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Court Administrator
Zygmont A. Pines, Esq., Court Administrator
Andrea B. Tuominen, Esq., Assistant Court Administrator
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is
composed of seven justices who serve as Pennsylvania's court of last resort.
The court is responsible for administering the Commonwealth?s Unified Judicial System
and supervising Pennsylvania?s appellate and minor courts: the Superior and
Commonwealth Courts, the Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts in each county,
and the Philadelphia Municipal and Traffic Courts.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) was established in January 1969
following the Constitutional Convention of 1967-68.
The AOPC serves as the administrative arm of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court,
and is comprised of seven operational departments. Human Resources, Finance,
Judicial Automation, Judicial Programs, and Judicial Education are located in
Mechanicsburg, while Judicial Services, Legal, and Policy Research & Statistics are
located in Philadelphia. A brief summary of each department follows.
Deputy Court Administrator -
Thomas B. Darr, Deputy Court Administrator
There are three functional
areas under the direction of the Deputy Court
Administrator. The Communications Office
responds to media questions, disseminates
information, analyzes legislation to determine
its impact on the Judiciary, and produces a
number of publications. The Payroll unit is
responsible for ensuring that the Judiciary?s
2000 jurists and staff receive their paychecks
on time. Administrative Services performs a wide
range of administrative functions, including
procurement and property management.
Human Resources Department -
David W. Kutz, Director
The Human Resources Department is
comprised of three functional areas. The benefits unit administers the Judiciary?s
benefits program, including medical, specialized healthcare, life insurance, and
disability insurance plans. Employment Services is responsible for the personnel
management system, including recruitment, training & development, and discipline.
Lastly, HR develops, administers, and maintains the AOPC?s compensation, classification,
and performance evaluation programs.
Finance Department - Deborah B. McDivitt, Director
Finance is responsible for managing all
budget activities and the accounting system for the UJS.
It serves as a primary resource to the various components
comprising the UJS regarding financial matters. The department develops
necessary policies and procedures on accounting and budget issues;
monitors and prepares the annual budget for all state-funded courts;
participates in the annual financial audit of the UJS; and serves as the
central clearinghouse for all non-payroll financial transactions impacting the
judiciary.
Judicial Automation Department - Amy J. Ceraso, Esq., Director
The Judicial Automation Department
works to develop and support the computer operation and
systems software needs of the Judiciary and to maintain
the Judiciary?s telecommunications networks. The Judicial Automation Department
provides technical expertise to operate three existing or newly developed
automation systems: the Magisterial District Judge System (MDJS), the
Pennsylvania Appellate Court Case Management System (PACMS), and the
Administrative Services Application Project (ASAP). Presently, the
department is developing an integrated, statewide case and financial
management system for Pennsylvania?s trial courts, focusing on criminal
court divisions. The department is also responsible for
technological aspects of the Judiciary?s Internet Home Page,
and the AOPC?s intranet, and plays an integral role with the
Executive Branch in developing JNET, a coordinated system that
facilitates the electronic exchange of various criminal justice
data among various organizations.
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Judicial
Programs Department - Joseph J. Mittleman, Esq., Director
The Judicial Programs Department is
responsible for working with county-level judges, court administrators,
and court staff in Pennsylvania?s sixty judicial districts and sixty-seven counties
to implement sound management programs to insure that the Judiciary?s customers ?
citizens, litigants, and attorneys ? are well served. Judicial Programs staff
works extensively with AOPC staff in Human Resources, Judicial Automation and
Judicial Services and Court-related Education to develop and
implement automation programs for the courts and continuing education
and training for county-level senior court managers.
Judicial
Services
- Bunny Baum, Director
The Judicial Services Department
provides the Judicial Education Department with logistical and administrative
support in coordinating conferences, seminars, and meetings primarily for
Pennsylvania?s approximately one thousand magisterial district judges,
trial judges, and appellate jurists. Such events are held periodically
throughout the year to help jurists remain current in the ever-changing field of
jurisprudence. The department also handles property management for appellate court
jurists.
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Legal
Department - Howard M. Holmes, Esq., Director
The Legal Department?s attorneys
maintain expertise in many types of practices and represent the Unified Judicial System
and its personnel in litigation matters. The department also reviews leases and
contracts, drafts and evaluates requests for proposals, and offers general legal
counsel on a variety of subjects to AOPC staff, judges, and the Supreme Court.
Policy Research and Statistics
Department - Donald J. Harris, PhD, Director
The Policy Research and Statistics
Department analyzes and evaluates information from Pennsylvania?s courts, and
provides data necessary to review court operations. Department staff periodically
process research reports on topics of interest to the justice system, often in
concert with other research organizations. The department compiles and publishes
statistics from all of the Pennsylvania courts in an annual report,
Caseload Statistics of the Unified Judicial System.
Judicial Education - Stephen M. Feiler, PhD, Director
The Judicial Education Department
serves as the central point of contact for all matters pertaining to judicial
education programming, resources, and communications. They assess judicial education
needs, and develop and maintain appropriate educational programs (conferences,
self-study, distance-learning, regional libraries, etc.). The department hosts the
annual and mid-annual meetings for the state?s trial judges, as well as satellite
seminars, the New Judges School and other programs as needed. This curricula will
be designed to help Pennsylvania?s jurists meet the intellectual challenges of the
21st century ? in such issues as science, technology, and ethics.
Judicial Security - Frank P. Lalley, Judicial Security Administrator
A recent initiative by the
Supreme Court has been to boost ongoing efforts to provide better all-around
courthouse security for jurists, lawyers, litigants, and the general public.
The Judicial Security Unit will work in conjunction with the Supreme Court Judicial
Council and with state and local officials. Additionally, they will endeavor to
finalize and maintain business continuity plans, including assessment of the
potential impact of the unplanned loss of key staff and automation systems
within the state court system.
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