Here is the text we could read:
Official newsletter of the
Pennsylvania Judicial System
Issue 3, 2022
In this issue
Read about the Court’s recently-established Judicial Ethics Advisory
Board that will begin rendering advice in July, a department spotlight
on Research and Statistics, various judicial conferences and trainings
attended by AOPC and court staff, county court highlights and more.
1
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
celebrates 300th Anniversary
A series of events held in
Philadelphia on May 18 - May
20 commemorated the 300th
anniversary of the Supreme Court of
Pennsylvania.
The Judiciary Act of May 22, 1722
permanently created the Supreme
Court as the highest court of the
Commonwealth, predating the
United States Supreme Court by
some seventy years and serving as a
model for that later court.
The Supreme Court conducted its
May oral argument session on May
18 in Philadelphia’s Old City Hall,
where the Court held sessions in its
early days. The historic session was
livestreamed and available to the
public.
On May 19 and 20, a symposium
was held at the National Constitution
Center in Philadelphia, with speakers
that included US Supreme Court
Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy,
federal judges from the Third Circuit
Court of Appeals, the Chief Justices
of the Pennsylvania, Ohio, South
Carolina and Rhode Island Supreme
Court, other Pennsylvania Justices,
law professors from ten different law
schools, historians and lawyers.
The symposium covered an arc
beginning with the Pennsylvania
Supreme Court’s history and how the
Court’s decisions are interwoven with
the history of the Commonwealth,
how state courts interact with
one another and with the federal
court system, the decision-making
processes of state supreme
2
courts, and the administration of
Pennsylvania’s statewide judicial
system and its impact on the lives of
Pennsylvania citizens.
The symposium sessions were again
publicly available via livestream,
and were also available to judges
and lawyers for continuing education
purposes.
The preparation for the 300th
anniversary also included updating
a pamphlet history about the
Supreme Court and the Pennsylvania
judicial system, creating and posting
biographical materials about current
and former Supreme Court justices,
and ongoing work to identify and
preserve court artifacts for future
generations. Materials be accessed
on the Supreme300 webpage.
Pa. Supreme Court Establishes New Judicial Ethics Advisory Board
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania recently announced
the creation and membership of a new judicial ethics
advisory board to ensure the continued integrity and
public trust of the state’s judiciary.
Established by a Court Order issued in January, the
Judicial Ethics Advisory Board (JEAB) is charged with
rendering advisory opinions concerning proper conduct
under the Code of Judicial Conduct and the Rules
Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District
Judges.
Brian D. Jacisin as the Board’s
The Court appointed Brian D. Jacisin
executive director, and later announced its membership.
Prior to his appointment, Jacisin served for nearly 16
years as legal counsel to the Pennsylvania State Ethics
Commission – most recently as its chief counsel.
The Board’s inaugural members will include:
• Hon. Victor P. Stabile
Victor P. Stabile, Judge of the Superior Court of
Pennsylvania
• Hon. Lori A. Dumas
of Pennsylvania
Lori A. Dumas, Judge of the Commonwealth Court
• Hon. Stephen P. B. Minor
Stephen P. B. Minor, President Judge of the Court
of Common Pleas, Potter County
• Hon. Edward D. Reibman
Edward D. Reibman, Senior Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas, Lehigh County
• Hon. Linda Rovder Fleming
Linda Rovder Fleming, Judge of the Court of
Common Pleas, Cambria County
• Hon. Patrick F. Dugan
Patrick F. Dugan, President Judge of the
Philadelphia Municipal Court
• Hon. David J. Barton
David J. Barton, Judge of the Allegheny County
Magisterial District Court
• Hon. Jennifer J. Patton Clancy
Jennifer J. Patton Clancy, Judge of the York
County Magisterial District Court
• Jayne F. Duncan, Esquire, Lancaster County
“A single board, with broader representation, adequate
staff, and well-trained members will provide not only
prompt and reliable advice to judges and judicial
candidates, but also an accessible database of advisory
opinions and general guidance which can be referenced
and followed moving forward,” said Pennsylvania
Max Baer.
