News
2008
List by Year
Redesigned Site Enhances Services for Pennsylvania Lawyers
HARRISBURG, Dec. 3, 2008 — The Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board has redesigned its Web site and expanded online services for lawyers....December 02
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, Nov. 20, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of the Michele A. Goldfarb, Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....November 19
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, Nov. 6, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Caroline Roberto, Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....November 15
Courts Make Contingency Plans for Election Day
HARRISBURG, October 28, 2008 – Pennsylvania courts are preparing, both at the county level and at the appellate level, to deal with any unusual volume of litigation that might result from next Tuesday's election....October 28
Supreme Court Makes Appointment to Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board
HARRISBURG, Oct. 28, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Douglas W. Leonard to the Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board....October 28
Supreme Court Appoints Mills McCarthy to Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, Oct. 24, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Carol S. Mills McCarthy, Esq. to the Domestic Relations Procedural Rules Committee....October 24
Statewide Jury List in Use for First Time AOPC Gives Expanded Jury Data to Pennsylvania Counties
HARRISBURG, October 1, 2008 - For the first time in Pennsylvania all counties in the Commonwealth today are being given names of potential jurors from a central statewide jury list compiled by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC)....October 01
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment To Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, Sept. 30, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of the Hon. Thomas P. Rogers to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....September 30
Superior Court Expands Mediation Program to Western Pennsylvania
HARRISBURG, September 30, 2008 - The Superior Court of Pennsylvania has expanded its successful appellate mediation program, operating for two years in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, to the court's Western District....September 30
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Reappointment to Rules of Evidence Committee
HARRISBURG, Sept. 25, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Bridget E. Montgomery, Esq., to the Rules of Evidence Committee....September 25
Web Address to Change Pennsylvania Courts Launch Redesigned Web Site
HARRISBURG, September 22, 2008 - The Pennsylvania court system today launched a completely redesigned Web site aimed at helping the legal profession, the media, law enforcement and, most of all, the public to easily access information from and about the courts....September 22
Design Contract Signed for New Philadelphia Family Court
PHILADELPHIA, September 17, 2008 - In a tangible step toward the creation of a new home for Philadelphia Family Court, a contract has been signed for initial design work on a high-rise courthouse at 15th and Arch Streets....September 17
PA Supreme Court to Hold Child Dependency Training Sessions15 Counties Join Court’s Initiative to Improve Lives of Dependent Children
HARRISBURG, Sept. 2, 2008 – As part of a statewide initiative to improve the lives of dependent children, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania will hold three training sessions featuring Kevin Campbell – a nationally known youth permanency expert and creator of Family Finding, a strategy aimed at finding lost or forgotten individuals willing to provide lifelong support for abused and neglected children....September 02
Media Advisory Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness
HARRISBURG, Aug. 25, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s Interbranch Commission for Gender, Racial and Ethnic Fairness will present its third annual report to the public at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 11, at the Rachel Carson Office Building Auditorium, 400 Market St., in Harrisburg. Your coverage is invited....August 25
PA Supreme Court Continues Efforts to Improve Court Security Video Arraignment of Criminal Defendants to Expand
HARRISBURG, July 16, 2008 – While being transported to or from court proceedings, criminal defendants can be combative and occasionally make desperate attempts to flee, jeopardizing the safety of law enforcement officers, judges, court staff and the public....July 16
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Amends Policy to Broaden Public Access to Financial Records
HARRISBURG, June 23, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is expanding the scope of its policy governing public access to the financial records of the Unified Judicial System to reflect changes in the state’s recently passed Right to Know Law....June 23
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, June 16, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of William F. Manifesto, Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee....June 16
Judges and Administrators Discuss Ways to Elevate Court Services in Their Communities
HARRISBURG, June 12, 2008 — More than 200 judges and district court administrators from around the Commonwealth convened in State College last week to discuss how to build even more public trust and confidence in Pennsylvania’s Judiciary by enhancing relationships with each other and the communities they serve....June 12
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment to Board of Law Examiners
HARRISBURG, May 30, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Stuart W. Davidson, Esq., to the Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners....May 30
