PA. JUDGES CONFERENCE: Philadelphians Play Leading Roles

ADMINISTRATIVE Judge Joseph D. O’Keefe enjoys company of Kathy Keogh, Judge Amanda Cooperman and Judge Patricia A. McInerney. Photos by Ruth Russell

BY RUTH R. RUSSELL/ Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille stressed the accomplishments of judges throughout the Commonwealth in an opening speech at the Conference of Trial Judges in Hershey.

He told the overflow crowd he was pleased with the additional money provided for the courts, although it is still a small percentage of the state budget. The legislature has passed, and the Governor has signed, a budget for the 2012-13 fiscal year, which started Jul. 1. The state-funded portion of the budget is nearly $308.2 million, a 3.1% increase over the just-ended fiscal year.

CHECKING schedules were Judges Robert J. Rebstock, Ronald L. Greenblatt and Jeffrey P. Minehart.

The courts continued to bring in more money than they received back. Over a recent five-year period, the State appropriations for the courts were less than $1.5 billion while the collections from criminal courts exceeded $2.3 billion.

As usual, the main focus of the conference was education. Those attending tackled subjects such as law and forensics, neurobiology of trauma, nursing-home abuse, and understanding addiction. A session on the causes and nature of sexual abuse of minors featured a report on this problem in the Roman Catholic Church from 1950 to 2010.

JUDGE D. Webster Keogh is happily flanked by Kathy Keogh and Judge Idee C. Fox.

A number of Philadelphia judges played major roles in the education meetings. Ida K. Chen was course planner for “Societal Impacts of Mass Incarceration in the 21st Century”. Idee C. Fox was course planner for “Rules and Duties of Guardians of the Court and for Judgments — Just the Beginning”. Jacqueline F. Allen was course planner for “Neurobiology of Trauma”. Rosalyn K. Robinson was co-planner of the course on “Nursing Home Abuse”. Daniel J. Anders and Mark I. Bernstein were on the faculty for “Fit, Frye and Forensics”. Jeffrey P. Minehart was on the faculty for “Justification and the Castle Doctrine” (a recent crimes-code amendment) and Matthew D. Carrrafiello was on the faculty for “Judgments — Just the Beginning”.

JUDGE Felice Rowley Stack shares moment with Judge John Milton Younge.

The Philadelphia judiciary was well represented at the conference. Among the judges (not already mentioned) were Diana L. Anhalt, Genece E. Brinkley, Joan A. Brown, Sandy L. V. Byrd, Linda A. Carpenter, Denis P. Cohen, Amanda Cooperman, Pamela Pryor Dembe, Alfred J. DiBona, Kevin M. Dougherty, Alice Beck Dubow, Lori A. Dumas Brooks, Charles A. Ehrlich, Michael E. Erdos, Angela J. Foglietta, Holly J. Ford, Jonathan Q. Irvine, Vincent L. Johnson, Sean F. Kennedy, D. Webster Keogh,  Richard B. Klein, James Murray Lynn, William J. Manfredi, Frederica A. Massiah-Jackson, Barbara A. McDermott, Maria C. McLaughlin;

Also, Sandra Mazer Moss, Margaret Theresa Murphy, Arnold L. New, Thomas M. Nocella, Joseph D. O’Keefe, Walter J. Olszewski, George W. Overton, Paul F. Panepinto, Paula A. Patrick, Doris A. Pechkurow, Lillian Harris Ransom, Lisa M. Rau, Robert J. Rebstock, Annette M. Rizzo, Shelley Robins New, Edward E. Russell, Jacqueline L. Russell, Susan I. Schulman, Dawn A. Segal, Lisette Shirdan-Harris, Karen Shreeves-Johns, Gregory E. Smith, Albert John Snite Jr., Felice Rowley Stack, Diane R. Thompson, Leon W. Tucker, Donna M. Woelpper, Sheila A. Woods-Skipper and John Milton Younge.

CARRYING books to one of conferences were Judges Sandy L. V. Byrd, left, Joan A. Brown and Administrative Judge Kevin M. Dougherty.

PRESIDENT Judge Pamela Pryor Dembe shares happy moment with her husband David Dembe.

MAKING a fine trio were Judges Annette M. Rizzo, Marlene Lachman and Karen Shreeves-Johns.

COMPARING schedules were Judges Diane R. Thompson, left, and Holly Ford.

FORMER City Controller Jonathan Saidel, left, enjoys his time with Judge Maria S. McLaughlin and Judge Richard B. Klein.

JUDGE Edward E. Russell, right, advises Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille of changes in agenda.

CONFERENCE President Judge Dudley N. Anderson, left, spends moment with State Supreme Court Justice Michael Eakin.

JUDGE Rosalyn K. Robinson shares moment with Conference Past President Judge Arnold L. New.

JUDGES George W. Overton and Denis P. Cohen enjoyed breaks in conferences.

CONFERENCE Parliamentarian Judge Edward E. Russell was pleased his wife and Public Record Citilife Editor Ruth R. Russell had time to pose for this picture with him.

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