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Official newsletter of the
Pennsylvania Judicial System
Issue 1, 2022
In this issue
Read about appellate court transitions, county court
highlights, a department spotlight on AOPC/Finance
and more.
1
Justice P. Kevin Brobson was sworn in by Commonwealth Court President Judge Emerita Mary Hannah Leavitt
Judge P. Kevin Brobson Sworn in as newest
Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania officially welcomed Justice P. Kevin Brobson
swearing-in ceremony in early January.
P. Kevin Brobson as a member of the Court following his
Surrounded by his wife and children, Brobson took the oath of office administered by Commonwealth Court President
Judge Emerita Mary Hannah Leavitt in the Supreme Court Courtroom, Harrisburg.
A resident of Dauphin County, Justice Brobson is the 178th member to serve on the Court and the third Commonwealth
Court judge elected to the Supreme Court.
Before his election to the Supreme Court, Brobson served for more than a decade as a judge of the Commonwealth
Court, one of Pennsylvania’s two intermediate appellate courts. In 2020, his colleagues selected him as president judge.
He served in that capacity until his installation on the high court. He also served a four-year appointed term on the
Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania, where he served as Board chair in the final year of his term.
In the early years of his career, Brobson clerked for the Honorable James McGirr Kelly of the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District. He entered general practice in 1996 with Buchanan Ingersoll PC and from 2016 to 2018 joined Widener
University Commonwealth Law School as a Jurist-in-Residence.
Justice Brobson received his bachelor’s degree in accounting and economics from Lycoming College in 1992 and his
juris doctorate from Widener University School of Law in 1995.
2
Legislative roundup by Damian J. Wachter, Esq.
The following enactments and legislative action have occurred since mid-December. Prior to
The following enactments and legislative action have occurred since mid-December. Prior to
the holiday recess, the legislature passed, and the governor signed an important piece of the
the holiday recess, the legislature passed, and the governor signed an important piece of the
judicial budget. On Jan. 10, the legislature convened in voting session to begin the second
judicial budget. On Jan. 10, the legislature convened in voting session to begin the second
year of the 2021-22 legislative session and has acted on several bills of interest.
year of the 2021-22 legislative session and has acted on several bills of interest.
Act 49 Reauthorization
Act 49 Reauthorization
Act 93 of 2021 extended the $11.25 and $10 Act 49
surcharges until June 30, 2022. Under statute, revenue
from the surcharges funds a significant portion – nearly
$60 million – of the judiciary’s operational budget.
Budget
Budget
On Feb. 8, the governor proposed his 2022-23 budget.
Overall, the state budget would increase spending by 16.6
percent. For the first time in several years, the proposed
budget for the judiciary includes a funding increase of
$35.88 million (10.1 percent), for a total state funding
level of $391.9 million. The governor also proposed that
the diversion of $15 million from the Judicial Computer
System Augmentation Account to the School Safety and
Security Fund pursuant to Act 42 of 2018 not occur in FY
2022-23. This is just the first step in a long process and the
governor’s proposal does not guarantee increased funding
will occur. Additionally, the Act 49 surcharges, which as
noted above were just reauthorized in December, must
again be addressed in the 2022-23 budget.
Constitutional Amendments
Constitutional Amendments
Prior Passage – None
Earliest Possible Ballot Appearance: 2023 Municipal
Primary
House Bill 1880 amends Art. V, section 15 by adding
a subsection to provide for a term limit of two 10-year
terms for Supreme Court justices and Superior and
Commonwealth Court judges. A jurist who exceeds the
term limit at the time of passage would be permitted to
complete the current term. The bill was reported from
the House Judiciary Committee by a vote 15-8 with all
Republicans and one Democrat voting in favor and has
since been tabled.
House Bill 2141 amends Art. V, sections 13 and 15 by
removing language providing for and referencing retention
elections for common pleas, Philadelphia Municipal
Court and appellate court jurists, thereby requiring those
jurists to seek reelection at the expiration of their term.
The legislation was reported from the House Judiciary
Committee by a vote of 13-10 with all but one Republican
voting in favor and all Democrats opposed. It has since
been tabled.
Senate Bill 956 amends Art. I, adding a subsection
affirmatively stating that there is no constitutional right to
an abortion, public funding of abortion or taxpayer funding
of abortion. The bill was reported from the Senate Health
and Human Services Committee by a party-line 7-4 vote
and is on the Senate floor.
Whistleblower Law
Whistleblower Law
House Bill 661 amends the Whistleblower Act, extending
protections to all judicial branch employees by defining
3
the term public body to include the Supreme, Superior
and Commonwealth Courts, courts of common pleas, the
minor judiciary or other body in the judicial branch of state
government. The legislation was reported unanimously
from the House Judiciary Committee and has since been
tabled.