Magisterial District Judge Appointedto Minor Court Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, May 22, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Magisterial District Judge Mary Paulette Murray to the Minor Court Rules Committee....May 22
Lawsuit: League of Women Voters Statement from Chief
HARRISBURG, May 20, 2008 — Please find below a statement issued today by Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille regarding a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters:...May 20
Statement by Chief Justice Cappy(Retired)
HARRISBURG, May 20, 2008 — Please find below a statement issued today by Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Retired Ralph J. Cappy in response to a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters:...May 20
Statement of Chief Justice Castille for Juror Appreciation Week
HARRISBURG, May 5, 2008 - Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille today expressed appreciation to the estimated 200,000 citizens who appeared for jury duty at county courthouses across the Commonwealth during the past year....May 05
Report Issued on the “State of the Commonwealth’s Courts”
HARRISBURG, May 1, 2008 - Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille today issued a report on the State of the Commonwealth’s Courts for 2008 outlining goals and discussing highlights of the past year....May 01
New Video on the Court System Introduced by AOPC
HARRISBURG, April 29, 2008 - Under the sponsorship of the Supreme Court, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has created a 15-minute video that explains how the Pennsylvania courts are organized and why they are important to individual freedom in a democracy....April 29
Thomas A. Placey Appointed to Minor Court Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, April 29, 2005 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Magisterial District Judge Thomas A. Placey to the Minor Court Rules Committee....April 29
National Forum Set
HARRISBURG, April 28, 2008 - The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges are sponsoring a three-day National Forum on Children, Families and the Courts this week from Wednesday to Friday in Philadelphia....April 28
National Forum Set
HARRISBURG, April 28, 2008 - The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania and the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges are sponsoring a three-day National Forum on Children, Families and the Courts this week from Wednesday to Friday in Philadelphia....April 28
PA Supreme Court Working to Help Abused and Neglected Children Washington County First in State to Implement ChildDependency Data Tracking
HARRISBURG, April 24, 2008 — The state Supreme Court today announced that the Washington County Common Pleas Court was the first to begin detailed tracking of dependency cases as part of a statewide effort to make Pennsylvania’s courts more responsive to the needs of children and families and to reduce the time abused and neglected children spend in foster homes....April 24
Latest Medical Malpractice Data Shows Continued Decline inNumber of Cases and Verdicts
HARRISBURG, April 14, 2008 - Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille today announced the release of state court system data on medical malpractice case filings and verdicts for 2007 that show a further decline in the number of lawsuits filed statewide....April 14
AOPC Seeks Input on Public Access Policy for Magisterial District Court Case
HARRISBURG, March 31, 2008 – The AOPC is seeking comment on a proposed public access policy concerning official paper case records of the magisterial district courts....March 31
Magisterial District Judges Reappointedto Minor Court Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, March 26, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the reappointment of Magisterial District Judges M. Kay DuBree and Thomas A. Placey to the Minor Court Rules Committee....March 26
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Changes Rulesto Require Parental Notification
HARRISBURG, March 13, 2008 — Parents must be notified when their child is directed to appear for a court proceeding under a new order issued by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania....March 13
Supreme Court Announces Appointments to Orphans’ Court Rules Committee
HARRISBURG, March 4, 2008 — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointments of the Hon. Anne E. Lazarus and Neil E. Hendershot, Esq., to the Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules Committee....March 03
Chief Justice Asks Prompt Confirmation of Court Nominees
HARRISBURG, February 13, 2008 - Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille has urged the Senate to act as quickly as possible to confirm four nominees named by the governor to fill vacancies on the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth courts....February 12
Re: Appellate Judicial Vacancies Chief Letter to Scarnati
Dear Senator Scarnati: Governor Edward G. Rendell has forwarded to the Pennsylvania Senate the names of four nominees to fill vacancies on the Supreme Court, the Superior Court, and the Commonwealth Court. I urge the Senate to prioritize the confirmation process in light of the need to fill these vacancies so that the orderly and timely disposition of the important matters that come before these Courts, and especially the matters that come before the Supreme Court, can continue with as little delay as possible....February 10
Collaborative Effort Yields Benchbook on Crimes of Sexual Violence
HARRISBURG, PA, January 9, 2008 – A comprehensive reference guide, sponsored by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, and designed to help prepare judges for the complex and everchanging criminal justice issues surrounding sexual violence is being released today in Allegheny County. The Sexual Violence Benchbook will eventually be distributed to all trial judges Pennsylvania....January 08