Supreme Court Chief Justice Max Baer
“The Court appreciates the valuable work performed
by the judges who have served on the Special Court
Judges Association of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania
Conference of State Trial Judges Ethics Committees, and
we are confident that the JEAB will build on that history to
provide continued support for judges statewide.”
The JEAB rules will provide for certain protections, known
as the “rule of reliance,” where judges request and follow
JEAB ethics advice. The Board will start rendering advice
and guidance beginning July 1 when those provisions go
into effect, replacing the current committees and rules of
reliance.
(l to r) Front row: President
Judge Stephen Minor
Stephen Minor,
Judge Linda Rovder
Linda Rovder
Fleming.
Fleming
Back row: Judge Victor
Judge Victor
Edward
Stabile
Stabile, Judge Edward
Lori
Reibman, Judge Lori
Reibman
Dumas, Jayne Duncan,
Dumas
Judge Jennifer Clancy
Jennifer Clancy,
Judge Patrick Dugan
Patrick Dugan,
David Barton.
Judge David Barton
Not pictured: Brian Jacisin.
3
Pa Superior Court holds
special historical program
Luzerne County President Judge Michael T. Vough
On June 22, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania held
a special ceremony reflecting on the origins and
history of the Court.
The ceremony took place in the Luzerne County
Courthouse and paid special tribute to the Court’s
first President Judge, Honorable Charles E. Rice (1895
– 1915) – a trial judge from Luzerne County.
Led by Superior Court President Judge Jack A.
Jack A.
Panella, speakers included Luzerne County President
Panella
Judge Michael T. Vough
Michael T. Vough and President Judge
Emeritus Correale F. Stevens
Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society and past and
present leadership from the Wilkes Barre Law &
Library Association, speaking on behalf of members
of the Luzerne County Bar Association.
Correale F. Stevens, the president of the
more information
For more information about the Superior Court, visit
http://www.pacourts.us/courts/superior-court/ or the
website of the Superior Court Historical Society at
https://www.superiorcourthistory.org/.
Superior Court
President
Judge Emeritus
Correale
Correale
F. Stevens,
F. Stevens
Judge Daniel
Daniel
McCaffery
McCaffery,
President
Judge Jack ack
Panella, Judge
Panella
Megan King
Megan King,
Judge Maria
Maria
McLaughlin
McLaughlin,
President
Judge Emeritus
John Bender
John Bender
and Judge
Victor Stabile.
Victor Stabile
4
Minor Judiciary Education Board pictured. (Front row, l to r) Deborah Gross, Esq., Hon. Karen Eisner Zucker
Fran Fencel
Fran Fencel, Hon. Richard King
Nick Wachinski, Esq., Stephen Feiler
Richard King, Andy Simpson
Stephen Feiler, PhD.
Andy Simpson. (Back row, l to r) Darren Breslin, Esq.
Darren Breslin, Esq., Kimberly Booth, Hon. Douglas Bell
Douglas Bell,
Karen Eisner Zucker, Hon. Denise Snyder Thiel
Denise Snyder Thiel,
AOPC Attends National Judicial College Workshop
At the end of April, representatives from the Pennsylvania
Courts and others attended the National Judicial
College’s two-day workshop focused on course and
faculty development.
Hearing from experienced educators and industry
leaders, the AOPC’s Judicial Education department, along
with members of the Pennsylvania Conference of State
Trial Judges Education Committee and the Minor Judiciary
Education Board, participated in the training.
Attendees left with some valuable takeaways and a
more advanced understanding about adult learning
theory, drafting learning objectives, designing courses
and incorporating learning activities into educational
programs for the Pennsylvania Judiciary.
Classrooms vs. Courtrooms
By Emma Cantor, AOPC Communications intern
In May, Washington County
Magisterial District Judge (MDJ)
John Bruner
John Bruner presented his program,
Classrooms vs. Courtrooms, to
elementary and middle school
students in McGuffey School
District.
