Judge A. Michael Snyder (Ret.)

Judge Snyder’s creative approach to problem-solving makes him exceptionally qualified to serve as an arbitrator, fact finder, mediator or special master with The Dispute Resolution Institute (DRI). Judge Snyder joined DRI in January, 2012. Prior to joining us, Judge Snyder served for approximately 15 years as a Workers’ Compensation Judge.

A 1974 graduate of Temple University Law School, he received his undergraduate degree from Muhlenberg College. Prior to his appointment, Judge Snyder was engaged in private practice, representing Plaintiffs, Claimants, Employers and Defendants. He has lectured extensively for the Philadelphia Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Pennsylvania Bar Institute, the Philadelphia Trial Lawyers Association, the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, the Pennsylvania Association of Mutual Insurance Carriers, the Pennsylvania Self-Insured Association, the Delaware Valley Workers’ Compensation Trust, the Delaware Valley Consortium, National Business Institutes, the Philadelphia Association of Defense Counsel, and the Beasley School of Law at Temple University, as well as for a number of other private organizations on a variety of topics. Judge Snyder has been recognized as an authority on the interrelationships between Workers’ Compensation and Medicare, and lectures frequently on various Medicare Set-Aside issues.

Judge Snyder received advanced mediation training through the International Association of Industrial Accident Boards and Commissions. He previously served twice as Co-Chair of the Workers’ Compensation Section of the Philadelphia Bar Association and serves on the Executive Committee of the Section. Judge Snyder was also a member of the Pro Bono Committee of the Section. In addition, Judge Snyder served as a member of the House of Delegates of the Pennsylvania Bar Association, and was a member of the Judicial Administration Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association. Judge Snyder is also a member of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Committee of the Pennsylvania Bar Association and of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Judge Snyder has served as Assistant Secretary of the Philadelphia Bar Association.  Judge Snyder currently serves as Chancellor of the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society and is also Vice-President of the Louis D. Brandeis Law Society Foundation. Judge Snyder is a member of the Temple American Inn of Court, and is the founder and President of the Judge Alexander F. Barbieri Workers’ Compensation Inn of Court. In addition, Judge Snyder is a member of the Grants Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation, and now serves as Chair of the Grants Committee, and is a Trustee of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. Judge Snyder has served as the Workers’ Compensation Section representative to the Philadelphia Bar Association Board of Governors. Judge Snyder continues to serve on the Advisory Planning Committee for the Fall Section Meeting of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Workers’ Compensation Section. Judge Snyder is currently the Co-Chair of the Philadelphia Bar Association Bar Academy, and is co-chair of the Law School Outreach Initiative and has been a member of the Bench-Bar Planning Committee of the Philadelphia Bar Association. Judge Snyder currently serves as Treasurer of the Bar Association’s Campaign for Qualified Judges. Judge Snyder also serves as an investigative team member of the Commission on Judicial Retention and Selection of the Philadelphia Bar Association.   Judge Snyder also serves as a member of the Elder Justice Resource Center Taskforce, and the Ombuds Project, a joint First Judicial District/ Bar Association initiative. Additionally, Judge Snyder is also a Board Member of Good Shepherd Mediation Services and ArtsBlog.

In addition to his mediation and arbitration duties, Judge Snyder has been appointed as a Discovery Master in certain matters in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia.  Judge Snyder is also currently an Adjunct Professor at Temple University Beasley School of Law.