wfn.org | ABCUSA: TRENT ELECTED JUDGE OF COMMON PLEAS COURT

[RICH.SCHRAMM@ecunet.org]

AMERICAN BAPTIST NEWS SERVICE 
Office of Communication  
American Baptist Churches USA 
P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851 
Phone: (610)768-2077 / Fax: (610)768-2320 
Web: www.abc-usa.org
Richard W. Schramm, Director 
 E-mail: richard.schramm@abc-usa.org

TRENT ELECTED JUDGE OF COMMON PLEAS COURT, 
PHILADELPHIA
  Earl W. Trent, Esq., former house counsel for 
American Baptist National Ministries, was elected Nov. 6 to 
serve as Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 
Philadelphia County in Pennsylvania.  Victorious in the 
Democratic and Republican primary elections, Trent had 
won the endorsement of both parties.
 The Board of National Ministries honored Trent for 
his service with National Ministries on Nov. 16 during its 
semiannual meetings in Cherry Hill, N.J.  In response 
Trent thanked National Ministries' board members and 
staff for providing excellent training for serving as a judge.  
"You nurtured me, and gave me insightful ideas and the 
stimulus to advance issues of justice," he said.  "I look 
forward to the continuation of my ministry of justice on 
the bench."
 A commissioned American Baptist home 
missionary, Trent served with National Ministries from 
1974 to September 2001, when he resigned to seek public 
office.  As house counsel he was responsible for the 
review of all legal matters related to the corporate 
activities of The American Baptist Home Mission Societies 
and related corporations and provided legal advice to 
Executive Director Dr. Aidsand F. Wright-Riggins III and 
the officers of the Board of National Ministries.
 Trent also served as legal counsel for the 
Philadelphia branch of the NAACP for 25 years.  He holds a 
bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of 
Pittsburgh and a juris doctor degree from Howard 
University School of Law, Washington, D.C.  Trent began 
his law practice in 1973 in the offices of the late civil rights 
leader Cecil B. Moore before going on to specialize in 
Federal constitutional litigation.
  "We need people like Earl Trent on the judicial 
benches of our country," said Wright-Riggins.  "He will 
bring integrity and a faith perspective to the issues of 
justice that come before him.  We pray God's guidance 
and blessing for Earl as he assumes this significant 
position in the U.S. judicial system."

WFN1127A.TXT

 -0-