The program has three goals: 1.)
promote constitutional education,
2.) increase knowledge about the
judicial branch of government
and 3.) encourage good student
behavior.
Specifically focused on these
goals, MDJ Bruner aims to remind
students about the importance
of national holidays and learning
about our country’s history
by including lessons about
recognitions such as Memorial and
Independence Day.
Moreover, he discusses vaping,
truancy and impulse control in an
effort to promote positive student
behavior and prevent bad habits
from forming at a young age.
“Educating a child about bad
school behaviors in their classroom
versus rendering a decision
against them in our courtroom –
that here is the focus. Students
belong inside classrooms, not
courtrooms. This education piece
also promotes constitutional
and civics education which is
so important to their growth as
American citizens,”
MDJ Bruner explained.
5
New Court Administrator Class of 2022
In May, new county court administrators
across the state gathered at the
Pennsylvania Judicial Center to learn
about their responsibilities and benefit
from each other’s knowledge and
experience.
While specific tasks and circumstances
vary for each judicial district, the
primary responsibilities begin at the
core of court administration with
caseflow and workflow management.
Led by seasoned court administrators
and AOPC staff, presentations
on leadership, human resource
management and relationship building
with key stakeholders (i.e., president
judges, county executives, court staff
etc.) were well received.
Laurie Sacerdote (Montgomery), Rick Pierce
Julianne Zaleski (Lackawanna), Tricia Sorg
Tricia Norwood-Foden (Chester), Nicole Collins
Darlene Miller (Philadelphia), Joe Mittleman
Left to right: Laurie Sacerdote
(Susquehanna), Julianne Zaleski
(Clinton), Tricia Norwood-Foden
(Lancaster), Darlene Miller
Burchfield (Mifflin), Mary Timpany
Burchfield
SikoSiko (Philadelphia), Barbara Bosar
Roseanne Unger (Philadelphia)
Roseanne Unger
Kristen Edwards
Rick Pierce, Kristen Edwards
Tricia Sorg (Allegheny), Kayla Kahler
Kayla Kahler
Michelle Miller
Nicole Collins (Cambria), Michelle Miller
Joe Mittleman, Christine Stuck
Rachel
Christine Stuck (Mifflin), Rachel
Mary Timpany (Schuylkill), Cathleen Lythgoe
Barbara Bosar (Blair), Chris Waters
Stephanie
Cathleen Lythgoe (Blair), Stephanie
Christy Beane,
Chris Waters (Philadelphia), Christy Beane
The training also provided guidance
on issues surrounding court security,
right-to-know/public access, language
access and other essential components
of court operations and personnel
management.
Cat comes to court
In May, Delaware County court staff spotted a cat hanging
around the building, a little too close to the street. They brought
her in, and ran to the store to get food, litter and a toy for her.
Meanwhile, a constable with some excellent investigation skills
went looking for her humans, and a while after having lunch, a lot
Lee Grimes’
of playtime with her new toy, and a nice nap in Judge Lee Grimes’
arms, she was picked up by her humans who said her name was
Sky.
Thank you to all the court staff and the constable who made
Sky’s field trip to the court a huge success!
New Court Access Coordinator
Court Access Coordinator Marisa Lehr
Mary Vilter, who retired at the end of April following 16 years of service with
the AOPC.
Marisa Lehr joined the AOPC in May, replacing
Marisa has substantial previous experience serving the Commonwealth – both as
deputy attorney general for the Litigation Section of the Civil Law Division and as
deputy general counsel for the Governor’s Office of General Counsel.
Marisa’s office is located on the 6th floor of the Pennsylvania Judicial Center
and staff are encouraged to reach out with any questions or concerns regarding
language access or disability/ADA access in the judiciary.
