News

Supreme Court names the Hon. John W. Herron Administrative Judge of FJD’s Trial Division

November 09, 2011

HARRISBURG — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille announced that the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has appointed the Hon. John W. Herron as administrative judge of the Trial Division of the Court of Common Pleas of the First Judicial District (FJD) effective today. Judge Herron has been assigned to the FJD’s Orphan’s Court since 2002, and will continue his duties there. Judge Herron succeeds Judge D. Webster Keogh whose term expired in 2010, but has remained in the position pending the appointment of his successor. Chief Justice Castille acknowledged Judge Keogh’s extraordinary service as administrative judge, and thanked him for his extended service. “I have every confidence that Judge Herron can do for the criminal division what he did for the civil division that made it into a nationally recognized model,” the chief justice said. A key priority of Judge Herron in his new position will be leading Phase II of the Reform Initiative for Philadelphia’s criminal courts. Judge Herron previously served as administrative judge of the Civil Division of Common Pleas Court from 1996 to 2002. During that time Judge Herron was credited with establishing the FJD’s Commerce Court, and implementing a casemanagement program that substantially reduced a backlog of cases. Judge Herron first was elected to the bench in 1987, and has been retained twice. Judge Herron previously served as Deputy District Attorney for Investigations in the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office and as Chief Disciplinary Counsel for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He is a graduate of Duke University, and Dickinson Law School. Among other awards, Judge Herron recently received the Philadelphia Bar Association’s 2011 Justice William J. Brennan Jr. Distinguished Jurist Award. The Administrative Judge is the approving authority for all administrative matters, including the assignment of judges; case management with the criminal and civil sections; personnel administration; statistical reporting and analysis; technology matters; the Jury Commission; fiscal oversight and Adult Probation and Parole. The Administrative Judge also sits on the FJD’s Administrative Governing Board. Link to order: http://www.pacourts.us/OpPosting/Supreme/out/289ccp.pdf