Washington County president judge relieved of administrative duties
Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca is shown on the bench in this 2007 photo from a courthouse event.
Washington County President Judge Debbie O'Dell Seneca
Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca was relieved of her administrative duties Wednesday in an effort to bring “new perspective, renewed collegiality and greater collaborations” to the courthouse, the Administrative Office Pennsylvania Courts said in a news release.
In the release, Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille said Senior Judge Joseph M. James, a former administrative judge and president judge of Allegheny County, was appointed as interim administrative judge of Washington County. O’Dell Seneca will continue to serve as president judge and carry a full caseload while James will be responsible for all administrative and operational matters.
“New perspective, renewed collegiality and greater collaboration are values that often result when administrative leadership in a judicial district changes,” Castille said. “Judge James’ appointment is an opportunity to strengthen the Washington County bench in light of challenges the court system has experienced in recent years, including judicial vacancies and time-consuming, complex litigation.”
Washington County Court was operating with just four judges throughout 2013. Judge Paul Pozonsky retired in June 2012, before he was charged with taking cocaine evidence in criminal cases while it was stored in his office. His case is still pending. Then, at the end of 2012, Judge Janet Moschetta Bell abruptly retired.
Two new judges, Mike Lucas and Valarie Costanzo, were elected in 2013 and took office at the start of this year.
Washington County Court Administrator Patrick Grimm said he could not comment on the AOPC’s announcement. The five other Washington County judges either declined to comment or could not be reached. The judges and representatives from the AOPC are scheduled to meet today to further discuss the situation.
O’Dell Seneca held the position, which pays $175,306, for the last 10 years. Tom Darr, the deputy state court administrator for the AOPC, said the position of a president judge is a “grueling task.”
“A president judge is a chief administrative officer for the judicial system,” Darr said. “In general terms, (a president judge) handles administrative matters, coordinating judges and supervising staff. This is a tough job to hold for a long period of time.”
The role of president judge is limited to five years in larger counties. Darr said counties with seven judges or fewer do not have a limit on the length of the president judge’s service. In Washington County, with six judges, the position is determined by seniority.
O’Dell Seneca did not respond to requests for comment. Her court calendar for the remainder of the week was cleared.
“I have known Judge James as a colleague and friend for many years,” O’Dell Seneca said in the news release. “His significant experience will be of great assistance in Washington County and I look forward to working with him.”
Darr said the AOPC is merely providing assistance in this situation, but was unsure if O’Dell Seneca requested help or if the AOPC determined that it needed to intervene. Darr said this situation occurred in the past, mentioning Lawrence County.
However, Washington County District Attorney Gene Vittone said he never heard of a president judge being relieved of administrative duties. While Vittone is unsure of how things will continue to unfold, he said his office is “willing to cooperate.” Vittone also hoped the change will help to “improve the efficiency of the court.”
James is not anticipated to hear cases in Washington County. His assignment began Wednesday and will be for an indefinite tenure, according to the Supreme Court order. Darr said James will be paid $536 per day.
James Jeffries, a Washington attorney, believes the change will “increase morale” throughout the courthouse.
“There is a general haze that seems to be over the entire courthouse,” he said. “This is about bringing a fresh, collective approach. Judge Castille was on point with that.”
O’Dell Seneca is a defendant of a whistleblower lawsuit filed in August by a former juvenile probation officer, claiming he was “unlawfully fired” after he reported the county’s chief probation officer was making inappropriate recommendations to place children at a treatment center where his girlfriend worked. As president judge, O’Dell Seneca oversaw the operation of that office.
After writing an anonymous letter to Castille in 2012 alerting officials to “unethical practices,” David Scrip, 53, of Monongahela, claims he was disciplined and ultimately fired. The lawsuit also alleges O’Dell Seneca was eavesdropping on the juvenile master through a digital recording system installed in the courtrooms.
An investigation into Scrip’s claims by the AOPC, which found no “substantial increase” in the number of children being placed in the center, did have secondary findings, however. They included poor office morale, lack of transparency in management decisions and poor organizational communication.
Several people were suspended or removed from positions in the juvenile probation office in the past few months. In October, Daniel Clements, the former chief of juvenile probation, retired from his position days before he was charged with theft by deception and tampering with public records. The charges stem from an allegation he pocketed funds that were supposed to be used for mixed-martial arts training – a form of self-defense the department since dropped. Clements and Thomas Jess, director of probation services and assistant court administrator, were also named in the suit.
Jess is no longer overseeing operation of the juvenile probation office, but still holds the same position. Grimm has been overseeing the office for the past several weeks.
Earlier this week, Washington police Chief Chris Luppino confirmed his department is investigating a claim a probation office employee sexually assaulted a girl under his care. Grimm confirmed the employee was suspended while the investigation is continuing.
The assistant chief position in the juvenile probation office is also vacant. On Oct. 24, O’Dell Seneca appointed John Penderville as acting chief of JPO. Penderville could not be reached for comment. Grimm said the position is temporary, and that there is an active search to fill both the chief and assistant chief positions.
In the meantime, Grimm said Penderville reports to him.
“This is a court matter,” said Washington County Commission Chairman Larry Maggi. “At this point, we, the commissioners, don’t have any comment on it. Again, we’ve always reiterated that the court and the commissioners are separate branches of government. The only responsibility we have is funding the courts. It’s a strange relationship.”
The whistleblower lawsuit was moved to federal court at O’Dell Seneca’s request. Most recently, the three defendants made a motion to have the lawsuit dismissed. The motion has not yet been addressed.
Staff writer Barbara Miller contributed to this report.