Marisa Lehr
6
Editors
Stacey Witalec
Kim Bathgate
Writer
Casey Scheffler
Contributors
Patti Campbell
Rhonda Hocker
Stephen Baldwin
Graphic Design
Gretchen Smith
Photography
Kyle Kauffman
Court Administrator of PA
Geoff Moulton
Deputy Court Administrator of PA
Andrea B. Tuominen
All content is collected, written
and edited by the AOPC
Communications Office
unless noted.
You may reach the office
by calling: (717) 231-3300
or by emailing:
CommunicationsOffice@pacourts.us
For more information about
Pennsylvania’s courts, visit:
www.pacourts.us
Twitter @PACourts
Facebook @pennsylvaniacourts
YouTube @PACourts
Instagram @pennsylvaniacourts
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Max Baer
Chief Justice of Pennsylvania
Debra Todd
Justice
Christine Donohue
Justice
Kevin M. Dougherty
Justice
David N. Wecht
Justice
Sallie Updyke Mundy
Justice
P. Kevin Brobson
Justice
Emma Cantor
Joseph Crowley
Brandon Shepherd
AOPC Welcomes
New Interns
The AOPC Legal and Communications Departments have both recently
welcomed new interns who will have the opportunity to learn firsthand about
the judiciary while gaining valuable experience working in state government
and their fields of interest.
Meet the Interns
Joseph M. Crowley
Joseph M. Crowley and Brandon Shepherd
Penn State Dickinson School of Law and are expected to receive their Juris
Doctor degrees in May 2024.
Brandon Shepherd are first-year law students at
Joseph graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Colorado State
University in May 2021, while Brandon obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree
from Western Illinois University in July 2020.
Joseph and Brandon will be interning with the AOPC/Legal department from
May 2022 to May 2023 and will be responsible for providing administrative
and legal support services to the deputy chief counsel, as well as the deputy
court administrator’s office.
Emma Cantor
Emma Cantor is a first-year undergraduate student at James Madison
University, where she studies Communications and Political Science working
towards her Bachelor of Science degree and previously worked as a pro-
bono intern with Mid-Penn Legal Services in Harrisburg.
Emma will help support AOPC/Communications office’s internal and external
outreach efforts, including social media, the development of press materials
and the AOPConnected newsletter.
Please join us in welcoming them to the AOPC!
7
PJ/PACM Conference
June 12-14, 2022
Lisa Siciliano – Regional Director, Mark Singer
Paul Hindmarsh – Regional Director, Heidi Shiderly
Mark Singer – Past President, Carolynn Perry
Carolynn Perry – President, Mary Wilt
Mary Wilt – Secretary.
Heidi Shiderly – Vice President, Lauren Harbison
Lauren Harbison –Regional Director, Patrick Grimm
Patrick Grimm –
Front (l to r) Lisa Siciliano
Back (l to r) Paul Hindmarsh
Regional Director, Amy DeMatt
Not pictured: Angharad Stock
Amy DeMatt – President Elect, Christy Donofrio
Christy Donofrio – Treasurer.
Angharad Stock and Bobby Sisock
Bobby Sisock – Regional Directors
2nd Annual Lebanon
County Veterans Court
softball tournament
To complete the community service project that is required of all
Lebanon County Veterans Court participants to graduate from the
program, one participant organized a softball tournament involving
veterans courts in neighboring counties (Berks, Dauphin, Lancaster
and York). While Lebanon County met Lancaster County in the
championship last summer, Lancaster County walked away the victor.
The tournament was such a success that it is now an annual event
where families and friends are welcome to attend.
8
D E PA R T M E N T S P OT L I G H T:
Research and Statistics
AOPC’s Department of Research & Statistics provides statewide statistical measures
of court caseloads, programs and operations.
l to r: Kim Nieves
Kim Nieves, Amanda Pereira
Amanda Pereira, Yan Liu
Andrew Ginder
Yan Liu, Andrew Ginder
The Research team collects data from various court divisions
in the judicial districts and AOPC’s own automated case
management systems to publish monthly and annual reports.
