The Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court 

The Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court is a specialty inn of court focusing solely in matters of family law.   Our Inn Consists of a collegial group of judges, and  practicing attorneys, from Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County, Pennsylvania who meet regularly to discuss and debate issues relating to substantive issues in family law,  ethics, and professionalism.   Our meetings typically begin with conversation over a catered shared meal followed by a teaching program presented by one of the Inn's pupillage teams.  

At the start of each Fall our members are divided into pupillage teams, with each team consisting of a few members from each membership category.  Each pupillage team conducts one program for the Inn each year. Pupillage team members get together informally outside of monthly Inn meetings in groups to prepare our programs.  This allows the less-experienced attorneys to become more effective advocates and counselors by learning from the more-experienced attorneys and judges. In addition, each less-experienced member may be assigned to a more-experienced attorney or judge, who acts as a mentor and encourages conversations about the practice of law.

Mission of the Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court

The Mission of our Inn of Court is to follow in the great tradition set by our namesake to be active practitioners of family law, while also pursuing scholarly interests, and service to the community.  We use our time in the Inn to learn how  better to represent the interests of  our clients in their family matters;  how better  to understand the nuances of matrimonial law;  how  to become better advocates; to keep up with new law and trends in our area;  and  to hone our skills in communication and  negotiation.  Our mission also is to mentor younger attorneys and create a support network for all members of our Inn.

Doris Jonas Freed Inn Key Documents

For both active and prospective members, please find below some of the founding and controlling documents for our particular Inn: 

History of Our Inn

In the early 1990s, Lynne Gold-Bikin and Kate Vetrano were active with the ABA; Lynne found out about the American Inns of Court through her ABA work and suggested that Kate start a local branch. Kate started researching the requirements in 1993 and then contacted family law leaders to be members of the Inn's first organizing committee, which included:

  • Saul Levit
  • Frederick Cohen
  • Jerold S. Berschler
  • Emanuel A. Bertin
  • Leslee Silverman Tabas
  • Albert Momjian
  • Madeline H. Lamb
  • Mark R. Ashton
  • Toby L. Dickman
  • Phyllis Streitel
  • William J. Litvin
  • John H. Wollman
  • Katherine Platt
  • Mark B. Dischell
  • Allen O. Olin

(Of these members, Judges Platt, Streitel, Dickman and Bertin were practicing family law at the time.)

On March 29, 1994, Kate sent the Charter Application to Lynne Gold-Bikin and Julia Malloy-Good for their signature. The application was then sent to the National Membership Director and can be accessed at the link above.

At the first meeting on June 1, 1994:

  • Kathleen Vetrano was selected as Executive Director of the Inn
  • Albert Momjian was selected as President of the Inn
  • Phyllis Streitel was selected as Counselor
  • Mark Ashton was selected as Secretary/Treasurer
  • Saul Levit was selected as Membership Chair
  • Madeline Lamb was selected as Programming Chair
  • Julie Malloy-Good was selected to work on site selection

The positions held in the early years were as follows:

1994-1996

  • Albert Momjian, President of the Inn
  • Phyllis Streitel, Counselor
  • Mark Ashton, Secretary/Treasurer
  • Saul Levit, Membership Chair
  • Madeline Lamb, Programming Chair
  • Kathleen Vetrano, Executive Director of the Inn

1997-1998

  • President: Kate Vetrano *
  • President Elect: Judge Platt*
  • Counselor: Frederick Cohen*
  • Treasurer/Secretary: Mark Ashton*
  • Executive Director: Linda Bravacos*
  • Membership Chair: Tom Beach*
  • CLE Chair: Phyllis Streitel
  • Program Co-Chairs: Lew Becker* & Mary Doherty*
  • Bylaws Chair: Gary Friedlander
  • Development /Liason with National: Deni Morton*
  • Judge Member:  Judge Hodgson
  • Barrister Representative:  Shelly Grossman
  • Associate Representative:  Ceil Blumenthal

1998-1999

  • President: The Honorable Katherine B.L. Platt
  • President Elect: Linda K. Bravacos
  • Counselor: Kathleen B. Vetrano
  • Treasurer: Mark Ashton
  • Secretary:  Stephanie Bacine
  • Executive Director: Barbara B. Zulick
  • Membership Chairs: Maribeth Blessing and Tom Beach
  • Program Co-Chairs: Lew Becker & Mary Doherty
  • Development Chair: Shelly Grossman
  • CLE Chair: Phyllis Streitel (?)
  • Judge Member:  Judge Hodgson

*  Designates member of Executive Committee


The American Inn of Court

Doris Jonas Freed Inn of Court is part of The American Inn of Court, which is a national organization loosely modeled after the traditional English Inns of Court.  The purpose of The American Inn of Court, as originally conceived by then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Warren Burger, and later approved by the Judicial Conference of the United States is to promote the goals of legal excellence, civility, professionalism, and ethics.

The first Inn was formed in 1980 in Provo Utah.  Today,  there are over 350 chartered American Inns of Court, which actively involve more than 25,000 attorneys, legal scholars, judges (state, federal, and administrative), and law students.

The American Inns of Court is not a fraternal order, a social club, a course in continuing legal education, a lecture series, an apprenticeship system, or an adjunct of a law school program. While an American Inn of Court partakes of some of each of these concepts, it is quite different in aim, scope, and effect. The American Inns of Court strive to help members become more effective advocates and counselors with a keener ethical awareness, learning side-by-side with the most experienced judges and attorneys in their community. Each local Inn is devoted to promoting professionalism, civility, ethics, and legal skills among the American bench and bar, in a collegial setting, through continuing education and mentoring.  At the same time the Inn provides a rich opportunity for participants to meet new colleagues and network around shared interests and talents.

 Ideals of the Inn Movement

  • Upholding the standards of the legal profession
  • Practicing law with dignity and respect
  • Encouraging respect for our system of justice
  • Achieving a higher level of legal excellence
  • Developing a deeper sense of professionalism