Firearm Ordinance Preemption
Firearm Ordinance Preemption
House Bill 979 sought to amend Title 18 to allow an
individual adversely affected by a local firearm ordinance
to seek declarative and injunctive relief and actual
damages in an appropriate court. The bill also would have
amended the Municipal Code to affirmatively state:
The General Assembly has always intended and continues
to intend to occupy the entire field of regulation of
firearms, ammunition, magazines, accessories, firearms
components and ammunition components … including the
purchase, sale, transfer, taxation, manufacture, ownership,
possession, use, discharge, transportation and reporting of
loss or theft of firearms, ammunition, firearms components
and ammunition components in this Commonwealth, to the
exclusion of any existing or future ordinance, resolution,
regulation, rule, practice or other action adopted by a
municipality. [A]ny … ordinance, resolution, regulation, rule,
practice, or other action promulgated or enforced by a
municipality of firearms, ammunition, firearms components,
or ammunition components … is declared null and void.
The bill passed the House 124-79 and the Senate 32-17. It
was vetoed by the governor.
Suspension of Operating Privilege
Suspension of Operating Privilege
House Bill 987 requires PennDOT to update driver
records to address an active sanction imposed for a
conviction of any offense under a federal, state or other
state law governing controlled substances, changing
the record to indicate the active departmental sanction
has ended. Additionally, the legislation repeals the
statutory provisions currently imposing a suspension upon
receipt of a certified record of conviction, adjudication of
delinquency or admission into a preadjudication program
for misrepresentation of age to secure liquor or malt or
brewed beverages, purchase, consumption, possession or
transportation of liquor or malt or brewed beverages and
carrying a false ID card. The bill was passed unanimously
by the House and the Senate Transportation Committee
and is currently pending on the Senate floor.
Determinate Sentence for Title 75 Summary
Determinate Sentence for Title 75 Summary
Offenses
Offenses
Senate Bill 1031 amends Titles 42 and 75, allowing a court
to impose a determinate sentence for summary offenses
under the Vehicle Code. The legislation also modifies
sentences for certain violations under driving while
operating privilege is suspended. The bill was reported
unanimously from the Senate Transportation Committee
and is pending on the Senate floor.
{Damian Wachter, Esq. is the acting director
of Legislative Affairs.}
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4
First female President Judge
in Montgomery County
Montgomery County’s chief deputy solicitor and director of
the Human Resources department.
Carluccio is a past president of the Montgomery Bar
Association and has served on more than 15 association
committees.
Additionally, she is in line to be the president of the
Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges in July of
2023.
In November 2021, Montgomery County Judge Carolyn
Carolyn
Tornetta Carluccio was unanimously elected by her
Tornetta Carluccio
colleagues to become the first woman president judge in
county history.
“It is my honor and privilege to serve the citizens
of Montgomery County in this role,” Carluccio
said. “In the aftermath of the last several years,
I seek to treat the challenges of the next five
years as an opportunity to recreate, revitalize and
redefine rather than merely repair. Together we
will safely keep the courts open, administering
justice fairly and efficiently.”
Carluccio was first elected to the bench in 2009 and won
retention in 2019. Throughout her service to the courts,
she has sat on the criminal, civil, juvenile and family court
benches.
Succeeding President Judge Thomas M. DelRicci Jr
five-year term as president judge began in January.
Thomas M. DelRicci Jr., her
Prior to joining the bench, Carluccio made history in 2002
when she became the county’s first female chief public
defender – a role she served in until 2006.
Carluccio began her legal career as a federal prosecutor
in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware,
where she served from 1989-1997. Carluccio maintained
a private practice for several years while serving as
Montgomery County President Judge Carolyn Carluccio
AOPC welcomes new IT assistant director
Wendy Hosch became
In early January, Wendy Hosch
assistant director of AOPC/Information
Technology – a position that has been
vacant since Russel Montchal
Russel Montchal assumed
the role of director in June.
“We are excited that Wendy has
joined our department as the
assistant director. She will add a
fresh perspective to implementing
and managing AOPC/IT projects and
initiatives with her previous court and
private sector experience,” Montchal
said.
Prior to joining the AOPC, Wendy
served as the deputy chief information
officer for the First Judicial District in
Philadelphia.
She has also worked in various
leadership roles at the Administrative
Office of the Courts for Georgia as
well as the Albuquerque, New Mexico
Metropolitan Court.
In addition, she spent a number of years
working for Journal Technologies –
one of the top five case management
vendors in the country.
AOPC/IT assistant director Wendy Hosch
Welcome Wendy!
5
Swearing-in ceremony of Commonwealth Court President Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer
Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Elects
Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer as President Judge
The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania announced
the election of Judge RenRenéée Cohn Jubelirer
e Cohn Jubelirer as its next
president judge on Jan. 7.
Northwestern University School of Law in 1983, where she
served as the editor of the Law Review, and her Master of
Laws from Duke University School of Law in 2014.
Prior to her service on the bench, Judge Cohn Jubelirer
was a teaching fellow at Stanford Law School and an
assistant professor at DePaul College of Law, while
maintaining a private law practice, before serving in
the Lehigh County Solicitor’s Office as Deputy and then
Assistant Solicitor.
Following her time in the county solicitor’s office,
she worked as counsel for ATX Telecommunications
Services. She also served as a South Whitehall Township
commissioner, Lehigh County.
Since taking the bench, Judge Cohn Jubelirer has served
as Vice Chair of the Judicial Conduct Board, co-chair of the
Supreme Court’s Commission on Judicial Independence,
on the Continuing Judicial Education Board of Judges, the
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Appellate Procedural Rules
Committee, and the Judicial Advisory Board for the George
Mason University School of Law, Law & Economics Center.
