn "consistently excellent" feedback.

"Rarely do they get a four," she said. "That's hard to top."

Carmody, who has worked in the Chester County District Attorney's Office since 1984, said that 15 years ago he was attracted to the courses for novice prosecutors because he had amassed a wealth of material he labeled "the stuff I wish I knew when I started."

Since then, he has taught courses on a wide variety of subjects - from anticipating defenses to using expert witnesses. Most of the courses are held in Harrisburg, where the District Attorneys Association is based, he said.

"One of the great advantages - for teachers and students - is that you get to discuss common problems with people from other counties," Carmody said. "You also build a network of valuable contacts."

Hrestak, who is not a lawyer, said she has seen presentations by all three award recipients from the area, and understands why the only complaints they typically generate is that the course wasn't longer.

"They will keep your attention," she said. "We're grateful to have them."