Pennsylvania Supreme Court prepares to eliminate 40 district judges
From Ballotpedia
February 27, 2012
Pennsylvania: The administrative arm of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts, is attempting to trim the fat of Magisterial District justices in order to cut costs. Currently, the president judges of counties across the state are being forced to evaluate their districts' caseloads and recommend where to reduce judges. They intend to eliminate forty judgeships, which means a 10% decrease in the number of magisterial district judges in only two years.[1]
Below is a glimpse at four county's proposed plans:
- Somerset County: President Judge John M. Cascio has offered a redistricting plan for Somerset County that does not reduce any judgeships based on high caseloads.[2]
- Erie County: In Erie, Ernest J. DiSantis, Jr. has recommended reducing the number of district judges by three. There are sixteen judges currently serving. Court Administrator Thomas Aaron said, "We didn't have any hidden agendas here. We just looked at what makes sense."[3]
- Luzerne County: The county intends to cut one seat, that of District 11-3-05. The seat is held by Gerald L. Feissner, who was re-elected last year after running unopposed. That district is one of the lowest for caseloads in the county.[4]
- Cambria County: President Judge Timothy P. Creany is planning to cut two out of ten seats through attrition. Two judges, Max F. Pavlovich and Charity L. Nileski plan to retire in December 2013, making the choice an easier one for Creany.[5]
Footnotes
- ↑ WITF.org, "For cost-cutting, state Judiciary looks to minor courts justices," February 24, 2012
- ↑ Daily American, "Judge proposes judicial redistricting plan," February 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ GoErie.com, "Erie County Court recommends closing 3 district courts," February 26, 2012
- ↑ StandardSpeaker.com, "Feissner could lose judge's seat in cost-cutting measure," February 21, 2012
- ↑ The Tribune Democrat, "Two Cambria district judge offices to be cut," February 9, 2012
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