She is a member of the James S. Bowman American
Inns of Court, Master Emeritus, as well as the American,
Pennsylvania, Lehigh and Centre County Bar Associations.
Cohn Jubelirer has served on the Court for more than two
P. Kevin Brobson,
decades and succeeds President Judge P. Kevin Brobson
who was recently sworn-in as a member of the Supreme
Court of Pennsylvania.
During her five-year term as president judge, Judge Cohn
Jubelirer will oversee administrative matters of the court
– including budgeting, oversight of administrative offices,
scheduling, special sessions, education and bench-bar
interaction.
“I am honored to have the trust and confidence placed
in me by my colleagues and look forward to continued
service alongside such a wonderful group of jurists and all
of the capable staff who see to the seamless operation of
the Court,” Judge Cohn Jubelirer said.
“It is humbling to join such a distinguished list of those who
have served before me as president judge of this Court
and I look forward to seeking out their wise counsel as we
continue to move the court forward, particularly through
the ongoing global pandemic.”
Judge Cohn Jubelirer was elected to the Commonwealth
Court in 2001 and was retained for a second, ten-year term
in November 2011 and a third term in 2021.
She earned a bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania
State University in 1978, a juris doctor, cum laude, from
6
Judge Beth Lazzara stands with the treatment court graduates at the ceremony on Dec. 20.
Allegheny County Mental Health
Court Celebrates 20th Anniversary
In a ceremony on Dec. 20, 12 participants graduated from Allegheny County’s Mental Health Court – a special occasion
marking its 20th anniversary.
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Beth Lazzara
Beth Lazzara has presided over the program for the last 10 years.
The county’s Mental Health Court was created in 2001 and has been overseen by four different judges. Overall, the
program’s successful graduation rate since 2008 has been around 75 percent.
To qualify for the program, a participant must have a persistent, serious mental illness, and be charged with a nonviolent
felony, or misdemeanor crime.
The program is designed to divert participants from jail into community-based services that help them to maintain
treatment, housing and support.
Judge Lazzara is currently working to develop another part of the program that would allow for charges to be reduced or
ultimately withdrawn upon successful completion.
Statewide, there are currently 26 mental health courts.
7
Lancaster County court begins
consumer debt resolution program
Lancaster County Court recently
began a new program to resolve
credit card debt cases with the goal
of bringing debtors and creditors
together to work out their problems,
while reducing the burden on the
court system.
Through this new program, all cases
that would have traditionally involved
litigation will instead go into an
alternative resolution program that is
designed to help consumers resolve
their credit card debt and ultimately
get on better financial footing.
Above state averages, credit card
cases accounted for nearly 16 percent
of all civil cases in Lancaster County.
The program works similarly to
the county’s mortgage foreclosure
diversion program that started
back in August where parties will
be automatically enrolled into the
program once a court action is filed.
As part of the program, debtors
must undergo financial counseling
while a case management order
will set the groundwork for parties
to share information and schedule a
conciliation conference.
(l to r) Elizbeth Henry, Gary Heffner, Sharon Downer, Kristi Dodge, Megan Gibson, Christy Newton, Casey Scarborough, Victoria
Christen, Michelle Speicher, Nicole Mirra, Kacey Baumgardner, Ryan Bonafair, Amanda Kreuter
D E PA R T M E N T S P OT L I G H T:
AOPC Finance
The AOPC Finance
Department provides critical
management of budget,
accounting and payroll
systems for the entire
Unified Judicial System
(UJS).
Following the retirement
of Mary Gillette at the
end of December, former
AOPC/Finance Assistant
Director Casey Scarborough
Casey Scarborough
assumed the role of acting
director.
Serving as the primary
resource for the
organization on all financial-
related matters, the
department develops and
recommends policies and
procedures on accounting,
budget and procurement
issues and trains staff at all
levels in their use.
Each year, the finance team
monitors and prepares
the budget for nearly
40 UJS line items for
appropriations – including
the administrative office,
appellate courts, various
Supreme Court advisory
committees, juror cost
reimbursements and
county court grants. The
department manages
$475 million in annual
appropriations, including
$27.1 million in grants paid
to counties.
Committed to providing
public access to court
financial information, they
also manage and respond
to public requests for
financial and personnel
information, including
expenditure and salary
information made available
on the judiciary’s website.
8
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
William Penn School District superintendent Dr. Eric Becoats (l) and
Judge Keith Williams (r)
A judge on a mission
Following a growing number of fights in the beginning of the school year, the
William Penn School District developed a new program – “Men on a Mission”
– to bring volunteers from the community into the high school to greet students
and offer support to encourage a more focused learning environment.
The program started in December following a period of training and approval
of security clearances. Community leaders lend support and guidance to the
younger generation and give them some good advice that they can use in
their personal and professional lives.
One of the community leaders who answered the call to help create a better
environment for students at Penn Wood High School was Delaware County
Keith Williams II.
Magisterial District Judge Keith Williams II
“We all must do our part to inspire and to ensure a good future for of our
children. It is important for young adults to see and to hear success stories,”
said Judge Williams.
“As a graduate of Penn Wood High School, Class of 1983, I’m able to relate
to the students. I share with them my experiences and what steps I took to
become an attorney and district judge, with the hope of inspiring them.”
The superintendent said that the program is starting slowly with two shifts
every day – in the stairs and hallways at the start of school and dismissal.
9
AOPC/Judicial Operations holds regional
trainings for DCAs and ADA coordinators
AOPC/Judicial District Operations recently conducted
in-person regional trainings for district and deputy court
administrators, ADA coordinators and others on three
important topics: Investigations, Performance Evaluations
Overview, and Mental Health and ADA Accommodations.
The trainings were offered on three different dates at the
end of November and beginning of December at three
locations around the state – Pittsburgh, State College and
Allentown.
Led by AOPC is Assistant Chief Counsel of Litigation Geri Geri
St. Joseph
Robert Krandel, the first
St. Joseph and Legal Counsel Robert Krandel
part of the training explored the investigation process,
best practices for conducting an investigation and how to
document the investigation properly.
Leah Somers and
AOPC/Human Resources Analyst Leah Somers
Director of Judicial District Operations Joe Mittleman
Joe Mittleman
presented the second portion of the training that focused
on a review of the new automated evaluation system and
went over the Do’s and Don’ts when writing an effective
performance evaluation.
During the final session, AOPC Court Access Coordinator
Mary Vilter
Mary Vilter and mental health advocate and professor
Samantha Osterlof discussed how mental disorders and
illnesses can affect people when they interact with the
courts and how ADA Coordinators can accommodate
people with mental health disabilities.
The trainings were very well attended with over 175
participants taking part over the course of the three days.
10
Celebrating Black History Month
In recognition of Black History Month,
February provides us with an annual
opportunity to reflect on how diversity
on the bench inspires courts and the
communities they serve. AOPC interviewed
several judges to learn how their own
history and experiences have shaped them
– both as individuals and as judges. Some
of their answers are highlighted below.
Q:
How has adversity helped to shape you
as a judge?
We hope and pray for peace, love and happiness.
Adversity is guaranteed. However, difficult times
shape us and give us direction. Adversity can
lead to progress. We are truly defined by how
we handle adversity. As a judge, it
is important to acknowledge that
difficult circumstances don’t define an
individual’s entire existence.
Judge Sierra Thomas Street
Judge Sierra Thomas Street
Philadelphia County Common Pleas Court
Q:
What value does a diverse judiciary bring
to the communities it serves?
Having a diverse judiciary allows the communities
it serves the perception and hopefully reality that
when they seek access to the courts, they will have
a judge who understands their beliefs, struggles,
plight, way of thinking, upbringing and hope that
is so important. A diverse bench is fruitful not only
to the community, but fruitful to the
bench too, as it allows a sensitivity
level that otherwise is lost, or
unknown, resulting in better justice.
Judge Garrett Page
Judge Garrett Page
Montgomery County Common Pleas Court
Q:
Were there any defining moments in your
life that inspired you to become a jurist?
Yes, I was fortunate enough to have been mentored
early in my legal career by two giants of the
Pennsylvania legal profession – Chief Justice
Robert N.C. Nix, Jr. and Common Pleas Court Judge
Lawrence Prattis. As a result of my exposure to them
I decided in 1983, just two years
after graduating law school, that I
wanted to become a judge.
Judge Charles Hayden
Judge Charles Hayden
Philadelphia County Municipal Court
Q:
Growing up, did your family impart
any lessons/advice that you still carry
with you today?
My parents stressed the importance of education
as essential to opening the doors to opportunity in
life. They taught me to be a leader
not a follower, to be principled and
considerate of others.
Judge George Overton
Judge George Overton
Philadelphia County Common Pleas Court
Q:
Were there any defining moments in your
life that inspired you to become a jurist?
My first job after my first year of law school was with
The Honorable Justin M. Johnson, a distinguished
African-American jurist who came from a family of
trail blazers. His chambers were run like a well-oiled
machine and set the standard for judicial excellence.
My first job after law school was serving as the law
clerk to Clarion County President Judge Charles
Alexander. Judge Alexander was a wonderful
mentor and set the standard for what a Court of
Common Pleas Judge should be. Additionally, at a
pivotal time in my early career, I was the law clerk to
Butler County President Judge Thomas
Doerr. Having the opportunity to work
closely with these judges helped me to
see this as a possibility for myself.
Judge Nicola Henry-Taylor
Judge Nicola Henry-Taylor
Allegheny County Common Pleas Court
11
Q:
What value does a diverse judiciary bring
to the communities it serves?
The community at large looks to the judiciary to
resolve legal issues which are presented in court
be they civil, criminal or family law based. The
real advantage of having a diverse judiciary is
that the judges of different backgrounds have the
opportunity to talk and share ideas about solutions
to common problems which may present themselves
in diverse parts of the community. The
interaction between the judges may
result in a new or different perspective
and may raise awareness of bias
which was unknown.
Q:
If you could go back in time and have dinner
with any person from history, who would it
be and what would you ask/tell them?
