MEETING MINUTES

Monday, May 7, 2012

Attendance

Present were: Judge Butts, Judge Gray, Judge Lovecchio, Judge McCoy, Jennifer Ayers, Brian Bluth, Richard Callahan, Prothonotary Suzanne M. Fedele, Clifford Rieders, Edward Rymsza, Kevin Way, J. Michael Wiley, Jeffrey Yates, Ken Young and Ed Mitchell.

Old Business

Court Website

The Court’s website is in place as a part of the county’s website.

Jury Questionnaires

The committee is in place to make recommendations for additions to the questions on the civil jury questionnaires.

New Business

Mortgage Foreclosure Court

Mortgage foreclosures are increasing. Statistics show that nearly 72% of mortgagors in foreclosure are able to stay in their homes as a result of the reforms being utilized in Mortgage Foreclosure Court. More attorneys are needed to participate in the pro-bono program for mortgagors in foreclosure.

Criminal List

There is a backlog of criminal cases. Court would like to see more cases resolved more quickly. Problems exist in the understaffed Public Defenders office.

Family Court

The family law attorneys are meeting regularly with the Court every other month.

Video Equipment in Courtroom

There is permanent video conferencing capability in all four courtrooms on the second floor. The Court has adopted a rule for request for use of video conferencing during trials.

Prothonotary

Purge notices for civil cases with two years of inactivity will be sent out and publicized June 30.

Legal Services

Three of 12 offices have closed. Legal services programs are changing as a result of reduction in funding.

Court Ordered Responses to Preliminary Objections

It was pointed out that some of our Judges are requesting responses to preliminary objections within 10 days when the statewide rules permit 20 days.

Next Meeting

The next meeting will be August 6, 2012 at noon at the Ross Club.

Respectfully submitted,

C. Edward S. Mitchell, Chairman