Jury selection for state Sen. Jane Orie’s new trial had been set for April 26, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Judge Manning has postponed it until October 3. Sen. Orie and her sister Janine Orie are charged with using public resources and employees for campaign work.

Jury selection for state Sen. Jane Orie’s new trial had been set for April 26, but the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that Judge Manning has postponed it until October 3. Sen. Orie and her sister Janine Orie are charged with using public resources and employees for campaign work.

To vote in the Pennsylvania primary election, the deadline to register to vote is April 18, 2011. Registration can be done in person or through the mail. A link to download the Voter Registration Application can be found here.

It's judicial election season. There are two vacancies on the statewide appellate courts: one each on the Superior and Commonwealth Courts. PMC's Current Elections page has updated appellate court candidate information, and a link to the State Department's list of all primary candidates in the local court races.

In a March 30th editorial, the Philadelphia Inquirer laments another judicial election that focuses on the candidates' ballot position, ethnicity, and campaign war chests, rather than their qualifications or experience.

In a statement released today, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille warned that the Commonwealth's courts are headed toward “a crisis" if the General Assembly does not adequately fund the courts' operations.

Victims in cases that were dismissed due to the Luzerne County kids-for-cash scandal who have not yet been fully compensated have until April 30 to apply for restitution payments. The payments will be paid from a $500,000 fund created by the General Assembly.

Amanda Bronstad of the National Law Journal relates stories of increasing juror frustration and hostility towards lawyers occurring across the country. The article describes incidents of vocalized resistance to sitting on a jury.

Pennsylvania State Senator Jane Earll (R-Erie) has introduced two bills that would move Pennsylvania toward Merit Selection of appellate judges.

The Legal Intelligencer (subscription required) describes the crowded field for Philadelphia Common Pleas judgeships, and the role that ballot positions will play in the election. In that race, 45 lawyers seek 10 open seats.