Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts
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Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts was established in 1988 after a report (commissioned by Governor Casey) produced by the Pennsylvania Judicial Reform Commission (chaired by then-Superior Court Judge Phyllis W. Beck) discovered that Pennsylvanians' confidence in their justices was "appallingly low."[1]
Mission: The Move to Merit Selection
PMC is "committed to making the move to Merit Selection for all appellate judges in Pennsylvania."[2]
"PMC was founded to work to reform Pennsylvania’s courts, focusing on transforming the method of judicial selection, with the ultimate goal of enhancing public confidence in the courts and the judiciary. The founders of PMC believed that real reform required a new, independent, statewide organization, separate from established bar associations and independent of any government-appointed commissions."[3]
The group has sponsored recent amendments to the Pennsylvania Constitution that would change the way Pennsylvania (appellate) judges are selected. Two consecutive Pennsylvania legislatures must approve the amendment before it can move to public referendum. The earliest a public referendum could be held is 2009.[4]
Sponsored Sites: JUDGESONMERIT.ORG
Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts, along with PMCAction, has sponsored a blog called JudgesOnMerit.org in order to "follow the progress of [current merit selection] legislation and chronicle the progress of the judicial selection reform effort."[5]
