Attorney Profiles

Tom began practicing in the area of criminal defense over 30 years ago with the firm of Shoemaker, Thompson and Ness in 1977. After becoming a partner with the firm, Tom joined the District Attorney's staff. He was awarded the post of First Assistant District Attorney of York County and held that post until 1986 when he left to begin his own practice specializing in the area of criminal defense. He also served part time as an Assistant Public Defender from 1986 through 1996.

In 1992, Jeff Marshall, and later Suzanne Smith, joined Tom's existing criminal defense practice to form the firm of Kearney & Marshall, PC.

Tom graduated from Red Lion High School in 1970, Penn State University in 1973, and Dickinson Law School in 1977.

Tom has been a member of the Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) since 1990 and presently serves on the Board of Directors. He is also a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. Tom frequently lectures on criminal law issues for the Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Continuing Legal Education Board. He is the past-president of the York County Bar Association (2001) and was a member of the Association Board of Directors from 1995 through 2002. He then Served on the Board of the York County Bar Foundation, and served as president in 2005 and 2006. The Foundation, where he still serves on the Board, is the charitable arm of the Bar Association. He has been a member of numerous Bar Association committees including the Criminal Rules Committee and Public Defenders' Committee.

Tom has served as a Cub Master and Assistant Scout Master for Troop 20 in York, Pennsylvania. He is also the past vice-president of Abstracting Company of York County (ABCO). He is a member and past chairperson of the Board of Directors for the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of York. Since 1978, Tom has been married to Diane Kearney and together they are the proved parents of three grown children.