There are so many that I would prefer a dinner party
and invite, Frederick Augustus Washington Bailey,
President Abraham Lincoln, W.E.B. DuBois, Paul
Robeson, Honorable Thurgood Marshall, Reverend
Doctor Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X. I
would thank them all for being relentless in their
efforts to advocate for and ensure the
human rights of African slaves and their
African American descendants. Then I
would listen to what they would offer.
Judge Lillian Ransom
Judge Lillian Ransom
Philadelphia County Common Pleas Court
Judge Steven Tolliver
Judge Steven Tolliver
Montgomery County Common Pleas Court
Q:
How has adversity helped to shape you
as a judge?
Every trial and tribulation has made me stronger,
bolder, wiser and more courageous. I have been
blessed in my life but the adversity and resulting
brokenness have forced me to appreciate the
simple things in life and to look at the glass as half
full as opposed to half empty. My own unpleasant
experiences keep me grounded and humble so that
I can never forget that although I have been charged
with this duty of “judge”, my view is not so high that
I cannot see below me. I am so grateful to be able
to serve others from this position. I truly believe that
the totality of my life experiences, both
good and bad, informs the fullness of
every judicial decision that I make.
Judge Lori Dumas
Judge Lori Dumas
Commonwealth Court
To read more Q&A responses and to stay
up-to-date on court news and activities,
follow PA Courts on social media.
Facebook
@pennsylvaniacourts
Twitter
@PACourts
12
New court data now available
Over the last several months, the
interactive data dashboards were
updated to reflect verified 2020
statewide caseload statistics. For
anyone interested in a quick look at
statewide or county court data, these
dashboards can be a helpful tool.
Also released this past month was
the 2020 Annual Report, providing an
organizational overview of the AOPC
and statewide court programs, data
and operations.
With the recent release of 2020 court
data, AOPC/Communications is now
in the process of completing the 2021
Annual Report, which is targeted to be
released next fall.
Page from the 2020 AOPC Annual Report
UJS data dashboards
Valentine’s Day Weddings in
Berks County District Court
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, Berks County Magisterial District Judge
Eric J. Taylor
Eric J. Taylor was scheduling only weddings. Judge Taylor, the District Judge
for District Court 23-2-02 serving West Reading and Wyomissing, performed
eight wedding ceremonies.
The first wedding was at 10:30 AM and the last was at 3:45 PM. Some
of the wedding ceremonies were done in Spanish, as Judge Taylor is not
conversationally fluent in Spanish but he can passably read Spanish
weddings scripts.
“Since often times people are in court under negative
circumstances, I really enjoy the opportunity to be a part of happy
moments like these,” Judge Taylor said.
To make the weddings extra special, Judge Taylor and his staff decorated the
courtroom and had flowers and balloons, and each couple received pretzels
that looked like brides and grooms.
13
Hudock says goodbye at Union-Snyder
Treatment Court ceremony
By Eric Scicchitano | Reprinted with
permission from the Daily Item
Eleven participants of the Union-
Snyder County Treatment Courts
graduated on Dec. 15 during the final
ceremony retiring President Judge
Michael Hudock presided over.
Michael Hudock
Graduates and participants, their
supporters and loved ones plus
Treatment Court staffers crowded
the courtroom at the Union
County Courthouse for the 35th
Commencement Ceremony.
Hudock spoke of his exit, giving
thanks and respect to all he worked
with, but not before focusing on the
graduates. The judge compared
Treatment Court participants’
experiences with “The Wizard of Oz,”
saying that in their search for heart,
brain and courage, they discovered
they didn’t have to look beyond
themselves.
The graduates, and those before
them, had the courage to be
brutally honest with themselves;
had the heart to mend damaged
relationships and create new ones;
had the mind to make difficult
decisions daily. There have been
258 graduates since the program’s
start.
“You always had it. It was always
there,” Hudock said.
The Treatment Court program
opened in 2008. It’s designed as a
last chance for repeat offenders to
avoid a state prison term. The goal
is to thwart recidivism and instill a
sober lifestyle through intensive
supervision and access to treatment
and other social services.
The Union-Snyder program achieved
national prominence within the
treatment court community, being
designated in 2017 as a mentor court
by the National Association of Drug
Court Professionals and the U.S.
President Judge Michael T. Hudock congratulates treatment court graduates on what was
his last day of presiding over the court program.
Department of Justice. Its role as a mentor court extends through at least 2023.
During the recent ceremony, a participant approached the podium and took in
the setting before speaking. He said he never thought he’d be standing there,
14
having successfully completed the
program. Like all who would follow
him, he thanked the probation officers,
judges and related personnel who
make up the Treatment Court team.
“I got some time in jail to think
about why I wanted sobriety,”
Sharp said, explaining he finally put
himself ahead of other motivations
to maintain recovery. “I never had
support like this.”
Another participant credited the court
program with saving her life. She said
she maintained sobriety for 10 years.
Then, in 2017, she said she relapsed.
“You put me in jail and you saved
my life,” Fleming told District Judge
Lori Hackenberg
Lori Hackenberg, who will succeed
Hudock on the county court bench.
“Thank God. If I left I don’t think I’d be
here today.”
