News

Administrative Office Issues Citizen’s Guide to Pennsylvania’s Judiciary

August 22, 2001

HARRISBURG, August 22, 2001 — A new publication designed to help Pennsylvanians learn more about their state court system is being issued by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. “Pennsylvania’s Judicial System: A Citizen’s Guide” provides readers with a general overview of the Judiciary. The goal is to broadly educate Pennsylvanians about the resources, services and workings of their state court system. The first-of-its-kind brochure by Pennsylvania’s courts is the culmination of more than a year of research, organizing and writing about a diverse state court system that is one of the nation’s oldest. The full-color brochures have been distributed to each district court administrator for distribution within Pennsylvania’s 60 judicial districts. A committee made up of court administrators from around the state helped develop the eight-panel publication. In addition to the print version, the brochure also appears on the Pennsylvania Judiciary web site at: www.courts.state.pa.us. Sections of the new guide tell readers: · How the courts operate · What types of cases the courts handle · How the courts are organized · Where to get more detailed information about legal matters “The development of this brochure, coupled with ongoing advances to the Judiciary’s web site, underscores the continued commitment to enhancing public accessibility to the state court system,” said Court Administrator of Pennsylvania Zygmont A. Pines. “While every detail of our sometimes complex system cannot be included in one brochure, we hope that the public’s understanding of the Judiciary is enriched by this easyto- understand document. If it fulfills that arrangement, the public’s trust and confidence in the judicial system will be enhanced as well.” General information is provided for readers with questions about such things as jury service, marriage licenses, child support and how to get legal help. It is not intended to provide legal advice. The publication also provides an explanation of how the state courts are organized and what types of cases move through the system.