‘It’s an honor to have them’
Members of the state Superior Court will hold a special session April 28 at Washington County Courthouse.
Three judges from the 19-member panel will spend the day hearing roughly 18 arguments on appeal. Superior Court normally hears arguments in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but occasionally visits other locations. Previous locations include Beaver and Butler counties.
Special sessions are used to better acquaint the public with the process by which matters before the court are considered and resolved, according to a news release from the Superior Court’s office of prothonotary.
Patrick Grimm, Washington County court administrator, said this is the first time the Superior Court has come to Washington County in “anyone’s recent memory.” He said it’s possible that Superior Court members visited the county in the 1980s.
“It is an honor to have them come here,” he said. “It is an outreach program for them.”
Attorney Charles Keller confirmed that the Superior Court visited Washington County in the early 1980s. Keller, who was president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association from 1982 to 1983, said the entire Superior Court bench visited the county courthouse as a “thank you” for his work toward raising the number of judges on the court from seven to 15.
“It’s a very nice recognition,” Keller said of the upcoming visit. “It shows we have a good bench and a good bar.”
Grimm said the judges will use Washington County President Judge Katherine Emery’s courtroom and will participate in the swearing-in of new members to the Washington County Bar Association. The session is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. and is open to the public.
Serving on this special panel are Judges Jack Panella of Northampton County, Jaqueline Shogan of Allegheny County and Paula Ott of Chester County. Superior Court was created in 1895 to assist the state Supreme Court in handling a growing number of appeals.
For more information, visit www.pacourts.us.