News
2004
List by Year
State Assesses County Court Security; Plans Upgrades
HARRISBURG, December 28, 2004 — After an 18-month effort and with significant support from the Commonwealth’s counties, Pennsylvania’s Judiciary has fashioned the framework for security enhancements in the state court system for the public, litigants, staff and jurists....December 27
Med Mal Rules’ Changes to Further Improve Data Collection
HARRISBURG, December 27, 2004 — A change in descriptive wording required by Pennsylvania’s Civil Procedural Rules of Court will help to more readily identify medical malpractice cases. The change is contained in an Order issued today by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. It outlines new filing requirements in certain civil actions to enhance the collection and accuracy of data in medical professional liability cases. Those new requirements will further improve the judiciary’s ability to analyze statistical data regarding med-mal cases so that state policy makers can better understand relevant med-mal issues....December 26
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Officers on Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, December 23, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the designation of chair and vice chair of the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....December 22
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Appoints Two to the Continuing Legal Education Board
HARRISBURG, December 22, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of two new members to the Continuing Legal Education Board....December 21
Pittsburgh Court Consolidation to Boost Judicial Efficiencies and Effectiveness
HARRISBURG, December 2, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy announced today that Pittsburgh Magistrates Court will be merged into the statewide district justice system after a two-year study of the idea’s feasibility....December 01
Court Announces Civil Rules Amendment to Clarify Med-Mal Litigation Procedure
HARRISBURG, December 1, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced a change to the statewide Rules of Civil Procedure regarding jury instructions in medical malpractice cases involving noneconomic damages for bodily injury or death....November 30
Murray to Retire after 41 Years in Service to Lackawanna County Courts
HARRISBURG, November 24, 2004 — William Murray, Lackawanna County District Court Administrator, will retire in January after 41 years of service to the local and state court systems....November 23
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, November 18, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Cynthia K. Stoltz, Esq., to the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee....November 17
Aviles joins AOPC; will enhance translation services through certification/training
HARRISBURG, October 26, 2004 — Court Administrator of Pennsylvania Zygmont A. Pines announced today that Osvaldo R. Aviles has been named to the newly created position of Interpreter Programs Administrator within the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts to enhance translator services in Pennsylvania’s courts for a growing non-English speaking population....October 26
James J. Koval Joins AOPC Communications/Legislative Staff
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)....October 19
U.S. Supreme Court Appoints Chief Justice Cappy to Federal Judicial Conference Committee
HARRISBURG, September 30, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy has been appointed to the United States Judicial Conference Committee on Federal-State Jurisdiction by U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist....September 30
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointments to Rules of Evidence Committee
HARRISBURG, September 27, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of two new members to the Rules of Evidence Committee....September 30
Supreme Court Adopts Rules Governing Reduction of Awards
HARRISBURG, September 20, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced new civil procedural rules changes governing certain damage awards as part of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s continued effort to address concerns over medical malpractice litigation....September 20
Med Mal Seminars Planned for Pennsylvania’s Trial Court Judges
HARRISBURG, September 15, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy announced today that continuing legal educational seminars on handling medical malpractice cases will be held next month for trial judges....September 15
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, September 14, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Charles J. Grant, Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....September 14
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Board of Law Examiners
HARRISBURG, September 2, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Patti Bednarik, Esq., to the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners....September 02
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointments to Lawyers Trust Account Board
HARRISBURG, August 24, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of William P. Carlucci, Esq. and Michael H. Reed, Esq. to the Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Board....August 24
Court Announces Rules Changesin Med-Mal Litigation
HARRISBURG, Aug. 23, 2004 – Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced that the state Supreme Court has updated a series of professional conduct rules to better serve and protect clients receiving legal services in the Commonwealth and the lawyers who represent them....August 23
Court Announces Rules Changesin Med-Mal Litigation
HARRISBURG, August 20, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced three changes to the state’s Rules of Civil Procedure governing aspects of medical malpractice litigation. These changes join three earlier civil rules’ changes or additions with respect to med-mal issues, dating back as far as March, 2003....August 23
Court Announces Rules Changes in Med-Mal Litigation
HARRISBURG, August 20, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced three changes to the state’s Rules of Civil Procedure governing aspects of medical malpractice litigation. These changes join three earlier civil rules’ changes or additions with respect to med-mal issues, dating back as far as March, 2003....August 20
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Civil Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, July 29, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of C. Lee Anderson, Esq., to the Civil Procedural Rules Committee....July 29
One-stop shop for court ‘med-mal’ info created
HARRISBURG, July 28, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced that state court rules, court-generated statistics and related information regarding medical malpractice litigation are now located on the state Judiciary Web site: www.courts.state.pa.us...July 28
Commonwealth Court Mediation Program Marks Successful Milestone
PHILADELPHIA, June 24, 2004 – Commonwealth Court’s Mediation Program marked a milestone this June, when its 500th case was successfully resolved by litigants through mediation, without resort to a court decision. The Court’s mediation program began in January 2000 as a pilot program, and continues today....June 24
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Changes on Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, June 21, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of two new members, and other organizational changes, to the Appellate Court Procedural Rules Committee....June 24
Capital case attorneys to require Pennsylvania certification
HARRISBURG, June 4, 2004 — Minimum qualification standards will be required of all attorneys representing defendants in Pennsylvania who may be subject to the death penalty, based on a new rule promulgated by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy announced the rule today, noting that it will foster greater public confidence in the justice system by better ensuring that defendants in capital cases are fairly and effectively represented....June 04
Pennsylvania Supreme Court announces changes to the Lawyers Fund for Client Security Board
HARRISBURG, April 5, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Morris M. Shuster, Esq., to the Lawyers Fund for Client Security Board together with other organizational changes....April 05
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Disciplinary Board Changes
HARRISBURG, March 30, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of a new member to the Disciplinary Board and other organizational changes....March 29
Rules changes promote mediation,streamline case processing
HARRISBURG, March 29, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced the implementation of a series of new civil procedural rules that address pretrial procedures in medical professional liability actions and further unify the handling of such cases....March 28
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointments to the Board of Law Examiners
HARRISBURG, March 22, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of two new members to the Board of Law Examiners and other organizational changes....March 21
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Favorable Trends from Preliminary Data
HARRISBURG, March 18, 2004 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today released preliminary data regarding medical malpractice case filings and verdicts, further fulfilling a commitment for swift intergovernmental collaboration on liability reform....March 17
Pennsylvania courts seek funding for education, security and “fairness” initiatives
HARRISBURG, February 26, 2004 — Members of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will outline today at legislative budget hearings three low-cost, yet significant, initiatives that will strengthen and secure the Commonwealth’s courts....February 25
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Changes on Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, February 3, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of two new members to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....February 02
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Changes on the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, January 29, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of one new member to the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee, and the reappointment of two current members....January 28
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Changes on Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, January 14, 2004 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced organizational changes to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....January 13