News

2006

List by Year

Supreme Court Reappoints Members to Continuing Legal Education Board

HARRISBURG, Dec. 19, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointments of three people to the Continuing Legal Education Board....

December 18

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Rules of Evidence Committee

HARRISBURG, Dec. 5, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Kelly M. Sekula, Esq., to the Rules of Evidence Committee....

December 04

Chair Designated; Member Reappointed on Continuing Legal Education Board

HARRISBURG, Dec. 4, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Abraham C. Reich, Esq., to the Continuing Legal Education Board....

December 03

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Approves New Electronic Public Access Policy

HARRISBURG, November 30, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced a new Public Access Policy Governing Electronic Case Records of the Unified Judicial System. The policy standardizes the availability of computer-generated case information while safeguarding the safety and privacy of citizens....

November 29

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Announces Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board Appointment

HARRISBURG, November 13, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Charlotte S. Jefferies, Esq., to the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board....

November 12

New Office of Children and Families in the Courts Created by Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

HARRISBURG, October 19, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the creation of a new Office of Children and Families in the Courts, which initially will work with county family courts and child welfare officials to speed the placement into permanent homes of thousands of abused and neglected children. More than 20,000 such children throughout the state now live in foster care and other temporary residential settings....

October 19

New Orphans’ Court Forms Adopted by Pennsylvania Supreme Court

HARRISBURG, October 16, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today adopted new rules for standardized forms for use in estate, trust and guardianship matters to make them easier to use and more accessible to lawyers and citizens across the Commonwealth....

October 16

Superior Court of Pennsylvania Establishes Appellate Mediation Program

HARRISBURG, October 6, 2006 — The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has established an appellate mediation program to provide litigants with a prompt, effective, alternative means of creatively resolving disputes without many of the expenses associated with litigation....

October 06

Supreme Court appoints two judges to Minor Court Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, October 3, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Magisterial District Judges Mark A. Bruno and Blaise P. Larotonda to the Minor Court Rules Committee....

October 03

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Designates Chair and Vice Chair on Rules of Evidence Committee

HARRISBURG, September 27, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the designation of Sandra D. Jordan as chair, and Bridget E. Montgomery, Esq., as vice chair, of the Rules of Evidence Committee....

September 27

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Announces Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board Reappointment

HARRISBURG, Sept. 11, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Francis X. O’Connor, Esq., to the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board....

September 11

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Reappointments to Lawyers Trust Account Board

HARRISBURG, September 7, 2005 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Hubert X. Gilroy, Esq., and Maureen P. Kelly, Esq., to the Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) Board....

September 07

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Appoints Klett to the Judicial Conduct Board

HARRISBURG, September 5, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has announced the appointment of Edwin L. Klett, Esq., to the Judicial Conduct Board....

September 05

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Appoints Streib to the Court of Judicial Discipline

HARRISBURG, September 5, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has announced the appointment of the Hon. Kelley T.D. Streib to the Court of Judicial Discipline....

September 05

New Statewide Rules Issued to Standardize Foreign Adoption Registration Procedures

HARRISBURG, August 30, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today issued new rules to assist parents who adopt a child from a foreign nation by standardizing procedures to complete the adoption registration process in the Commonwealth’s 67 counties....

August 30

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Appoints Sheetz to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, August 29, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Richard A. Sheetz Jr., Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....

August 29

New Rules Adopted for Juvenile Court Casest o Aid Dependent Children and Families

HARRISBURG, August 21, 2006 — The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has adopted new statewide rules for juvenile courts that uniformly will apply procedures for the first time to all phases of dependency cases that enter the state court system....

August 21

Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System Launches New Online Resource

HARRISBURG, August 9, 2006 — In an effort to provide the public with more information about the courts and the judiciary, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has introduced a new feature on the Web page of the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (www.courts.state.pa.us) to replace the former "FAQ" section....

August 09

Judge M. Kay DuBree Designated Chair of Minor Court Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, August 7, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the designation of Magisterial District Judge M. Kay DuBree as chair of the Minor Court Rules Committee....

August 07

Supreme Court Makes Reappointment to Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, June 23, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Mark B. Dischell, Esq., to the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee...

