MEETING MINUTES
October 4, 2004
By C. Edward S. Mitchell, Chairman
Present were: Judge Kieser, Judge Anderson, Judge Gray, Brian Bluth, Joseph Campagna, Ed Mitchell, Darryl Wishard.
Judge Kieser reported that the Rules Committee has drafted rules to comply with the new civil rules adopted by the Supreme Court pertaining to discovery motions. The new Supreme Court amendments require argument on discovery motions. The local court is reviewing the rules proposed by the Rules Committee.
Judge Kieser also reported that the attempt to unionize the domestic relations, juvenile and adult probation offices was defeated as a result of a tie vote. The district attorney and public defender offices and county detective office was unionized by a previous vote.
Judge Anderson reported a back up on the criminal trial list. The cause is a combination of the date certain for trial scheduling and a shortage of personnel in both the DA’s office and the PD’s office. As a result, there will be a special criminal monitoring pretrial conference of counsel in all criminal cases on the trial list. The conference will attempt to reach earlier resolution of cases which will be disposed of other than by trial.
As a result of the criminal case back log, one week of each of Judge Anderson’s civil trials in each term will be transferred to criminal trials. This will most likely be the last week of each of Judge Anderson’s civil trial terms.
Judge Anderson requested input concerning other courts’ attitude toward permitting out of town counsel to argue non-evidentiary matters by phone. He indicated two Lycoming County attorneys had complained about the Lycoming County Court allowing such arguments by phone. The attorneys in attendance informed Judge Anderson that many other counties do permit argument by phone by out of town counsel in non-evidentiary matters.
Judge Gray reported that Diane Turner has replaced Gerald Seevers as family court hearing officer. She was previously Judge Butts’ law clerk and an assistant DA and an assistant PD.
Judge Gray is intending to have a noontime meeting with attorneys practicing in the domestic relations field.
Joe Campagna reported the Lycoming Law Association will sponsor a continuing legal education seminar on education law on November 10.
There was a discussion among all members present concerning the poor attendance at recent meetings. Judge Anderson suggested the poor attendance reflects a lack of problems between the bench and bar in Lycoming County. The judges suggested we could reduce the number of meetings to three per year. It was also suggested that members who have poor attendance without reasonable excuses be eliminated from the Committee.
The next meeting will be January 3, 2005.