Each year, the Annual Caseload Statistics of the Unified Judicial
System (UJS) are published as the official measure of state court
operations. These figures are provided to legislators, the media,
academic study initiatives, national data repositories and the
public on the Pa. Courts website and its interactive dashboards.
In the interim, timely caseflow data by counties are updated
monthly online via the Caseload Highlights Report.
Another significant role of the department is to coordinate
and conduct studies that help inform policy and practice
improvements to the administration of justice.
In addition to original research, the Research team also conducts
statewide surveys, provides data collection and analysis, and
builds infographics such as charts, graphs, maps and interactive
dashboards to supplement the work of various work groups and
committees.
9
Achieving Procedural Justice
in the Virtual World
By Rick Pierce, AOPC Judicial Programs administrator
Every court user has two “needs” that come with
expectations of our courts. The first need is what Mark
Moore, Harvard University professor and author of the
book “Recognizing Public Value” calls the human need –
or how one desires to be greeted and treated while doing
business with the court.
Moore calls the second need the “business need,” or
addressing why they came to court. Each need comes
with expectations the court user has of the court and its
employees. Every day courts grapple with meeting both
needs of every court user in a satisfactory manner. This
process is called procedural fairness or procedural justice.
is not able to have physical access to the court facility.
Virtual hearings provide opportunities for access to justice
for all. The convenience of participating somewhere
besides the confines of a courtroom meant the court may
conduct its business anywhere.
Still, courts must continue to address barriers to access to
justice such as the court’s acceptance and comprehension
that the virtual courtroom may be a litigant’s living room,
or kitchen with other household members who may or
may not be a distraction to the party. Danielle and Zach
shared personal experiences of jurists they interviewed
who have presided over such hearings.
Every litigant or court user expects to be treated with
dignity and respect, have an opportunity to tell their
side of the story, have their case be treated equitably
and fairly among all other cases and be resolved in an
expeditious and timely manner. Lastly the court customer
desires a comprehension of the process and application
of the law the court used in rendering its decision.
Each jurist noted the court must have patience and
understanding. Most of all, the court should express
empathy toward the court participant, especially when
the challenge to participate remotely may be greater than
in person. Empathy requires perspective taking. Taking
the challenged court user’s perspective enables access
and creates more inclusivity into our justice system.
The AOPC/Judicial District Operations department offered
a sixty-minute virtual training session led by the National
Center for State Courts (NCSC) on this topic of procedural
fairness. Principal Management Consultants Danielle
Hirsch and Zach Zarnow of NCSC provided insight to over
60 jurists and court administrators on procedural justice.
Hirsch and Zarnow paid particular attention to remote
court proceedings.
The COVID-19 public health crisis and resultant physical
separation and isolation made it paramount for the courts
to find a means of continuous operations when the public
The webinar was recorded and can be watched here:
https://vimeo.com/704262464/050c6004b6
Additionally, other webinars on remote court proceedings
produced by NCSC may be found here: Webinars | NCSC .
more information
For more information on this, please contact
AOPC Judicial Programs Administrator Rick
Pierce at rick.pierce@pacourts.us.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA’S COURTS, VISIT:
www.pacourts.us
Facebook
@pennsylvaniacourts
YouTube
@PACourts
Twitter
@PACourts
Instagram
@pennsylvaniacourts
10
New Judge School
Sixty newly elected and appointed Magisterial District Judges (MDJs) participated in the Minor Judiciary Education
Board’s (MJEB) Supplemental Practicum for New MDJs in early May at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center.
11
Wellness Court
Training
A group of Pennsylvania judges
recently traveled to Denver,
Colorado to attend a three-day
training — ’Drugs in America
Today: What Every Judge
Needs to Know.’
