01 October 2013

( madelyn fudeman: an early advocate of justice )

by jennifer hetrick

few could say their days of delivering justice to the people literally began in their single-digit years, early in childhood—but this is an integral detail in the career of attorney madelyn fudeman.

on tuesday, november 5th, fudeman is running for judge of the berks county court of common pleas.

“my mother, my aunts, and my brother and sister have always said i was born to be a lawyer,” notes fudeman, beaming. she joined the world at her birth in berks county’s reading hospital in 1956. “she has always been an advocate for people she knew weren’t being treated fairly or justly,” says fudeman’s aunt virginia, who at 91, lives with fudeman.

when fudeman was nine-years-old, she had to have an emergency appendectomy in the reading hospital. at the time, she found herself visiting her aunt bert moscirella in sinking spring. after the surgery, fudeman’s surgeon came to tell her aunt virginia and aunt bert, “your niece should consider becoming an attorney because she asked so many questions about the surgery, what it would entail, how long i have been performing surgery, etc.,” the surgeon said with a smile. he told her family that her words and delivery were incredibly effective.

and fudman’s commitment to justice continues to resonate with her even more poignantly today.

“i always had a strong sense of fairness,” fudeman reflects.

one day during third grade, her mother—julia moscirella-fudeman—attended a meeting her teacher had requested. assuming the teacher arranged the meeting in order to compliment her daughter’s schoolwork and good grades, mrs. moscirella-fudeman reacted in surprise when the subject of discussion veered in an altogether different direction.


( madelyn fudeman enjoys time with the fur kids in her home
– photo courtesy of madelyn fudeman ) 

“your daughter is a staunch advocate for other students, and she certainly delivers her objections quite effectively and assertively. however, i did tell her this isn’t a courtroom, and we can discuss her thoughts and ideas collectively,” her teacher stated with a big smile.

today, fudeman is president of her legal practice for the past 20 years, while her work in law spans 25 years overall, including her time spent out of state.

“i began practicing in miami as a prosecutor in janet reno’s office, and then for several years, i did legal reporting, including covering the trial of manuel noriega,” she explains.

today, fudeman is the president of essig, valeriano, & fudeman, p.c., in wyomissing, with one of her specializations in zoning and real estate law.

she also mentors young attorneys and served as a director of the berks county bar association. twelve years ago, she took on the job of chairperson of the berks county bar association’s alternative dispute resolution program. her website notes that the program “provides an alternative to the overwhelming expense and uncertainty of litigation.”

the family mediation program in the berks county court system is also something fudeman’s efforts helped to shape as a way to somewhat alleviate the often painful, ugly particulars in custody battles between divorcing or separated parents and the children who don’t usually have a choice or a much of a voice in such traumatizing times.

the program is set up to offer supportive mediation to parents or guardians as a way to benefit them, but more importantly, the children. and fudeman points out that if the mediation helps at all and sets a good example for the children, it is an enormous benefit to the family and the court system.

fudeman also spent more than a decade on the board of directors for mary’s shelter, a nonprofit based in the city of reading, supporting women and children during times of crisis situations related to pregnancy, and presently serves on the board of prospectus berco, which helps mentally challenged individuals find work and live productive and fulfilling lives.

reflecting on why she is running for judge, fudeman says, “judges have an even greater ability [than lawyers] to make sure the law works the right way.” fudeman believes the county deserves forward-thinking, fair-minded public officials serving to improve the quality of justice and living in local communities.

to find out more before november, email info2013@fudemanforjudge.com or go online to visit www.fudemanforjudge.com.

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