Robert Walter said he’d never been to
rehab. He’d been to jail, though, and
said he’d only learned how to cook
crack cocaine and make jailhouse
liquor. Treatment Court changed him.
He said he met good people, found
friends and role models and built and
developed trust in people.
Recovery doesn’t end with a
graduation ceremony. Walter said it
continues indefinitely.
“My recovery is not over. It’s never
going to be over. It’s something I’ll
have to work on every day,” Walter
said.
Guest speaker Jennifer Zampogna
shared in that sentiment. A former
dermatologist, Zampogna saw her
professional career and personal
life collapse when she became
addicted to pain medication. She
was prosecuted by the Pennsylvania
Attorney General’s Office for writing
faulty prescriptions for herself. She
lost her medical license and her
practice.
And, she’s built back. She’s a recovery
advocate, speaking at engagements
like the graduation ceremony
statewide. She serves as director of
operations at Lawyers Concerned for
Lawyers, a nonprofit aiding attorneys,
judges and their relatives in need of
peer support and treatment referrals
for mental health and substance use
issues. She’s also a member of the
Pennsylvania Advisory Council on
Drug and Alcohol Abuse.
Recovery began one step at a time,
minute by minute, she said. She
encouraged graduates and current
participants to consider becoming
involved in community service that
interests them.
“You have this privilege to be able
to do this. Take that opportunity and
run with it,” Zampogna said before
emphasizing the commitment needed
to maintain recovery. “I’m either one
step closer to enhancing my recovery
or I’m one step closer to relapse.”
Hudock closed the ceremony and
reflected on his career. He expressed
gratitude to all of the graduates,
thanking them for teaching him
about resilience, redemption
and overcoming challenges. He
thanked Treatment Court staff —
including coordinator Steve Diehl,
public defender Brian Ulmer and
Hackenberg, among them — and his
own court staff, as well as his wife.
At times, he became emotional as he
spoke.
The ceremony closed with a
slideshow of moments from past
ceremonies and photos showing
Hudock celebrating with graduates in
the courtroom.
AOPC Language Access Coordinator
Tutors New U.S. Citizen
As Coordinator for Court Access for the AOPC, Mary Vilter
Mary Vilter spends a
lot of time on language access issues – and that carries over to her
life beyond the office.
For the past 15 months, Mary has tutored an adult English language
learner (twice a week) through the Volunteer English Program in
Chester County.
The pair spent about six months of that time preparing Mary’s
student, Vera, for her citizenship interview with United States
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
“It’s certainly been interesting to do the entire tutoring experience
remotely, screen-sharing all sorts of online ESL resources like
videos, articles, new learner dictionaries etc.,” Vilter said.
Despite the circumstances that were made more difficult due to the
pandemic, Vera passed her citizenship test with flying colors and
was sworn in as an official U.S. citizen in September.
“I cannot express how proud I am of Vera, nor how fortunate our
country is to have her as a new citizen,” she said.
Mary Vilter (l) and her student, Vera (r)
15
Restoring dignity to human
trafficking victims and survivors
Written by Amy Kehner, AOPC Judicial Programs administrator and Jamie Pizzi, Esq., STOP grant consultant
The pervasive, worldwide issue of human trafficking is
of great concern to judicial, legislative, and executive
officials throughout Pennsylvania.
Traffickers are predators who use a wide range of tactics,
such as coercion and deception, to exploit vulnerable
people − including children – to gain illicit profits.
Tragically, victims may be required to perform sexual acts
or participate in forced labor. The mental and emotional
fallout from the mistreatment is especially severe in
children.
Unlike most crimes with distinct victims and perpetrators,
people exploited by traffickers are likely to commit crimes
of their own due to their victimization. For example, sex-
trafficking victims are frequently arrested and charged
with prostitution, and labor-trafficking victims often lack
proper visas and are sent into removal proceedings.
Indeed, what can appear as routine interactions with the
legal system may be evidence of trafficking victimization.
Because intimidation, language barriers, and
socioeconomic vulnerabilities can impede cooperation
with law enforcement, court-case statistics offer only
a limited perspective about the scale of the criminal
activity involved. These sorts of factors also complicate
prosecutions even when victims recognize their exploiters
as criminals and are willing and able to come forward.
Consistent with these concerns, since Pennsylvania
enacted its current anti-trafficking law in 2014, of the 222
human trafficking cases filed only 125 of the 831 trafficking
related charges resulted in a conviction.
To combat a crime as insidious as human trafficking, it is
important to recognize victims as victims, even when they
have become ensnared in the criminal justice system. Key
remedial measures include collaboration among state and
local partners, increased awareness through education,
and utilization of tools provided by law to meet the needs
of the survivors served by the justice system.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC)
provides training and resources to judges and court-
related staff through a federal STOP (Services, Training,
Officers, and Prosecutors) Violence Against Women grant.
Programming focuses on strengthening the court’s ability
to identify and respond to victims of human trafficking
by providing law updates and best practices to improve
outcomes and minimize trauma. AOPC recently developed
a virtual tool that includes information about identifying
human trafficking with links to resources to help readers
understand this highly complex and nuanced crime.
Pennsylvania has several human trafficking laws that
provide tools for the court to assist victims and survivors.
