Caribou native joins trial lawyer association

4 years ago

PORTLAND, Maine — Assistant U.S. Attorney Darcie N. McElwee was inducted as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, one of the premier legal associations in the country, U.S. Attorney Halsey B. Frank announced.

The induction ceremony at which McElwee became a fellow took place on March 7 in Tucson, Arizona.

McElwee’s induction with three other new inductees from Maine brings the total membership of Maine lawyers in the college to 27. She is the fourth female attorney in Maine, and the first Maine prosecutor, to be selected.

McElwee is a native of Caribou and a graduate of Bowdoin College and the University of Maine School of Law.

She has been an assistant U.S. attorney since 2002. She is a member of the Maine Trial Lawyers Association and a past president of the Cumberland Bar Association. She has served on the adjunct faculty of the University of Maine School of Law and at the Maine Trial Lawyers College of Advocacy. 

She primarily prosecutes violent crime cases such as sex trafficking, interstate domestic violence and child sexual exploitation, as well as firearms and arson cases.

  Founded in 1950, the College grants fellowship only to those experienced trial lawyers who have mastered the art of advocacy and whose professional careers have been marked by the highest standards of ethical conduct, professionalism, civility and collegiality. Lawyers must have a minimum of 15 years trial experience before they can be considered for fellowship. 

Membership in the college is limited to 1 percent of the lawyers in an individual state.