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About PMC

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts is a statewide nonprofit, nonpartisan organization dedicated to ensuring that all Pennsylvanians can come to our courts with confidence that they will be heard by qualified, fair and impartial judges. PMC functions as a court watchdog, identifying and speaking out on issues that impact the public's confidence in our courts.

PMC seeks to improve and strengthen the justice system in Pennsylvania through its three main program areas: judicial selection reform; systemic court reform and improvements; and public education.

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Who We Are

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts is the only statewide organization working exclusively to improve our state courts. Our mission is to ensure that Pennsylvania has fair and impartial courts that serve all Pennsylvanians.

PMC is led by Executive Director Lynn A. Marks; Program Director, Suzanne R. Almeida; and Administrator, Terri McMonagle Rogers. We also are fortunate to be joined by volunteer interns from local universities and law schools during the year. An able Board of Directors that includes lawyers and nonlawyers from across Pennsylvania guides our work. Our Board Chair is Bob Heim, and our Chair Emeritus is the Honorable Edmund B. Spaeth, Jr.

To contact PMC, call 215-569-1150 or send us an email.

What PMC Does

Our work is concentrated on the following goals:

  • Helping court users understand the court system;
  • Reforming the judicial selection system;
  • Improving the jury system and court administration;
  • Serving as a court watchdog, with special attention to reforming judicial disciplinary procedure;
  • Combating bias in the courts; and
  • Educating the public about the courts.

PMC does not provide legal advice or represent clients in court or other legal proceedings.

 

PMC Background

PMC’s founders were motivated to create a new organization by a 1988 report by the Pennsylvania Judicial Reform Commission. This blue-ribbon panel of civic leaders, public officials, legal professionals and members of the judiciary commissioned by Governor Casey and chaired by then-Superior Court Judge Phyllis W. Beck, found that confidence in the judiciary was appallingly low, in large part due to the system of electing judges, including the fundraising that went along with it. This, combined with several scandals in the late 1980s involving Pennsylvania judges, led to the formation of PMC.
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Why Support PMC

PMC is the only statewide organization working exclusively to improve Pennsylvania's courts. The courts affect all of our lives.

We work for systemic change, but we also address individual concerns to ensure that our courts are properly serving the public.
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