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The Clock Is Ticking, the Time for Merit Is Now

PMC and PMCAction’s editorial appears in today’s Legal Intelligencer (subscription required), outlining why a change from judicial elections to a merit selection process for Pennsylvania’s selection of appellate court judges is important and why the time to begin the steps to undertake such a change is now.

March 22, 2010

PMC and PMCAction’s editorial appears in t

"One of the Drawbacks to Elected Judges"

KYW 1060, reporting on the American Judicature Society report on the degree of overlap between contributors to the campaigns of Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices and those appearing before those justices in Court, quotes PMC's Lynn Marks and Pennsylvania Chief Justice Castille.

March 22, 2010

KYW 1060 reported on the American Judicature Society report on the degree of overlap between contributors to the campaigns of P

Revised Study Confirms Overlap Between Campaign Contributors and Those Who Appear in Court

PMC has announced that a revised study by the American Judicature Society (AJS) confirms that there is significant overlap between contributors to the election campaigns of Pennsylvanian Supreme Court justices and litigants, lawyers and law firms appearing before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

March 19, 2010

PMC has  announced that a revised study by the American Judicature Society (AJS) confirms that there is significant overlap be

Philadelphia To Launch a Veterans Court

The First Judicial District is announcing today the launch of a new problem solving court: Philadelphia Veterans Court.

March 3, 2010

The First Judicial District is announcing today the launch of a new problem solving court: Philadelphia Veterans Court.  According to the Media Advisory, "the new Veterans Court will oversee a range of services offered to qualified veterans involved in the criminal justice system.

Philadelphia Needs a New Family Court Facility

In a letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, PMC, the Women's Law Project, the Support Center for Child Advocates, Community Legal Services Inc. and the Philadelphia Bar Association argue that Philadelphia needs a new, unified, safe, functioning family court building.

March 1, 2010

In a letter to the Philadelphia Inquirer, PMC, the Women's Law Project, the Support Center for Child Advocates, Community Legal Services Inc. and the Philadelphia Bar Association argue that Philadelphia needs a new, unified, safe, functioning family court building. 

New Cover Sheet Required for Civil Action Filings

Beginning on March 26, individuals filing most civil actions in county-level courts will be required to use a new form. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court mandated the change on February 25 via an amendment to the Rules of Civil Procedure.

March 1, 2010

Beginning on March 26, individuals filing most civil actions in county-level courts will be required to use a new form. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court mandated the change on February 25 via an amendment to the Rules of Civil Procedure. The new cover sheet will include a check list indicating the type of action being filed.

Bill Moyers' Journal spotlights Judicial Elections, Pennsylvania

The problems with Pennsylvania’s judicial elections took a national spotlight this week on Friday's primetime PBS news show “Bill Moyers Journal."

February 23, 2010

The problems with Pennsylvania’s judicial elections took a national spotlight this week. The Friday night primetime PBS news show “Bill Moyers Journal” was devoted this past week to the question we’ve been asking for a long time:

New Rules on Jury Instructions Go Into Effect

Earlier this month, new rules approved by the PA Supreme Court went into effect that will permit jurors in criminal charges to receive -- and take into the jury room -- some portions of the judge's instructions.

February 16 2010

Earlier this month, new rules approved by the PA Supreme Court went into effect that will permit jurors in criminal charges to receive -- and take into the jury room -- some portions of the judge's instructions.  Trial court judges in criminal cases may now permit jurors “to have for use during deliberat

Governor: "The Time Has Clearly Come"

Governor Rendell just finished delivering his 2010-2011 budget address before the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In discussing his reform priorities, the Governor made a strong pitch for Merit Selection, urging "the time has clearly come."

February 9, 2010

Governor Rendell just finished delivering his 2010-2011 budget address before the Pennsylvania General Assembly. In discussing his reform priorities, the Governor said:

PMC Testifies Before Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice

On February 2, PMC -- represented by the Honorable Phyllis W. Beck (Board member), Lynn A. Marks (Executive Director) and Shira Goodman (Deputy Director) testified before the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice studying the Luzerne County scandal.

February 4, 2010