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Gelso, Philip

Philip Gelso - Kingston, PA

Attorney at Law Offices of Philip Gelso

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Federal and State Criminal Defense Lawyers in Kingston, PA

63 Pierce Street Kingston, PA 18704 - 4632

  • 1 Super Lawyers®
  • 28 Years 
    Experience
570-763-0006 Call Now Email Website Website

Kingston Federal and State Criminal Defense Lawyer

Updated: 05/18/2026

Areas of Practice

  • Federal and State Criminal Defense 75%
  • Appeals 2%
  • General Corporate 9%
  • General Litigation 9%
  • Municipal and Zoning 5%

Litigation: 100%

Attorney Information

Overview

Philip Gelso, Esquire concentrates his practice in the area of criminal and civil litigation. He is admitted to practice before the state and federal courts in Pennsylvania as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Scranton. He received his Juris Doctorate from Villanova University School of Law where he served as Chairperson of the Moot Court Board and received the Moot Court Board Distinguished Service Award.

Attorney Gelso is a member of the Board of Directors of Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (PACDL) where he served as President of the Board of Directors from 2015 to 2017 and currently serves as a Past President. He formerly served as President Elect, Vice President for the Middle District of Pennsylvania and as the Chairperson of the Continuing Education Committee for PACDL. He also serves as a board member of the PACDL Foundation for Justice and a non-voting member of the Board of Directors and Solicitor for Maternal & Family Health Services, Inc., the Wyoming Valley Children's Association and the Children's Advocacy Center of NEPA, as well as Solicitor to the Jackson Township Zoning Hearing Board and Alternate Solicitor for the Dallas Borough Zoning Hearing Board.

Attorney Gelso is an active member of the American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL), Pennsylvania Bar Association, and the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association. He has been an active member of the Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel for the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania from 2002 through 2009 and for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit since 2006. He has also lectured at Continuing Legal Education Seminars sponsored by PACDL, PBI and the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association.

Awards and Honors

Super Lawyers® Selectees

SuperLawyers

Philip Gelso included in a Super Lawyers® list

Honors

  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Rating
  • The National Trial Lawyers - Top 100 Trial Lawyers
  • 2014-Present Super Lawyers
  • 2023-Present Best Lawyers in America
  • American Bar Foundation Fellow
  • Avvo Rating 10
  • 2009 PACDL President's and Directors' Commendation
  • 2011 PACDL President's and Directors' Commendation
  • 2018 PACDL President's and Directors' Commendation
  • 2021 PACDL President's and Directors' Commendation
  • 2018 PACDL Charles P. Gelso President's Award
  • 2026 PACDL President's and Directors' Commendation

Other Sources of Feedback About Philip Gelso

Included on the 2026 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list


Past Lists

  • 2025 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2024 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2023 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2022 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2021 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2020 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2019 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2018 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2017 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2016 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2015 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list
  • 2014 Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list

Education

  • Legal Education

    • Villanova University School of Law, Villanova, Pennsylvania, 1998
      J.D.
      Honors: Chairperson, Moot Court Board
      Honors: Received the Moot Court Board Distinguished Service Award

  • Non Legal Education

    • University of Scranton, Scranton, Pennsylvania, 1995
      B.S.
      Honors: cum laude
      Major: History/Political Science

Current Employment Position(s)

  • Sole Practitioner

Pro Bono Activities

  • Solicitor, Wyoming Valley Children's Association
  • Member, 1st Lt. Jeffrey DePrimo Scholarship Committee
  • Pre-Cana Team, Diocese of Scranton
  • Board Member, Luzerne County Head Start, Inc.

Bar Admissions

  • Pennsylvania, 1998
  • U.S. District Court Middle District of Pennsylvania, 1999
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit, 2000
  • U.S. Supreme Court, 2006

Other Affiliations

  • Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (President (2015-2017))
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (Member)
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association (Member)
  • American Bar Association (Member)
  • Federal Bar Association (Member)
  • Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association
  • Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association Executive Committee, 2026 - Present
  • MDPA Federal Public Defender Reappointment Committee (Member (2009))
  • U.S. District Court For The Middle District Of Pennsylvania, Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel (Former Member)
  • U.S. Court Of Appeals for The Third Circuit, Criminal Justice Act (CJA) Panel, 2006 - 2013 (Active Member)
  • PBA Federal Practice Committee (Member)
  • PBA Joint Task Force for the Continuity of Delivery of Legal Services, Member
  • 2014 & 2024 MDPA Magistrate Judge Selection Committee (Member)
  • Litigation Counsel of America, 2016 - 2018 (Fellow)
  • American Bar Foundation (Fellow)
  • Pennsylvania Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Chairperson of Education Committee
  • PACDL Foundation for Justice (Board Member)
  • PACDL Foundation for Justice, Board Secretary
  • PACDL Foundation for Justice, Former Board Treasurer

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