Maida R. Milone has announced her retirement and will be succeeded by Deborah R. Gross.

In recognition of the countless contributions of Pennsylvania's Black judges to our judicial system, PMC will spotlight them throughout the coming weeks. By showcasing these individuals, we strive to celebrate their accomplishments, their dedication to justice and how they strengthened our judiciary. By sharing these stories of excellence, we hope to honor their legacies and highlight the need to increase racial diversity on the bench. PMC believes that a system which actively advocates for racial diversity will lead to greater access to justice for all Pennsylvanians. 

As confidence in so many of our government institutions and agencies is crumbling, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts continues to believe that the judiciary can serve as the bulwark against despair in our democratic experiment. We remain ever committed to a Pennsylvania judicial system in which everyone who participates is assured impartiality, fairness, accessibility and respect. We recognize that there is important work to be done to make this version of the judicial system a reality and pledge to continue to work for an equitable justice system where everyone, regardless of race, can expect full protection under the law. To achieve our vision, we will continue to work tirelessly to educate all Pennsylvanians about how to navigate our courts with confidence, and we vigorously advocate for judicial reforms that promote the rule of law, access to justice, and an inclusive and highly qualified judiciary.

Do you need CLE or CJE credits? PMC is rebroadcasting a number of our CLE and CJE webinars in May, June and July.

Amid the spread of COVID-19, PMC is postponing a number of upcoming programs and events, in order to protect the health and safety of everyone we serve. We have also provided a link to information about changes to court procedures in each county.

HB 196 would retain partisan elections at all levels and balkanize our state judiciary by creating a patchwork of small districts from which judges would be elected. It would sound the death knell of an independent judiciary in Pennsylvania.

The Pennsylvania legislature is considering a bill that would undermine the state's supreme court.

By Patrick Berry, Brennan Center for Justice