Steven O’Neill,Lancaster
Jeffrey Wright,
(l to r) Montgomery County
Judge Steven O’Neill
County Judge Jeffrey Wright
York County Judge Matt Matt
Menges,, Northampton County
Menges
Judge Craig Dally
Craig Dally,, Dauphin
County Judge William Tully
presenters Carl Dawson and
Judge Alan Blankenship from
Stone County, Missouri.
William Tully, and
Managing your distress in the aftermath of a shooting
The attack on students and teachers at Robb Elementary
School was a horrifying event for the community of
Uvalde, Texas and a painful reminder of past tragedies
for communities across the United States that have
experienced school shootings.
As authorities investigate, now is the time to focus
on accepting the concerns mass shootings create,
understanding what you can do to protect yourself and
your loved ones from harm, and helping younger family
members address the emotional stress that might develop
when they feel unsure and unsafe away from home.
Below are links to tip sheets and additional resources to
distribute to your employees, family members or friends.
Printable Tip Sheets
The following tip sheets offer simple tips on coping
with tragedy, managing traumatic stress and talking to
children impacted by trauma. Download, print and share
these resources with employees, household members
or anyone in your community who may need assistance
coping with this event.
• Coping with a Traumatic Event
• Coping with Tragedy: A Guide to Dealing
with Shock and Grief
• Coping with Traumatic Events in the News
• Helping Others Cope with Tragedy
• Managing Traumatic Stress
•
Talking to Children About Traumatic Events
Excerpt reprinted with permission from BHS Focus ©2022
12
Pa Courts
Promote Elder
Abuse Awareness
This month, the Pennsylvania Courts,
including the Pennsylvania Supreme
Court Advisory Council on Elder Justice
in the Courts, recognized World Elder
Abuse Awareness Day by highlighting the
importance of identifying and understanding
elder abuse for one of Pa.’s most vulnerable
populations.
“Paying attention to the warning
signs of neglect, physical, emotional
and sexual abuse, as well as financial
exploitation is absolutely critical in
protecting seniors and vulnerable
adults. We know that for each case
of elder abuse that gets reported to
authorities, there are often dozens
more that never come to light,” said
Pa. Supreme Court Justice Debra
Todd. “Elder abuse can happen to
you, your neighbor or your loved ones
– but we can help protect seniors by
remaining vigilant and learning the
warning signs.”
Part of the awareness and education efforts
extended to the county level as well. On
June 17, Montgomery County held its 7th
Annual Elder Justice Conference – the theme
of which was ‘Exploring Alternatives to
Guardianship’.
Statewide leader in guardianship reform and
longtime chair of the Roundtable Keynote,
Administrative Orphan’s Court Judge Lois
Lois
Murphy
Murphy, was not only instrumental in the
planning the conference, but also served as
its keynote speaker.
Following a description of the status of
guardianships within the court system,
a distinguished panel of experts and
workshop presenters discussed their varied
experiences and perspectives from the fields
being discussed.
#WorldElderAbuseAwarenessDay social media graphics
developed and posted by the Pa. Courts
13
Jefferson County Courthouse Active Shooter Drill
It started out as a calm, peaceful Friday
morning in downtown Brookville. Finally,
a break in the rain with sunny skies.
Main Street was coming alive for the day
and preparations were underway for
the annual Laurel Festival. But all that
changed at 8:53 a.m. when two actors
entered the Jefferson County Courthouse
shooting anyone in their way.
WAIT! This was only an exercise! However,
this scenario is all too common in our
country.
Smoke grenades were lit, and explosives
and gunfire could be heard throughout the
building. Employees and citizens started
to evacuate and by-standers on the
street offered any assistance they could
give. What felt like an eternity ended 3
minutes later when law enforcement took
one shooter into custody and wounded
the second shooter. Several people were
critically hurt.
In an effort to keep employees, elected
officials and visitors safe, Jefferson County
organized and conducted this drill. After
months of training, it was time to put some
of this to the test in a full-scale exercise
that was facilitated by the Jefferson
County Department of Emergency
Services.
