News

James J. Koval Joins AOPC Communications/Legislative Staff

October 19, 2004

HARRISBURG, October 19, 2004 — James J. Koval, a veteran communications and legislative aide to former state Attorney General Leroy Zimmerman and current state Treasurer Barbara Hafer, has been named Communications Manager and Assistant for Intergovernmental Relations at the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC). Koval fills a new position that will help lead and broaden existing AOPC external and internal communications efforts. He joins an existing staff of communications/ legislative coordinator Art Heinz and administrative assistant Gina Earle, both of whom will continue in their existing positions. Koval will also work in tandem with David Lane, AOPC’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, to further broaden the Pennsylvania Judiciary’s relationships with other branches and agencies of state and local government. The AOPC is the administrative agent for the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, which has constitutional responsibility not only as the Commonwealth’s court of last resort but also as the administrative leader of more than 1,000 jurists, 900 state court staff and thousands of county court staff, row officers and their employees. “Jim Koval joins a small but effective AOPC staff that has grown in function far beyond its capacity,” said Thomas B. Darr, deputy court administrator of Pennsylvania. “Pennsylvania was the second court system in the nation to host an Internet Web site to increase public access to information about, and understanding of, our courts,” said Darr. “Since the Web site’s creation, we have expanded our internal and external communications efforts while also responding to steadily increased requests for media information and analysis of legislative proposals. To sustain those efforts, this is the right time to add this position and Jim, the right person to fill it.” Koval is a Penn State graduate and holds a Master of Journalism degree from Temple University. He worked in the Attorney General’s office from 1981 through 1988, joined the Auditor General’s staff in 1989 and moved to the Treasurer’s office in 1997.