News

Supreme Court Announces AppointmentTo Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee

July 21, 2009

HARRISBURG, July 21, 2009 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Robert L. Byer, Esq., to the Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee. Byer, of Allegheny County, was appointed to complete the remaining term of William J. McKim, Esq., expiring June 30, 2011. Byer, a partner in Duane Morris LLP who heads the firm’s Appellate Practice Group, is a former Commonwealth Court judge and past Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee chair. He also is a former judge of the Pennsylvania Court of Judicial Discipline. Created in October 1973, the Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee makes recommendations to the Supreme Court for refining and updating the Rules of Appellate Procedure in light of experience, developing case law and new legislation. Its members each serve three year terms. The committee also responds, when and as appropriate, to inquiries made by lawyers, trial judges and trial court officials. Questions from and suggestions by these parties are often studied in depth by the committee and can result in recommendations for rule changes. Previously known as the Advisory Committee on Appellate Court Rules, the committee got its present name by Supreme Court order on March 31, 1994.