The Sheriff’s Office and Probation Officers
were first on the scene, followed by
Brookville Police Department. Jefferson
County EMS and Brookville Volunteer Fire
Company were also summoned to the
scene. While the exercise was designed to
strengthen the security measures for the county, the other
participating agencies added to the realistic approach
that was needed to make this seem as real as possible.
Tracy W. Zents, director of Emergency Services who acted
as the facilitator of the exercise stated, “This was the time
to make mistakes. Correct them and be ready in a real
situation.”
According to Zents, the scenario was only known to a
couple of individuals.
“We wanted the training of the sheriff’s office and
probation department to dictate their course of actions
without knowing the shooter’s motive or intended target,”
added Zents.
Most active shooter events happen for only a few minutes
are generally unpredictable and evolve quickly. But the
residual effects can last much longer.
14
Typically, the immediate deployment of law enforcement
is required to stop the attack and mitigate harm to
victims. Individuals must be prepared both mentally and
physically to deal with a situation like this.
Chad Weaver
Chad Weaver, court administrator for Jefferson County
said he was impressed on how well everything worked.
“I’m very appreciative of the entire emergency services
and law enforcement’s efforts to collaborate so quickly for
this unfortunate, but necessary exercise.”
In terms of next steps, the team will review all of the notes,
photographs, videos and evaluations to prepare an after-
action report highlighting best practices and areas that
need improvement.
District judge
launches 22nd
annual ‘Drugs
Kill Dreams’
campaign aimed
at Armstrong
County children
By Tony LaRussa
Reprinted with permission from the
Pittsburgh Tribune Review.
J. Gary
When Ford City District Judge J. Gary
DeComo
DeComo launched a youth anti-drug
campaign in 2000, he knew that
helping kids make choices that lead
them away from drug abuse would
take more than a catchy slogan,
a pep talk and handing out sports
memorabilia. But it was a start.
“Those things are just my way of
getting their attention and raising the
level of drug prevention awareness,”
said DeComo, who is kicking off his
22nd annual “Drugs Kill Dreams”
initiative. “I’m not a prevention
specialist, I’m a prevention advocate.
I want to give the kids and the adults
around them something to think
about. Something to help them
remember.”
When it began in 2000, the
campaign was named after a poster
made by a fourth grader at Lenape
Elementary School. Today, DeComo
said, reinforcing the anti-drug
message is more important than ever
because of the opioid crisis.
“Back in 2007, we were noticing that
we were chasing kids for possession
of a small amount of marijuana, but
there wasn’t much attention being
paid to the dangerous narcotics
they could find right in the medicine
cabinet,” DeComo said. “It took quite
a while for the federal government to
realize how big the opioid problem
really was. And now we’re dealing
with the consequences.”
Ford City District Judge J. Gary DeComo poses in front of a collection of sports
memorabilia he has assembled to hand out to kids and youth organizations who sign a
pledge to make choices that will help avoid drug abuse. The effort is part of his 22nd
annual “Drugs Kill Dreams” campaign.
Between 2015 and 2017, Armstrong
County experienced a drug-
related death rate spike that was
significantly higher than the state
and national averages, according
to an “OverdoseFreePA” study
conducted by the University of
Pittsburgh.
The study showed that in 2015, the
overdose death rate in Armstrong
County was 40.5 per 100,000
residents — compared to 27.1 for the
state and 16.5 nationally.
In 2016, the county number rose to
62 per 100,000 residents, while the
rates were 36.7 at the state level
and 19.9 nationally. In 2017, the rate
in the county was 59.4 per 100,000
residents, compared with rates of 44
across the state and 21.8 nationally.
The study found that fentanyl, heroin
and anti-anxiety benzodiazepines
were involved in 80% of accidental
drug overdoses during that same
time.
15
While the campaign officially
started in 2000, DeComo began
visiting local schoolchildren in 1994
to discuss the dangers of drugs.
He takes his anti-drug campaign
directly to children by visiting classes
at schools throughout Armstrong
County. The presentations include
a request that students sign an anti-
drug pledge.
