(Philadelphia) – Partner Charles M. Gibbs of McMonagle Perri McHugh Mischak Davis was a featured speaker at the 2023 Bench Bar and Annual Conference in September at the Borgata in Atlantic City. Coordinated by the Philadelphia Bar Association, this event brings lawyers and judges to the Jersey shore for educational sessions and networking events.
This year’s conference covered such topical issues as transgender rights, artificial intelligence, social media, and environmental justice. It also addressed child custody gag orders, free speech rights of public employees, and issues and trends in judicial policy and ethics.
Gibbs participated in an ethics panel entitled “Issues and Trends in Judicial Policy and Ethics,” which addressed recent issues affecting judges on the bench. Among the topics discussed were the tragic murder of Judge Ester Salas’ son in November 2020, a $2.75 billion patent infringement judgment by a judge whose wife owned stock associated with the litigation, and a February 2023 judicial misconduct complaint related to Facebook posts.
Gibbs was also part of a Family Law panel discussion, “Child Custody Gag Orders: Will They Become Ubiquitous in the TikTok Generation?” In Pennsylvania, after a significant court decision in 2020, judges have started using these orders to prevent people from sharing certain information to protect children’s privacy. The panel discussed whether the orders violate the Constitution since they limit free speech, whether courts must hold hearings and gather evidence before issuing the orders, and how to balance a child’s privacy with the right to free speech under the First Amendment.
Gibbs focuses his practice on criminal defense, complex personal injury cases, family law, and election and municipal law matters. A prominent trial attorney with a devotion to public service, he is a past president of the Barristers’ Association of Philadelphia and co-chairs of the City Policy Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association. In 2023, he was named to the City & State Law Power 100 list in Pennsylvania and was also given the prestigious J. Austin Norris award from the Barristers’ Association for working to bring about positive social change.
Formed in 1995, McMonagle Perri McHugh Mischak Davis is a nationally known criminal defense, personal injury and family law firm based in Philadelphia. The firm consistently litigates high profile cases resulting in acquittals and/or million-dollar awards/settlements. Practice areas include criminal defense, personal injury and family law. For more information, visit www.mpmpc.com or call (215) 981-0999.