Pennsylvania courts find savings as state cuts funding

By   /  May 10, 2013  /  Judicial Reform, Judiciary, News, Pennsylvania, State Government  /  No Comments

COURTS IN PA: The Washington County court house, seen here, in one of the 60 judicial districts in Pennsylvania.

By Melissa Daniels | PA Independent
HARRISBURG — In Pennsylvania, the judicial system isn’t much different than the other two branches of government when it comes to worrying about money.
A 2013 State of the Commonwealth Courts report released this week shows the court system is working to cut its costs as it prepares for a slight decrease [...]

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Too much democracy? Ex-govs say no to elections for judges

By   /  March 18, 2013  /  Accountability, Elections, Ethics, Featured, Issues, Judicial Reform, Judiciary, News, Pennsylvania, Politics & Elections, State Elections, State Government  /  No Comments

GREAT TASTE? LESS FILLING? The state's residents may eventually get to decide between having Supreme Court Justices elected or appointed.

By Eric Boehm | PA Independent
HARRISBURG – Three former governors elected by Pennsylvania voters a total of six times over the past 34 years argued Monday that those same voters should not be trusted to choose the state’s highest-ranking judges.
Former Republican Govs. Dick Thornburgh and Tom Ridge were joined by former Democratic Gov. Ed Rendell [...]

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OK: Miracle or mirage? Justice officials move from chaos to confidence

By   /  October 11, 2012  /  Featured, Judicial Reform, Judiciary, News, Oklahoma  /  No Comments

Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, co-chairman of a working group focused on judicial reform, is encouraged the state is making progress on implementation of a new now. Last month, he said it would take a miracle to get the corrections system ready for the law's kickoff on November 1.

By Patrick B. McGuigan | Oklahoma Watchdog
OKLAHOMA CITY — What a difference a month makes. In September, a meeting of state officials responsible for implementing new criminal justice legislation unfolded like a disastrous opening night for a poorly conceived Broadway show. It was such a mess that David Prater, the Oklahoma County district attorney, said “it would [...]

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PA: Voter ID, natural gas industry take hits

By   /  July 27, 2012  /  2012 General Election, Economy, Elections, Energy, Environment, Environmental, Events, Federal Government, Immigration, Issues, Judicial Reform, News, Pennsylvania, Politics, Politics & Elections, State Government, transportation  /  No Comments

Pennsylvania flag

By PA Independent Staff
HARRISBURG — The controversy over Pennsylvania’s voter photo ID law is entering a new stage as the November elections approach.
Hundreds of protesters, who gathered Tuesday on the steps of the Capitol, said the Republican-driven law is a ploy to disenfranchise groups that tend to vote Democrat.
The following day, the Commonwealth Court held [...]

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FL: Voters ready for bench-clearing brawl in judiciary

By   /  July 25, 2012  /  2012 General Election, Accountability, Florida, Issues, Judicial Reform, Judiciary, Judiciary, News  /  No Comments

Florida has a system where high-level judges stand for a “retention election” every six years and can be voted off the bench if the majority of the electorate gives them more negative rather than affirmative votes. Some members of the state Supreme Court are up for retention votes.

By Tori Richards | Special to Florida Watchdog
This year’s election cycle is an important one for the state of Florida, a place where approximately 80 percent of the political offices are up for grabs.
But after voters check their box for Barack Obama, Mitt Romney or someone else and then make their selections for Congress, another [...]

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