Rewards are given in the form of
sports memorabilia that the judge
has assembled. Larger memorabilia
items often are donated to local
youth sports groups that sign the
pledge so they can raffle them off to
raise money.
“I’m always looking for small sports
items like 8-by-10 photos of players
the kids might enjoy having, and I
try to get them autographed,” the
magistrate said. “I have no interest in
collecting sports memorabilia myself.
But I know the kids like it, and it’s a
great way to open the door to the
important message I want to convey
to them.”
16
Commonwealth Court Reflects on Passing
of Retired Judge Johnny J. Butler
Following the recent passing of retired Judge Johnny J. Butler,
Commonwealth Court President Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer
the following statement on behalf of the Court:
Renée Cohn Jubelirer released
“We are deeply saddened about the passing of our former colleague,
Judge Johnny J. Butler
Johnny J. Butler. Judge Butler was a wonderful man who will
be remembered for his intellect, fortitude and commitment to public
service. Our sincerest condolences go out to Judge Butler’s family,
friends and colleagues as they grieve this difficult loss.”
Judge Butler served on the Commonwealth Court from 2008 until
2011. Prior to joining the Court, he was appointed Secretary of Labor
and Industry in 1995 by then Governor Tom Ridge, where he served
until 2003.
A dedicated public servant, he held several roles at the U.S. Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) including Associate
Regional Attorney (1975-79), Philadelphia District Director (1979-95)
and Acting General Counsel (1984-87).
Judge Butler also served as an adjunct professor at Howard and
Temple Universities, on the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia
African-American Museum, and as an assistant counsel at the NAACP
Legal Defense Fund in the beginning of his career.
Judge Johnny J. Butler
17
BLUEPRINT FOR RACIAL
JUSTICE OFFERS GUIDANCE,
RESOURCES FOR COURTS
Reprinted with permission from the National Center for
State Courts newsletter – @ the Center.
Courts across the country are taking steps to gain a better understanding of race as leaders work to identify and
address inequities impacting racial justice.
Through the Blueprint for Racial Justice, NCSC is bringing courts together to problem solve and share best practices and
lessons learned to develop an array of resources that can help courts start or continue their racial justice journey.
Guided by a steering committee of chief justices, state court administrators, and NCSC leadership, more than 150 judicial
branch leaders, court executives, and NCSC experts are developing tools to improve racial equality to ensure all court
users, litigants, and community members are heard and respected by the justice system. A 2020 resolution from the
Conference of Chief Justices and Conference of State Court Administrators charged leaders to examine systemic change
in the system.
Last month, the group released “Systemic Change Guiding Principles” that outline seven principles to assist courts
with examining the root causes of disparities and seeking reforms at the system level. These principles can be used
to evaluate potential areas to address, propose policy reforms, or conduct analyses on proposed rule changes or
legislation.
And earlier this month, State Court Organization published judicial demographic information on gender, race, and
ethnicity.
Additionally, the project is creating opportunities for conversations about racial justice through webinars and a Watch,
Read, Listen project that introduces literary works such as, “So You Want to Talk About Race,” to evoke thoughts, feelings
and ideas about race.
Since last year, the Blueprint for Racial Justice has hosted nine webinars with topics ranging from guidance on creating
your own racial justice blueprint and initiating courageous conversations about race to systemic issues related to pretrial
release and financial sanctions. Today, a new five-part series focusing on juries begins at 1 p.m. ET.
Resources developed through the Blueprint for Racial Justice are available in NCSC’s online Racial Justice Resource
Center. Ongoing and future work includes a racial justice organizational assessment toolkit for courts, resources on
topics such as data collection strategies and judicial mentorship and an internship portal. Financial support from NCSC
and the State Justice Institute has made this work possible.
To learn more about the Blueprint for Racial Justice, contact Edwin Bell, Director of Racial Justice, Equity and Inclusion,
or project director Jennifer Elek.
18
