Category Archives: News

On February 14, 2022, the Commission submitted formal comments to the PA Supreme Court Criminal Procedural Rules Committee, in response to its publication of proposed amendments to existing state court Continue ReadingCommission Submits Comments to Court re Proposed State Criminal Procedural Rules Governing the Appointment of Counsel, the Purpose of Bail, and Others→

On February 2, 2022, the Commission submitted formal comments to the ACBA’s Administration of Justice Sub-Committee, in response to their publication of proposed amendments to the Allegheny County Rules of Continue ReadingCommission Submits Comments to ACBA re Proposed Amendments to Local Rules Governing Bail, Probation and Incarceration→

On January 27, 2022, the Committee distributed a letter and a one-page graphic summary containing the results of its survey on PA juror demographics to all Pennsylvania Judicial Court Administrators. Continue ReadingCommission Distributes Letter, Infographic re Results of PA Juror Demographics Survey to Court Administrators→

On December 1, 2021, Executive Director Lisette McCormick submitted her article, “The Case for Jury Inclusiveness and Reform: The Pennsylvania Story,” to the American Bar Association (“ABA”), for publication in Continue ReadingABA Judges’ Journal Publishes Executive Director McCormick’s Article on Jury Inclusiveness in PA→

In November 2021, the Commission distributed to Pennsylvania’s federal district courts and state court administrators electronic and hard copies of its informational pamphlets on jury service. These pamphlets were produced Continue ReadingCommission Distributes Jury Service Pamphlet for LEP Individuals to PA’s Federal, State Courts→

On October 19, 2021, the Commission distributed to bar associations, President Judges, and advocacy organizations its annual one-page summary of Pennsylvania attorney demographic data. The data is collected and reported Continue ReadingCommission Distributes Annual One-Page Summary of PA Attorney Demographics→

On October 11, 2021, Staff Attorney Brendan Bertig’s article, entitled “Pushing Forward: The Need for State-Based Protections Post-Bostock,” was published in Houston’s Legacy, the quarterly publication of the Pennsylvania Bar Continue ReadingPBA Publishes Staff Attorney Bertig’s Article re LGBTQ Rights in PA→

On September 29, 2021, the Commission submitted to Pennsylvania House and Senate committee chairs its letter in support of legislation that would expand non-discrimination protections for LGBTQ Pennsylvanians in the Continue ReadingCommission Supports Legislation to Expand Non-Discrimination Protections for LGBTQ Individuals→

The Commission was pleased to learn that on August 11, 2021, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania adopted Pennsylvania Rule of Evidence 413, which substantially limits the admissibility of one’s immigration Continue ReadingCourt Adopts Commission’s Proposed Rule to Limit Admissibility of One’s Immigration Status into Evidence→

The Commission submitted formal comments to the Allegheny County Bar Association’s Administrative Law Sub-Committee, opposing the use of risk assessment tools in Allegheny County because of their minimal impact on Continue ReadingCommission Submits Comments to ACBA re Local Court Rules re Bail, Probation & Incarceration→