PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

  • Dauphin County District Attorney (2018-present)
    • District Attorney Fran Chardo is the the chief law enforcement officer for Dauphin County, overseeing an office with 31 prosecutors and 14 detectives, 8 co-responders, and 250 special county detectives that conducts over 6000 felony and misdemeanor prosecutions at the Court of Common Pleas level each year.
  • First Assistant District Attorney, Dauphin County (2003-2017)
    • Fran tried numerous murders and other violent felonies and oversaw the grand jury unit. He supervised deputy district attorneys, reviewed proposed plea agreements and evaluated the performance of the prosecutors in the office. His appellate practice included writing briefs and arguing before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Superior Court as well as defending convictions before the Supreme Court of the United States, the circuit courts and district courts on federal habeas corpus claims.
  • Chief Deputy District Attorney, Dauphin County (2000-2003)
  • Senior Deputy District Attorney, Dauphin County (1996-2000)
  • Deputy District Attorney, Dauphin County (1994-1996)
  • Special Assistant District Attorney, York County (2002)
    • The York County District Attorney appointed Fran as special prosecutor in connection with the trial resulting from the 1969 race riot murder of Lillie Belle Allen. Fran commuted to York for four months resulting in the conviction of two shooters. York County reimbursed Dauphin County for his salary during this period.
  • Special Assistant District Attorney, Montgomery County (2003)
    • The Montgomery County District Attorney appointed Fran as special prosecutor in major drug investigation.
  • Adjunct Professor, Widener University Commonwealth School of Law (2005; 2013-present)
    • Fran currently teaches a class entitled Criminal Procedure: Adjudication. 
  • Instructor, Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson School of Law
    • Fran teaches law students on the art of advocacy through practical exercises with critiques and practical advice (2004-present)
  • Faculty Member, National College of District Attorneys, Columbia, South Carolina (2004-2011)
    • Fran served as trial advocacy instructor for prosecutors throughout the United States
  • Instructor, Public Safety Institute, Harrisburg Area Community College.
    • Fran instructed police academy cadets on criminal law and procedure (1995-2004)

EDUCATION:

  • J.D., Widener University School of Law, Wilmington, Delaware (1993)
  • B.A, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (1990)
    • Major courses of study in history and political science

BAR ADMISSIONS:

  • Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (1993)
  • United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania (1995)
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (1996)
  • Supreme Court of the United States (1997)

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

  • Board Certified in Criminal Trial Advocacy, National Board of Trial Advocacy
  • Master, The Honorable William W. Lipsitt Chapter of the American Inns of Court
  • Member, National District Attorneys Association
  • Member, Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association
  • Chairman, Court Relations Committee, Dauphin County Bar Association
  • Former Chairman, Law Day Committee, Dauphin County Bar Association

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

  • Board of Trustees, Dauphin County Library System, 2018-present, currently serving as vice president of the Board
  • Board Member, Bishop McDevitt High School Board of Directors
  • Commissioner, Pennsylvania Citizen Law Enforcement Advisory & Review Commission
  • President, Boys and Girls Club of Harrisburg Board of Directors, 2010-2012; Board Member, 2005-2014
  • President, American Cancer Society Board of Directors, Capital Area Unit, 2005-2007; Board Member, 2000-2007
  • Member, Pennsylvania Joint State Government Commission Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking, 2010 to 2012

PERSONAL:

  • Married to Christine M. Chardo
  • Two Daughters, Catherine Grace Chardo and Sophie Bridget Chardo
  • Member of St. Joan of Arc Parish, Hershey