June 23

State Judiciary Upgrades Magistrates’ Security; Enhancements ‘Cool’ Tempers, Avoid Incidents

HARRISBURG, June 14, 2006 - Five hundred fifty-three magisterial district courts, central booking and night court facilities in Pennsylvania have been equipped with electronic security measures, a major step in better securing those courts, state Supreme Court Justice Sandra Schultz Newman announced today. The total project, which includes the installation of shatterproof safety glass and better restraints for in-custody defendants, will be completed under its original $4.4 million price tag....

June 14

Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness Commission to Issue First Annual Report This Week in Pittsburgh

HARRISBURG, June 13, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness will present its first annual report to the public at 2:30 p.m. Thursday (June 15) at the Sheraton Station Square in Pittsburgh....

June 13

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, June 5, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Risa Vetri Ferman, Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....

June 05

Continuing Legal Education Board Changes Rules to Assist Lawyers Returning from Military Duty

HARRISBURG, June 2, 2006 – The Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Board today announced a regulation change to assist lawyers returning from military service with CLE requirements....

June 02

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Reappoints McBride to the Lawyers Fund for Client Security Board

HARRISBURG, June 2, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Maureen Murphy McBride, Esq., to the Lawyers Fund for Client Security Board....

June 02

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Adopts New Procedural Rules to Address Changes to PFA Law

HARRISBURG, May 2, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today issued new rules to guide implementation of the new Protection From Abuse Act, Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy has announced....

May 02

State of the Commonwealth’s Courts’ Highlights Challenges, Solutions, and Triumphs

HARRISBURG, May 1, 2006 — Pennsylvania’s courts are strong and prepared to meet future challenges, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy declared today. The Chief Justice’s statement is contained in Looking to the Future: The State of the Commonwealth’s Courts, the first “state of the judiciary” report released in more than 20 years by a chief justice....

May 01

Latest Medical Malpractice Data Shows Sustained Decline in Case Filings

HARRISBURG, April 25, 2006 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today announced the release of state court system data on medical malpractice case filings and verdicts for 2005 that show a sustained decline in the number of med mal lawsuits filed statewide....

April 25

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Reappointment to Rules of Evidence Committee

HARRISBURG, April 19, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Syndi L. Guido, Esq., to the Rules of Evidence Committee....

April 19

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Lauds Importance of Role Jurors Play in our Democracy

HARRISBURG, April 17, 2006 — Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy today praised Pennsylvanians who have served as jurors for their work and support of one of the most fundamental and vital aspects of the American justice system....

April 17

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Announces Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board Reappointments

HARRISBURG, March 27, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointments of Gary G. Gentile, Esq., and Smith B. Gephart, Esq., to the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board....

March 26

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Reappointment to Board of Law Examiners

HARRISBURG, March 20, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of William R. Sasso, Esq., to the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners....

March 19

Superior Court of Pennsylvania Appoints Bramblett as Prothonotary

HARRISBURG, February 24, 2006 — The Superior Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Karen Reid Bramblett, Esq., as its prothonotary....

February 23

Baer Appointed to Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board

HARRISBURG, February 23, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Mark S. Baer to the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board....

February 22

Supreme Court Makes Appointment to Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, Feb. 22, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of the Hon. Anthony G. Marsili to the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee....

February 21

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Juvenile Court Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, February 15, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of George D. Mosee Jr., Esq., to the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee....

February 14

Media Advisory Judicial Conduct Board

HARRISBURG, February 13, 2006 — The Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania today announced its unanimous dismissal of a complaint against Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ralph J. Cappy filed by Gene Stilp....

February 12

Public Hearing Set to Gather Further Input on Proposed Court Records Public Access Policy

HARRISBURG, February 10, 2006 — Ongoing efforts by Pennsylvania’s unified court system to gather citizen input about access to electronic case records continues with a public hearing scheduled for next month....

February 09

Supreme Court Makes Appointment to Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, Feb. 2, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Carol A. Behers, Esq., to the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee....

February 01

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Rules of Evidence Committe

HARRISBURG, January 31, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Bridget E. Montgomery, Esq., to the Rules of Evidence Committee....

January 30

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, Jan. 30, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Daniel E. Fitzsimmons, Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....

January 29

Supreme Court Makes Appointments to Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, Jan. 24, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointments of the Hon. Kim Berkeley Clark and the Hon. Kevin M. Dougherty to the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee....

January 23

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Reappointment of Juvenile Court Rules Committee Members

HARRISBURG, January 23, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of two members of the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee....

January 22

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee

HARRISBURG, January 20, 2006 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of John Patrick Delaney Jr., Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....

January 19