Legislature approves 7th judge for Washington County

If Gov. Tom Wolf signs a bill passed this week by the state Legislature, Washington County will be getting a seventh judge to handle an ever-increasing caseload, especially in criminal court.
President Judge Katherine B. Emery said Wednesday she had been notified by both state Sen. Camera Bartolotta and state Rep. Brandon Neuman that Washington was among the seven counties approved for an additional judgeship due to its judicial workload, which includes more than 3,000 criminal cases.
“The whole process was pretty quick,” Emery said Wednesday.
The possibility of an additional judge was raised during budget discussions in 2016, “but it died,” Emery said.
Assuming the governor affixes his signature to the legislation, the soonest lawyers could run for the seat on the bench would be 2019.
But Emery said the language in the bill allows for a gubernatorial appointment, should Wolf choose to go that route. An appointment, which must be confirmed by the state Senate, would last until the first Monday in January 2020.
“I have no involvement in that process,” Emery emphasized.
The Washington County bench has been augmented since the 2015 departure of Judge Debbie O’Dell Seneca by Senior Judges John C. Reed of Mercer County and William R. Nalitz of Greene County.
“If we get a seventh judge, I think that might change,” Emery said of the need for the senior judges.
In summer 2016, county carpenters crafted a courtroom in courthouse basement space that had been part of the law library. The senior judges share chambers, courtroom and staff.
Emery said she hadn’t yet spoken with the county commissioners about repurposing space either in the courthouse or Family Court Center, which housed the old jail.
“Space is a real problem here,” Emery said of the 117-year-old courthouse designed with two courtrooms. “I’ve been here 22 years, and I’m busier now than I’ve ever been. In terms of day in and day out caseload, I’ve felt it for some time.”
Washington County Court had 3,205 civil cases filed last year.
They included protection from abuse, civil complaints, divorce, custody and property assessment appeals.