ews for Immediate Release  

Sept. 15, 2016 

 

DITORS’ NOTE: Audio and video clips of Justice Wecht are available for download on the 

Judiciary’s media resources webpage. 

upreme Court encourages people to apply for appointments  

ARRISBURG — As part of its desire for wider public participation in the judicial system, the 

Pennsylvania Supreme Court is undertaking a new initiative making it easier for people to 
express interest in being appointed by the Supreme Court to advisory panels, commissions, and 
independent agencies with the judiciary. 

Justice David N. Wecht has led the present initiative with the intention of broadening 
participation in the Supreme Court’s board and committee structure,” said Chief Justice Thomas 
G. Saylor.  “He will also be supervising the implementation, with the support of the full court.” 

egal training, experience and expertise are necessary for many assignments, but there are 

appointments for nonattorneys as well.  

The court appreciates the time and effort the board and committee members dedicate to their 
roles,” said Justice Wecht. “With this outreach we hope to encourage more people to apply for 
these important positions.”  
  
“Providing easier access to apply for these positions and announcing them to a broader audience 
will ensure that the court will have a more diverse pool of applicants. A broader array of 
candidates, and consequently panel members, will serve the court and the Commonwealth as 
they bring new perspectives to the important work the panels do.” 

he Unified Judicial System website at www.pacourts.us will serve as the central resource for 
the new initiative. As vacancies arise, they will be featured on the home page, usually beginning 
the first week of the month. Clicking on the announcement will lead readers to a list of vacancies 
with links to information about the missions of the respective entity, including terms of service, 
as well as an application and directions for submission. Applicants will have one month to apply. 

he first vacancies will be posted on Oct. 3. 

n addition to postings on the website, the judiciary’s twitter feed @PaCourts will tweet 
openings. Bar associations and law schools across the state will be notified as well so they may 
include information on their websites and in correspondence with members. 

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lthough the number varies, there are usually approximately 20 vacancies each year. Volunteers 

are not paid for serving, and the time commitment varies depending on the entity.  

ore than 180 volunteers sit on Supreme Court panels and have a wide range of responsibilities 

and functions. Some make recommendations to the court for amendments, revisions or 
simplification of court procedural rules. Others regulate the practice of law, oversee continuing 
legal education for lawyers and administer funds to assist individuals unable to pay for legal 
service. 

ome of the groups include: 

  Criminal Procedural Rules Committee 
  Committee on Rules of Evidence 
  Board of Law Examiners 
  Continuing Legal Education Board 
  Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court 
Interest on Lawyers Trust Account Board 
 

his initiative extends to those who wish to serve on the Judicial Conduct Board of Pennsylvania 
and the Court of Judicial Discipline, both of which are entities within the Pennsylvania Judiciary 
but that act independently of the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court appoints half of the 
members to each of these independent entities. 
 

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edia contact: Amy Kelchner, 717-231-3328 

 

  

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