JOSEPH I. CASSILLY BECOMES PRESIDENT-ELECT OF THE NATIONAL DISTRICT ATTORNEYS ASSOCIATION
ALEXANDRIA, VA – August 1, 2007 – Joseph I. Cassilly, State’s Attorney in Harford County, Maryland was elected as the National District Attorneys Association’s (NDAA) President-Elect at its recent Board of Directors meeting in Portland, OR. He will serve in this position until July of 2008 when he will then become NDAA’s President. He has been a member of the Board of Directors of NDAA since 1996 and recently served as NDAA’s Treasurer.
Mr. Cassilly is eminently qualified for this position. In 1982, he was elected State’s Attorney for Harford County and has been re-elected six times – which speaks volumes as to the confidence the people he serves have in his ability to hold criminals accountable for their actions and keep their community safe. He has implemented numerous innovative programs while serving as State’s Attorney, including the establishment of a Narcotics Task Force, a domestic violence unit, Child Advocacy Center and Family Justice Center, three drug courts, a DUI court and a mental health court.
He has held several offices within the Maryland State’s Attorneys’ Association and has served two terms as its President. His life has been devoted to public service. After graduating from high school, he joined the U.S. Army in 1968 and served with F. Co. 75th Rangers, 25th Infantry Division. During his military service, he was awarded a Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart and Army Commendation Medal, and, as a result of his injuries in Vietnam, he uses a wheelchair. “He is a true American hero and highly respected by his peers,” said NDAA Executive Director Tom Charron.
When asked about becoming NDAA’s President-Elect, he said, “I am truly honored and humbled to have been given this opportunity. Nationwide, prosecutors are being pressured to deal with evermore violent and complicated crimes without adequate resources, training and support. I plan to reach out to America’s prosecutors to join their voices to educate our citizens and governments to improve the professionalism of prosecutors and the problems of victims and witnesses of violent crimes. I can best serve my community and prosecutors across the Nation in this new leadership position.”
Mr. Cassilly is a lifelong resident of Harford County. He is married to Diana Susan Cassilly and they share five children and one grandchild. Joe serves as a lector at Saint Ignatius Catholic Church in Hickory, MD. He has been active on issues for the disabled, serving on design teams for both Baltimore sports stadiums and other large projects. In 2002, Joe was named an Outstanding Marylander with a Disability. He graduated from the University of Arizona in 1974 with a B.A. in Psychology and received his juris doctor in 1977 from the University of Baltimore Law School.
NDAA is proud that he will serve as its president-elect and president over the next two years.
NDAA has approximately 7,000 members who represent over 30,000 prosecutors. More than 95% of all criminal cases are tried by state and local prosecutors in America.
CONTACT: Velva M. Walter
Director, Media Relations NDAA
703-519-1689 – Email: velva.walter@ndaa.org
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