Judges sought Supreme Court help
A little more than a week after the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts relieved Washington County President Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca of her administrative duties, her fellow judges revealed they had long-standing concerns over her court administration and managerial decisions.
In a news release Wednesday, judges Katherine Emery, John DiSalle, Gary Gilman, Valerie Costanzo and Michael Lucas said they reached out to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court for help following an April 2 incident.
“In April of this year, following an unfortunate incident, judges Emery, Gilman, Costanzo and Lucas requested the assistance of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court with regard to the administration of our court by the president judge,” the release said. “Judge DiSalle joined in the request and the concerns communicated to the Supreme Court.”
The incident in question was not detailed in the release, but involved the transfer of DiSalle’s court reporter, Sharon Harmon. O’Dell Seneca ordered Harmon be moved to court administration and the sheriff’s office was to assist in the move. DiSalle refused to comply, filing an order of his own that stated court administration and information technology officers were to cease and desist from removing personnel or property without his permission. The Washington County sheriff’s office declined to get involved. Harmon was not removed and remains DiSalle’s court reporter.
On Nov. 5, the AOPC released a news release stating O’Dell Seneca was relieved of her administrative duties and that Senior Judge Joseph M. James was appointed as interim administrative judge of Washington County. O’Dell Seneca remains president judge and is carrying a full caseload, while James is responsible for all administrative and operational matters.
The judges met with James on several occasions since the change. Their first meeting Nov. 7 was held behind closed doors and included Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Max Baer.
“We have met both as a group and individually with Judge James. For the first time in many years, open and clear communication and the opportunity for input regarding the functioning and management of the court are being re-established with Judge James at the helm,” the judges said in the release. “We are confident that the court will become more responsive to the needs of the attorneys, litigants, court employees and, most importantly, the citizens and taxpayers of Washington County.”
Their statement echoes a similar statement made by Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille last week.
“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. At the end of 2012, Judge Janet Moschetta Bell retired.
Two new judges, Mike Lucas and Valarie Costanzo, were elected in 2013 and took office at the start of this year.
O’Dell Seneca has been the center of several controversies, including the allegation that she altered a trial transcript in a murder case. Most recently, O’Dell Seneca was named as a defendant in 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.
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 the 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.
James, a former administrative judge and president judge in Allegheny County, is being paid $536 per day. O’Dell Seneca has been president judge, which pays $175,306, for the last 10 years. In 2011, O’Dell Seneca won retention for a third 10-year term by a margin of nearly 2 to 1. Her tenure ends in 2021.
The judges thanked the state Supreme Court and Baer for “their time and effort in addressing their concerns,” and for James’ “willingness to serve with us.”
They declined further comment, noting it would not be “appropriate or constructive.”
“We are committed to the efficient and proper operation of the Washington County Court of Common Pleas and that is our focus,” they said.