Emmanuel H. Dimitriou, Esq.

Courts Admitted To:
United States Supreme Court
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals

Professional Associations:
Pennsylvania Bar Association Member
American Bar Association Member
Berks County Bar Association Member
Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Criminal Rules Committee, former Vice Chairman

Achievements:
First public defender in Berks County and The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
"Best Lawyers of America" - 1983-2008
Ackknowledged "Legend" of the Berks County Bar

Institutions Taught At:
The Pennsylvania State University
Alvernia College
Albright College
The McCann School of Business
The Police Academy

Biography:

Emmanuel H. "Manny" Dimitriou was born in Kos, Greece, May 25, 1933. He was a graduate of Reading High School, Franklin & Marshall College and The Dickinson School of Law, where he graduated in 1960.

Manny was admitted to the Pennsylvania and Berks County Bar Dec. 9, 1960. Practicing in the area of criminal defense, he was the first public defender in Berks County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served as Berks County’s Public Defender from March 1, 1964 to May 1, 1968.

Manny was recognized as a preeminent criminal trial attorney in Pennsylvania, practicing across the state. He was named in Best Lawyers in America every year since its publication in 1983. He was admitted to practice before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District and Middle District of Pennsylvania, U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. Supreme Court.

Manny loved the law and was involved in many high profile cases including Commonwealth v. Cohen, Commonwealth v. Eways, and Commonwealth v. Mazzo, involving the Philadelphia Phillies. He tried the first successful "battered woman syndrome" case in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in Commonwealth v. Moyer and further established the double jeopardy rule for the Commonwealth in Commonwealth v. Campana.

He was admired and well respected not only by his clients but by police officers, District Attorneys, and judges alike. Berks County President Judge Jeffrey L. Schmehl was quoted in the Reading Eagle Newspaper saying of Manny, "He was an old-school gentleman attorney who always showed tremendous respect for the court," he further told the Eagle that "his word was his bond. It’s a tremendous loss for the legal community to lose somebody with that wealth of experience." Judge Linda K.M. Ludgate told the Reading Eagle, "He was ethical, his work was solid and he was a wonderful advocate for his clients." The Berks County Court so respected Manny that they closed court on the morning of his funeral.

He was a former vice chairman of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Criminal Rules Committee. He was one of the acknowledged "legends" of the Berks County Bar.

Manny was also a lecturer at Penn State University, Alvernia College, Albright College, the McCann School of Business and the Police Academy.

Among other hobbies, Manny was an avid Philadelphia Eagles fan and NEVER missed a game.

Manny was the loving father of seven children, two of whom also graduated from the Dickinson School of Law: Eleni V. Dimitriou Geishauser, and Ann M. Dimitriou Pipkin.

He will be greatly missed both by his family and the legal community as there is no question that after God made Manny, he broke the mold.