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Shelley L. Centini
Attorney Shelley L. Centini was born and raised in Luzerne County. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from King’s College in Wilkes-Barre in 1997. In 2000, she earned her Juris Doctorate degree from The Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University in 2000.
Throughout law school, Attorney Centini interned with the Borough of Carlisle’s solicitor, the Franklin County District Attorneys’ Office and at the Luzerne County Public Defenders’ Office. During this time frame, she developed a passion for fighting for the powerless against the powers of government. Attorney Centini was co-founder of the Dickinson Law School student chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and in 2000 was recognized by the South Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the ACLU for her outstanding contributions. Also during this time frame, Attorney Centini met and worked for the first time with Attorney Barry Dyller, her future law partner. Over time, Ms. Centini and Mr. Dyller worked together, frequently for unpopular causes or clients, but always to use their skills and abilities to help those in need.
In October of 2000, Attorney Centini was licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania and became a member of the state and federal bars. Attorney Centini became a part-time member of the Public Defenders’ Office in Luzerne County while developing her own private practice. For nine years, she worked as a Public Defender and court-appointed conflict counsel, defending all criminal cases, including working as trial counsel on homicide and death penalty cases. Attorney Centini joined Attorney Dyller’s civil rights practice as “of counsel” in 2003 and began practicing in the area of civil rights.
In 2009, Attorney Centini and Attorney Dyller partnered, forming the Dyller Law Firm. Attorney Centini has handled a multitude of civil rights cases involving racial discrimination, sexual harassment, police lethal force, police use of Taser, political retaliation employment termination, retaliation for exercise of First Amendment rights, use of force by private police, and prison suicide litigation.
Attorney Centini is the founder and chairperson of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association’s Criminal Defense Committee. She served as President of the Young Lawyers’ Division of the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association from 2007 through 2009 and is a former member of the Bar Association’s Executive Committee. She was certified under Pa.R.Crim.Pro. 801 and has handled numerous death penalty cases. Attorney Centini is a Pennsylvania Rising Star Super Lawyer 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.
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