The Safe Harbor for Sexually Exploited Children law forbids
minors from being charged with prostitution and dictates
that sexually exploited children be provided with services,
rather than placed in delinquency proceedings. The
vacatur provision of the Commonwealth’s anti-trafficking
law creates a mechanism for trafficking survivors to vacate
certain trafficking-related convictions.
Senator Katie Muth recently introduced SB 1009 –
“Expanding Post-Conviction Relief for Victims of Human
Trafficking” – to expand the current vacatur provisions by
adding two new eligible offenses and providing the court
with exclusive authority to decide whether a conviction
was trafficking-related. For survivors with a criminal record,
vacatur may present an opportunity to remove barriers
to gainful employment, housing, education, financial
assistance and other critical resources that reduce the
likelihood of revictimization. The remedy also provides a
chance for survivors whose victimization predates human
trafficking laws to remove a painful reminder of the past.
As reflected above, although human trafficking often
occurs in the open, it remains difficult to redress. Being
proactive in confronting systemic hurdles and utilizing
tools like vacatur offers survivors the opportunity to
recover. Building on the existing resources, and with a
commitment to create other effective tools, the judiciary
can be an agent of change in restoring dignity to human
trafficking victims and survivors in Pennsylvania.
16
17
JURY SIZE: DOES IT MATTER?
Reprinted with permission from the National Center for State
Courts newsletter – @ the Center.
Do smaller juries allow for more unanimous verdicts? Are they representative of their communities? Are they more cost
effective?
These and other questions are posed in a recently released report by NCSC researcher Erica Boyce called Time to
Reflect: Has the research changed regarding the importance of jury size?
The pandemic has made it more difficult to empanel juries, and the American Board of Trial Advocates asked NCSC’s
Center for Jury Studies to review the empirical research conducted on jury size during the past 20 years. Boyce said
recent research tended to mirror previous findings and did not always help answer whether 12-member juries are better
or worse than smaller juries.
The 12-person jury, which the American Bar Association supports, is used by 33 states for civil jury trials, 34 for
misdemeanor trials and 45 for non-capital felony trials. Other states use six-, seven- or eight-member juries for those
trials.
Boyce said the most recent research continues to highlight the complexity of the issue, and her report presents that
complexity in these findings:
Some research says reducing jury sizes saves money for courts and for litigants with lawyers, but other research
says the savings are minimal.
Jury service is sacrificial, forcing jurors to lose wages and time from family, so smaller juries mean fewer people
have to make those sacrifices. But other research says people who serve on juries develop a greater appreciation for
the justice system, so smaller juries mean fewer people will experience that appreciation.
It’s easier to reach consensus in smaller juries, some research shows, but they’re less likely to include diverse
viewpoints, and larger, 12-person juries often possess a better collective memory when they adjourn to review
testimony and evidence.
•
Smaller juries are often less diverse and less likely to accurately represent their communities.
Boyce concluded that future research should rely on court and juror data as well as predictive models.
“Since pros and cons are associated with 12-person juries as well as smaller ones,” she said, “I would encourage states
to weigh all of the research before they make decisions about what size jury works best for them.”
•
•
•
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Please join the AOPC in
welcoming the newest members
of the Pennsylvania Judiciary.
New to the bench
Denise Ashe – MDJ – Montgomery
Wendi Barish – CP Judge –
Philadelphia
Kay Bates – MDJ – Wayne
Clark Bearinger – MDJ – Lancaster
Andrew Bender – CP Judge – Juniata/
Perry
Tina Boyd – CP Judge – Berks
John Bruner – MDJ – Washington
Priscilla Campos – MDJ – Berks
Stephen Corr – CP Judge – Bucks
Jason Cox – MDJ – Fayette
Michael Culp – MDJ – Delaware
Robert Dappenbrook – MDJ – Beaver
George Dawson – MDJ – Delaware
Christian DiCicco – Judge –
Philadelphia Municipal Court
Kevin Diehl – MDJ – Bedford
Denise Dieter – MDJ – Lycoming
Jonathan Dunsinger – MDJ – Wayne
Jeffrey Engle – CP Judge – Dauphin
Scott Fanchalsky – MDJ –
Westmoreland
Ann Feldman – MDJ – Chester
Aurelis Figueroa – MDJ – Lebanon
Kevin Flaherty – MDJ – Butler
Gina Force – CP Judge – Indiana
Daniel Freedman – MDJ –
Cumberland
Paul Gasper – MDJ – Monroe
