Established by the Supreme Court in 2005, the Commission on Judicial Independence (PACJI) was charged, among its tasks, to foster greater understanding by the public about the role of the judiciary, explain the value of an independent judiciary in America, and illuminate unjust criticism of the judicial system. Since then, the Commission has created educational programs and seminars for the public and other, often in collaboration with other sponsors.

Members of the Commission

Justice James J. Fitzgerald III Co-chair, Senior Judge Pennsylvania Superior Court Judge John E. Jones III Co-chair, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania Andrew F. Susko, Esq. White and Williams LLP Edward W. “Ned” Madeira Jr., Esq. LLP Judge D. Michael Fisher U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit Charisse R. Lillie, Esq. Vice President for Community Investment, William M. Carter Jr., Esq. Dean and Professor of Law, University of Pittsburgh School of Law Judge Christylee Peck Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas Charles L. Becker, Esq. Kline & Specter, P.C. Darren M. Breslin, Esq. Counsel

Past PACJI members

Justice Cynthia Baldwin (ret.) Honorable Edward R. Becker Professor John M. Burkoff Chief Justice Emeritus John P. Flaherty Professor Geoffrey C. Hazard, Jr. Renardo L. Hicks, Esq. Honorable Renee Cardwell Hughes Honorable Lisa P. Lenihan Honorable Stephen A. McEwen, Jr. Jane G. Penny, Esq. J. Evans Rose, Esq. Summary of Significant Commission Activities 2005-2014

Ongoing Collaboration with groups such as PA Forward, PennCord, the Pennsylvania Bar Association, the Bar Association, Dickinson College, Dickinson School of Law, Duquesne University Law School and the National Constitution Center.

Summer 2006 2009 2009 Coordinated presentation Created and sponsored with Assisted the Administrative on judicial independence Dickinson College’s Clarke Forum Office of Pennsylvania Courts in issues by Bert Brandenburg, for Contemporary Issues a Court/ the development of a DVD and executive director of the public Media Program featuring distinguished companion brochure, “A Citizen’s interest group “Justice at Pennsylvania journalists and judges Guide to Pennsylvania’s Unified Stake” for the Pennsylvania in a forum moderated by John Curley, Judicial System,” and facilitated their Conference of State Trial professor and Distinguished Professional distribution to schools, libraries and Judges. in Residence at Penn State University. others interested state-wide.

March, 2007 2013 and ongoing Facilitated lectures, subsequently 2006-2008 Collaboration with published by the Duquesne Law Sponsored regional workshops PAForward, an enterprise Review, on merit-retention by with the Pennsylvania of the Pennsylvania Library Pennsylvania Supreme Court Newspaper Association and Association designed to Justice Thomas G. Saylor and the Pennsylvania Association promote greater public literacy PACJI Counsel Darren Breslin for the of Broadcasters for journalists in various areas, including inaugural Matthew J. Ryan Law and and judges designed to foster civics, through creation and Public Policy Forum at the National understanding of their respective distribution of information by Constitution Center. roles and practices. and development of programs at Pennsylvania’s public libraries.

November, 2014 2008-2012 Created in collaboration Created with the Pennsylvania with author Joel Cohen and Bar Association and PennCord, the National Constitution Teacher Institutes on the Center a panel discussion, Judiciary in Harrisburg, “Blindfolds Off – Judges on Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, How they Decide…In An Era Scranton, and Clarion. The day- of Discontent,” at the National Constitution Center. September, 2007 long programs for secondary Sponsored day-long school teachers – often presented 2011 activities and a speech in tandem with law schools or Created and co-sponsored with Dickinson College’s in Harrisburg by U.S. public school intermediate units Clarke Forum for Contemporary Issues and The Supreme Court Justice -- were designed to encourage Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State Sandra Day O’Connor a greater emphasis on civics University “Justice Unfunded / Justice Undone,” (ret.) regarding the education and to foster a better a program on court resource issues moderated by importance of an understanding of the role of the former Pennsylvania Governor Dick Thornburgh independent judiciary judiciary. featuring senior officials of the National Center for and unjust criticism of State Courts, the National Governor’s Association, judges. Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, Pennsylvania Budget Secretary Charles Zogby and 11/2014 state Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd.