If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at NCJRS.gov. .':.""',1 .t:~1_ 1975 REPORT This microfiche was produced from documents received for Inclusion in the NG1RS data base. Since NCJRS cannot exercise control over the physical condition of the documents submitted. the individu::-I frame quality will vary. The resolution chart On this frame may be use~ to evaluate the document quality. 1~="=Z::::::::::::::==';:rc:~= .. ,.. '. .' 1.0 t ti/ -. <::! ~~~ .1 1.1 IIIII~~~ -- -- IIII!~~~ 111111.25 1\1\1 1.4 111111.6 f . "" _J'-••~ .. ,.~- -_. -.ui_~ >. t:l -~";i . - -:; :l~_~:;:;;;:=:z ... , ~..... -.~.. :::::::=. ~===' ... , ,,~ Microfilming procedures used to create this fiche comply with the standards set forth in 41CFR 101·11.504 -. • '~~.~ Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the author!s) and do not represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ..... .. , "'-. LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION - .- NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFERENCE SERVICE WASHINGTON, D.C. 20531 • ... - .. 2/10/77 • ) a , !, rilmed ----------------------".~~--,- --- 1975 REPORT i. fj i t: ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE of PENNSYLVANIA COURTS Room 1414 - Three Penn Center Plaza Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19102 NCJRS OCT 1~ ALEXANDER F. BARBIERI Court Administrator COVER: Old City Hall, built in 1789-1791, as the first permanent CARLILE E. KING GERALD VV. SPIVACK ROBERT F. KENT home for the city government of Philadelphia was the meeting Deputy Court Administrator Deputy Court Administrator place of the United States Supreme Court from 1791-1800 during Deputy Court Administrator the period that Philadelphia was the seat of the federal for Court Operations for the Minor Judiciary for Fiscal Affairs government. The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a Philadelphia based institution, was established on May 22, 1722, and is the oldest Appellate Court in the United States, antedating the United States Supreme Court by sixty-seven years. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is headquartered with its main courtroom in Philadelphia's City Hall. ~ " 'j. ,1 ." / , SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA '{, ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COURTS 1414 THREE PENN CENTER PLAZA PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA 19102 (215) 567-3071 - 666-3576 ALEXANDER F. BARBIERI DEPUTY COURT ADMINISTRATORS JUDGE CARLILE E. KING, ESQUIRE COURT ADMINISTRATOR OF PENNSYLVANIA GERALD W. SPIVACK, ESQUIRE ROBERT F. KENT, ESQUIRE TO: The Honorable Chief Justice and JUstices of the Supreme"Court FROM: Judge Alexander F. Barbieri The year 1975, my first year as your Court Administrator, was a year of plann.ing and expansion of activities and programs in all areas in which 'the Administrative Office must function. Important new interests were developed during the year and new responsibili­ ties were assumed and implemented. While details of all programs and activities are to be found in the report which follows, including the information and data previously distributed in three separate pub­ lications, I would like to briefly note here some of the new projects and programs initiated in 1975. Recognizing that communications and information are vital keys to effective administration of statewide judiciary systems, a Direc­ tor of Court Information Systems was appointed to head up a new Infor­ mation Services Department. The Department is engaged in conducting pilot programs in several counties, and provides advice and assistance to county systems to improve and modernize record keeping, filing and reportin.g, with special assistance in judicial ~istricts having or planning automated management systems. When the Attorney General ruled early in the year in a formal opinion that his Office would discontinue legal services to Penn­ sylvania's Judiciary, a Legal Services Department was established, basically to provide litigation services and represen~ation to judges and others in the judiciary systems. This new department, in addition, provides legal opinions and advice intermlll:y for the use and guid.ance of all Administrative Office departments. With continuing education for all branches of the Judiciary as the antiCipated goal, the Pennsylvania College of the Judiciary was founded. As in previous years, judicial education continued to be a jOint product of this Office and the Pennsylvania Conference of Trial #1 ! ; ,I I ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COURTS Judges, with new vitality provided to benefit all educational pro­ grams when the Court made orientation and indoctrination seminar~ 1975 REPORT mandatory for a large class of new judges. Legislature relations were made a separate and special area CONTENTS of concern and interest in 1975. Aside from daily attention paid by the Administrative Office to the flow of proposed legislation af­ fecting the Judiciary, the Office was honored and pleased to serve as secretariat and st'aff for the innovative, nine-member liaison committee, established jOintly by your Court and the Legislature. Part Page Constaple affairs and activities also received attention. Letter from the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania .... ........ ..... ............ .......... ............ ..... ...... ......... III Educational programs were planned and are being implemented. A Task Force, sponsored by this Office, is now studying proposals I ORGANIZATION AND JURISDICTION OF THE UNIFIED JUDICIAL to improve and further professionalize these important aides to SYSTEM OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA the Judiciary. The Supreme Court................................... ............................. ........... ................. ..... .................. ....... 3 In concluding, I wish to acknowledge and extend thanks for The Superior Court........................................................................................................................... 4 the help I received during the first year of my service: to the The Comn10nwealth Court .................... ·............................................................................................ 4 Chief Justice for his patient and daily advice and other assistance, Courts of COlnmon Pleas.................................................................................................................. 5 and to the entire Court for total support and encouragement; to my Special Courts ................................................................................................................................... 6 dedicated staff and supporting personnel, whose quality, high morale Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts................................................................................. 8 and devotion to duty are exceptional in my experience; and to the Supportive Personnel......................................................................................................................... 9 hundreds of judiciary officers and clerks at all levels for their Cour.t Rule iVlaking............................................................................................................................ 9 cooperation.in the work of this Office, and for providing the infor­ The Judicial Inquiry and Revie,v Board .......................................................................................... 9 mation that has made possible the presentation of statistical and The Judicial Council..................................................... .................................................................... 9 other data in this report. II REPORT FROM THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE OF PENNSYLVANIA COURTS Information Systems ........................................................................................................................ 15 Evaluation of Trial Court Administratiol1 ...............................: ....................................................... 16 Barbieri I Judicial Education ...................... ,.................................................................................................... .. 16 . AFB:'ek Court of Pennsylvania District Justice of the Peace Courts ............................................................................................... .. 17 Constables ............................................... , ................................................... ., .................................. ,. 18 Fiscal Affairs .................. '" ............................................................................................................... 19 Legal Services ................................................... .'1 .............................................................................. 21 Conference of S tate Trial Judges ................................................................................................... .. 21 Trial Court Administrators ........................................................................................................... ,... 22 Court Reimbursement Program ................................................................................... ,................... 23 Bail Programs ......... ,....................................................................... , .............................................. " .. 24 Federal Grants ............................... ,................ ,.................................................................. ,............. .. 24 III REPORTS OF SUPREME COURT COMMITTEES AND RELATED COURT AGENCIES Civil Procedural Rules COlnmittee .................................................................................................