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"Justice is the constant and perpetual wish to render to every one his due."
~ Emperor Justinian
 
 
Upcoming Events
2022-2023 Membership Application and Membership Renewal
03-20-2023
March Board Meeting
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04-17-2023
April Board Meeting
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05-15-2023
May Board Meeting
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06-12-2023
June Board Meeting
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07-17-2023
July Board Meeting
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08-21-2023
August Board Meeting
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09-18-2023
September Board Meeting
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10-16-2023
October Board Meeting
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11-20-2023
November Board Meeting
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12-18-2023
December Board Meeting
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Justinian Society News
01-01-2022
Justinian Society Event Photos

To see all of the photos from our most recent events, see our Flickr account.

To see photos from the 2022 Justinian Christmas Party click here.

To see photos from the Beccaria Award held on December 13, 2022 given to Nathan J. Andrisani, Esq. for 2022 and Professor Louis M. Natali, Jr. for 2021 click here.

To see photos from the "In Person" Luncheon honoring Philadelphia Bar Chancellor Wesley R. Payne IV, Esq. held on February 17, 2022 click here.

To see photos from the 2021 "In Person" Luncheon honoring Phila Bar Assoc. Chancellor Lauren McKenna, Esquire and their immediate Past Chancellor Hon. A. Michael Snyder (Ret.) click here.

To see photos from the 2020 Beccaria Award held November 17, 2022 given to George Bochetto, Esq. click here.

06-17-2021
2021 First "In Person" Annual Meeting/Election Announcement
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06-29-2020
Virtual Annual Meeting, Election & Scholarship Announcement
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06-10-2020
News from The Justinian Foundation – 2020 Scholarship Recipient
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Members of the Month
June 2022 Justinian Member of the Month
This month, the Justinian Society proudly spotlights the accomplishments of The Honorable Daniel R. Sulman is a judge in the Family Division of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where he served from July of 2016 to January of 2018 and from December of 2019 through the present, following appointments to the bench by Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf and election in 2021. The Judge is a lifelong resident of Philadelphia, a graduate of Philadelphia public schools and magna cum laude graduate of Temple University. He earned his law degree at Temple University Beasley School of Law. More...
May 2022 Justinian Member of the Month
This month, the Justinian Society proudly spotlights the accomplishments of The Honorable Craig Levin who is a judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in Pennsylvania. He assumed office on January 3, 2022. His current term ends January 5, 2032. Judge Levin was born and raised in Philadelphia. His life has been shaped by the communities where he grew up: First in West Oak Lane, then moving as a teenager to the Northeast. He attended Philadelphia Public Schools, graduating from Temple University with a B.S. in Finance and earned his Juris Doctorate from the Delaware School of Law at Widener University. He is a proud 'Philly guy' and loves all things 'Philly'. More...
March 2022 Justinian Member of the Month
This month, the Justinian Society proudly spotlights the accomplishments of The Honorable Ann M. Butchart who was elected to a ten-year term as a Trial Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Philadelphia in 2005 and was retained for a second term in 2015. She has presided in Family Court, Criminal Court and Civil Court. More...
February 2022 Justinian Member of the Month
This month, the Justinian Society proudly spotlights the accomplishments of The Honorable Rosemarie Defino-Nastasi who presides in the Court of Common Pleas Criminal Trial Division in Philadelphia. She began her legal career working as an Assistant Defender for The Defender’s Association of Philadelphia. She then joined her family’s law firm in South Philadelphia working alongside her brothers, Michael and Vincent Defino. Judge Defino-Nastasi has presided in the Criminal Trial Division for over twenty years. More...
January 2022 Justinian Member of the Month
This month, the Justinian Society proudly spotlights the accomplishments of President Judge Jack Anthony Panella of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. He was elected to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania in November 2003 and sworn into office as an appellate judge on January 9, 2004 and retained in 2013. On January 7, 2019, he was elected President Judge. His true devotion and commitment is to assure that the Superior Court does it best to serve the people and the members of the Bar in ways that are efficient and productive, and balances judicial independence with accountability. More...
 
 
  March 2021 Justinian Member of the Month
03-01-2021

The Honorable Matthew D. Carrafiello
March 2021 Justinian Member of the Month

Judge, Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District from 11/95 to present

Current Assignment, Orphans' Court as of 1/1/10

Appointed Administrative Judge, Orphans' Court Division,  until 11-1-20

Member, Administrative Governing Board, First Judicial District of PA, until 11/1/20

Married Linda Alice Barrata

Children Alessandra Carrafiello, Esq. – Matthew Carrafiello, Jr.

Prior Experience

  • Practice of Law, including Trial Practice since 1971 until 1995
  • Undersheriff, City of Philadelphia from 1975 until 1995
    Merit Selection Appointee; Administrator of Office; Adjudicator of Legal Decisions/Determinations; Chief Sworn Officer
Education    

South Philadelphia High School Graduate, 1964 - National Honor Society

Temple University 1964 to 1968 - Graduated Bachelor of Arts Degree

Temple University School of Law 1968 to 1971 Graduated Juris Doctor Degree

Memberships/Organizations

Philadelphia Bar Association - Member
The Justinian Society - Member, Board of Directors
Volunteer Judge Quality of Life Court (Night Court)
CATCH Mental Health, Board of Directors

Custodes Pacis Lodge, Sons of Italy in America - Member
Roxborough Lodge, Sons of Italy in America - Member
Methodist Hospital Foundation - Board Member, Vice Chair for Community Relations Jenkins Law Library - Board of Directors
Various other activities and memberships

Una Piccola Conversazione

1. How long have you been a member of the Justinian Society?

My first act as an attorney (after being sworn into the bar by the Hon. G. Fred DiBona) was to join The Justinian Society, sometime in November of 1971. I was sponsored by my soon to be law partner of a lifetime, James J DiMarco, Esq., and Jules Fioravanti, Esq... Jim was to be my partner until the day I was sworn in as a judge, and Jules was to be my dear friend until the day he passed.

2. Why did you join the Justinian Society, and what do you hope to gain from membership?

I joined The Justinian Society because, I was told "it had the best Christmas parties" and the finest group of trial lawyers, anywhere!

3. What do you love or enjoy most about your job?

What I love about all the jobs that I have done at the law, is the opportunity to see that everyone has access to justice and that the rule of law prevails. When this occurs, I am thrilled and when it doesn't, even in the midst of disappointment, I feel gratified as long as I have been part of the good fight.

4. How would you define success?

Defining success, especially in my position, is making a difference. Every matter before me is, up until that time, the most important matter that I have ever heard. If I felt otherwise, I would've quit a long time ago. To me, success is having been true to yourself and to those ideals that you value the highest.

5. Who or what inspires you?

The inspiration that I receive comes from several sources. First, I love being inspired by counsel. For counsel to be inspiring they themselves must be inspired. The actual matters that come before the court also give me great inspiration, simply because they are matters deserving of a fair hearing and a decision rooted in the law. Finally, the system as a whole is inspiring because unlike so many other societies, we share (judges, attorneys, litigants and jurors) in making the law, and we have done a pretty good job of it. As you may understand, I am so honored to be part of this process.

6. If you could choose anyone in history as a mentor, who would you choose and why?

I would have to choose Judge Nicholas Cipriani. His utter kindness, lack of ego, and ability to bring people together in collaborative efforts to benefit those who have so little control over their fate. Also, his ability to give fatherly and nonjudgmental advice has benefited not only myself but the members of our society, the bar, the bench and innumerable others. He was always able to lead fearlessly without the use of coercion or threat. I owe him a never-ending debt of gratitude for always being there with his friendship, mentorship and the perfect advice.

7. Name one valuable lesson you’ve learned in your life and that you would advise other members to follow?

Perhaps the most valuable lesson that I've learned is that I should always do what's right, even if I must re-examine a decision and admit my mistake. In doing so, I acknowledge that everyone else involved in my decisions deserve the best.

8. What’s something about you (a fun fact) that not many people know?

As a boy and young man, I played the trumpet and would've gladly became a professional, if I had any real talent. However, playing the trumpet gave me a transferable skill by being able to perform in public. Also performing teaches that you just don't give the audience anything, unless you want to succumb to being booed or perhaps being hit with flying garbage!

9. What’s the last book you read?

"The Unexpected President": the life and times of Chester A Arthur. It is a great story about a president who was a political opportunist who assumed office upon the assassination of his predecessor, and surprised everyone by reforming the federal civil service.

10. What’s your favorite thing about Philadelphia, i.e., sports team, restaurant, museum, history, music etc.?

My favorite thing about Philadelphia is its neighborhoods and the differences found within them. The diversity we enjoy is tantamount to living in a truly international environment. To make it even better, each neighborhood as a plus order of restaurants, cafés, taverns with their own local flavors. I love to visit and enjoy these establishments with my family, friends and colleagues. It's wonderful to be able to share our neighbors’ culture especially through their food!

 
 
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