A Crash Course in Appeals: Appellate Basics for the General Practitioner

Co-Chairs of the Stevens & Lee Appellate Litigation Group, the Hon. Thomas I. Vanaskie and Karl S. Myers, joined by the Hon. Alexandra E. “Sasha” Sacavage, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Cumberland County, will present the seminar “A Crash Course in Appeals: Appellate Basics for the General Practitioner” hosted by the Cumberland County Bar Association on June 4.

The presenters will explore the basic structure of Pennsylvania’s state and federal appellate courts, general principles of appellate jurisdiction and process, and tips and tricks for briefing, argument and decision-making by the appellate courts.

The Hon. Thomas I. Vanaskie is a former Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

The Hon. Alexandra E. “Sasha” Sacavage is Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, Cumberland County. She began her legal career in Philadelphia as an Associate Attorney at a large regional law firm. Upon relocating to central Pennsylvania, she served in key regulatory and enforcement counsel roles with several state agencies. Prior to her election to the Court of Common Pleas in November of 2025, Sasha served as Ethics Counsel to members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly.

Karl Myers is a leading Pennsylvania appellate lawyer with two decades of experience arguing and briefing various high-profile, precedent-setting cases before the appellate courts of Pennsylvania and other jurisdictions.