James Gavin – CP Judge – Berks
Monica Gibbs – CP Judge –
Philadelphia
Richard Gibney – MDJ – Juniata/Perry
Joe Gothie – CP Judge – York
Jeffry Grimes – CP Judge – Greene
Christopher Hall – CP Judge –
Philadelphia
Kelly Hammers – MDJ –
Westmoreland
Michele Hangley – CP Judge –
Philadelphia
Tom Harteis – MDJ – York
Nicola Henry-Taylor – CP Judge –
Allegheny
Christopher Hobbs – CP Judge –
Schuylkill
Lauren Holt – MDJ – Chester
Terrence Hughes Sr. – MDJ – Bucks
Susan Hutnik – MDJ – Northampton
Nick Kamau – CP Judge –
Philadelphia
Jordan Knisley – MDJ – Northampton
Dale Klein – MDJ – Dauphin
Gregory Koehle – MDJ – Centre
Sabrina Korbel – CP Judge –
Allegheny
Patrick Krouse – MDJ – Montgomery
Joseph Kubit – CP Judge – Butler
Michael Lambert – Judge –
Philadelphia Municipal Court
Craig Levin – CP Judge – Philadelphia
Marc Lieberman – MDJ – Chester
Leanne Litwin – CP Judge –
Philadelphia
Jodi Lukens Griffis – MDJ –
Montgomery
Tamara Mahady – MDJ –
Westmoreland
Elysia Mancini Duerr – MDJ –
Delaware
Amy Marcinkiewicz – MDJ – Butler
Nicholas Martini – MDJ – Allegheny
Travis Martwinski – MDJ – Mercer
Francis McCloskey – Judge –
Philadelphia Municipal Court
Sandra McClure – MDJ –
Northampton
Louis McQuillan – MDJ – Washington
Matthew Meagher – CP Judge –
Wayne
David Meholick – MDJ – Clearfield
Lisa Middleman – CP Judge –
Allegheny
Atinuke Moss – CP Judge – Delaware
JoAnne Murphy – CP Judge –
Lancaster
Joseph Nash – MDJ – Butler
Xander Orenstein – MDJ – Allegheny
Andrea Phillips – CP Judge –
Montgomery
Alita Rovito – CP Judge – Chester
Matthew Rudzki – MDJ – Allegheny
John Sabatina – CP Judge –
Philadelphia
Stefanie Salavantis – CP Judge –
Luzerne
19
Felicia Santillan – MDJ – Beaver
Francis Schultz – CP Judge –
Crawford
Stacy Seaman-Wertman – MDJ –
Bucks
Michelle Sibert – CP Judge –
Cumberland
Natacha Simmons – MDJ – Chester
Tiffany Sizemore – CP Judge –
Allegheny
Mackenzie Smith – MDJ – Chester
Christopher Snyder – MDJ – Adams
Adam Stallard – MDJ – Crawford
Steve Stambaugh – CP Judge – York
Kelly Stewart – MDJ – Washington
Douglas Straub – MDJ – Mercer
Megan Sullivan – Superior Court
Edward Tarantelli – MDJ – Schuylkill
Tarah Toohil – CP Judge – Luzerne
Rebecca Tyburski – MDJ –
Westmoreland
Marian Urrutia – MDJ – Dauphin
Linda Vega Sirop – MDJ – Lehigh
Anthony Verwey – CP Judge –
Chester
Chelsa Wagner – CP Judge –
Allegheny
Betsy Wahl – CP Judge – Philadelphia
Stacy Wallace – Commonwealth
Court
Mary Walsh Dempsey – CP Judge –
Lackawanna
David Washabaugh – MDJ – Franklin/
Fulton
Wrenna Watson – CP Judge –
Allegheny
Hilary Wheatley Taylor – MDJ –
Allegheny
Leah Williams Duncan – MDJ –
Allegheny
Edward Wilson – MDJ – Erie
Johosha Wright – MDJ – Allegheny
Gregory Yorgey-Girdy – Judge –
Philadelphia Municipal Court
Amy Zanelli – MDJ – Lehigh
Judicial changes
Kevin Brobson – Justice – Supreme
Court
Lori Dumas – Judge – Commonwealth
Court
Lori Hackenberg – CP Judge –
Snyder/Union
Deborah Krull – CP Judge – Delaware
D. Neil McEwen – CP Judge – Mercer
Jesse Pettit – CP Judge – Washington
George Twardy – Judge –
Philadelphia Municipal Court
SPEAKERS:
Hon. Sallie Updyke
Mundy
Justice, Pennsylvania
Supreme Court
Hon. Susan Peikes
Gantman
President Judge
Emeritus, Superior
Court of PA (retired)
Hon. Kim Berkeley
Clark
President Judge,
Allegheny Court of
Common Pleas
Hon. Cheryl L. Austin
Montgomery County
Court of Common Pleas
(retired)
Aurora Austriaco, Esq.
Valentine Austriaco &
Buesche; Past President,
National Conference
of Bar Presidents; Past
President, Chicago Bar
Association
Jeralyn Lawrence, Esq.
Lawrence Law, President-
elect, New Jersey
State Bar Association;
President, NJ Chapter
AAML
PBA Commission on Women in the Profession
and Minority Bar Committee
present
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY PROGRAM
Tuesday, March 8, 2022
4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Q & A and networking will follow presentations.
Join President Kathleen D. Wilkinson for this unique program
to celebrate International Women’s Day, a global day
celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political
achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for
accelerating gender parity. To celebrate this important day in
2022, hear from a diverse panel of trailblazing women lawyers
and judges from within Pennsylvania and beyond who have
each paved the way for so many others on their road to the
pinnacle of success in their respective spheres.
There is no charge for this program, and it is open to members
and non-members.
To register for the program, please click on the link below.
https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUtc-
6uqDkrHdBlH7OPYu4E6D9ZBLkPQsAz
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email
containing information about joining the meeting.
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