News

Pennsylvania’s Trial Court Judges Elect Stallone as New President

July 27, 2001

HARRISBURG, July 27, 2001 — Berks County President Judge Albert A. Stallone today was elected president of the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges during the organization’s three-day annual meeting at the Hershey Hotel. Judge Stallone succeeds the Hon. Gary P. Caruso, of Westmoreland County, as president of the 482- member group of elected and senior judges from Pennsylvania’s Courts of Common Pleas. Other officers elected at the conference were: the Hon. Hiram A. Carpenter, Blair County, presidentelect; the Hon. Paula Francisco Ott, Chester County, first vice president; the Hon. John Milton Younge, of Philadelphia, second vice president; the Hon. Stephanie A. Domitrovich, Erie County, treasurer and the Hon. Chester T. Harhut, Lackawanna County, secretary. Judge Stallone’s presidency comes after many years in leadership roles in the organization, including stints as secretary and treasurer of the Conference and chair of its Legislative Liaison Committee. He also has been a presenter and panelist for several educational programs conducted by the Conference, and was the moving force in the preparation of a Retention Manual used by many judges seeking retention to elected office. “I am most appreciative of the confidence my colleagues from across the Commonwealth have bestowed in me today,” Judge Stallone said. “I look forward to continuing the important task of bringing a coordinated, comprehensive and flexible approach to helping trial judges meet local court needs.” Along with the Special Courts Judges Association and the Pennsylvania Association of Court Management, the Conference is one of just three groups sanctioned by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to provide continuing education for the courts. The Conference’s primary role is to help promote the efficient administration of justice by providing continuing judicial education through programs at meetings of its members and others interested in the profession of law and legal procedures. The Conference also cooperates with bar associations and law schools in promoting projects designed to improve the administration of law. “Although we do no lobbying, the officers work very hard, as part of the Unified Judicial System, at helping to keep the channels of communication open with the legislature, the governor and the Pennsylvania Bar Association,” Judge Stallone said. “We meet informally with their representatives two or three times a year to exchange ideas and share our mutual concerns.” The new president plans to spend the initial weeks of his term addressing organizational matters and coordinating the activities of the six sections and 12 committees that perform the day-to-day functions of the Conference. Judge Stallone also has been active in many civic and professional endeavors. He has served as president of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Home of Reading for 18 years, and as a promoter of the Columbus ’92 Celebration Commission that held 28 multi-cultural events in Berks County. Judge Stallone and his wife, Orpha, have four children and 10 grandchildren. The Judicial Services Department of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts plans, coordinates and administers staff support and court-related education for the Conference’s meetings