THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY EACHUS, BOBACK, CARROLL, MUNDY, PASHINSKI, WANSACZ, YUDICHAK, BRIGGS, DERMODY, McGEEHAN, BROWN, CALTAGIRONE, KIRKLAND, MANN, GODSHALL, SWANGER, KULA, JOSEPHS, MAHONEY AND BRADFORD, JUNE 24, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON CHILDREN AND YOUTH, JUNE 24, 2010  

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Urging the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to implement

recommendations made by the Interbranch Commission on

Juvenile Justice.

WHEREAS, The act of August 7, 2009 (P.L.143,No.32), known as

the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice Act, established

the Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice to, inter alia,

restore public confidence in the administration of juvenile

justice in this Commonwealth; and

WHEREAS, The Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice Act

authorized the commission to conduct a noncriminal investigation

into events that occurred in Luzerne County involving the

administration of juvenile justice, make recommendations

intended to prevent similar events from occurring in the future

and to issue a final report of its activities by May 31, 2010;

and

WHEREAS, At a public meeting held on May 27, 2010, the

commission adopted its final report; and

WHEREAS, The commission's final report includes

recommendations intended to restore public confidence in the

administration of juvenile justice in this Commonwealth and to

ensure the events that transpired in Luzerne County do not occur

in the future; and

WHEREAS, The commission's final report makes recommendations

that are, or appear to be, within the exclusive jurisdiction of

the Pennsylvania Supreme Court under the Constitution of

Pennsylvania; therefore be it

RESOLVED (the Senate concurring), That the General Assembly

strongly encourage the Chief Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme

Court and the Court Administrator to thoroughly review the

Interbranch Commission on Juvenile Justice's May 27, 2010, final

report; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the General Assembly strongly urge the Chief

Justice and the Court Administrator to swiftly implement the

recommendations of the commission under the jurisdiction of the

Pennsylvania Supreme Court included in its final report,

including the following:

(1)  That appropriate educational materials be prepared

for attorneys and the general public to assure that both

communities understand what constitutes a violation of the

Rules of Professional Conduct governing the conduct of

attorneys in this Commonwealth and how to file a complaint.

(2)  That the minimum number of ethics credit hours of

continuing legal education required of attorneys practicing

in this Commonwealth be increased from one to two.

(3)  That judges of the courts of common pleas in this

Commonwealth who are assigned to handle delinquency matters

be required to attend a minimum of 12 hours continuing legal

education.

(4)  That mandatory continuing education standards be

developed for juvenile masters and hearing officers.

(5)  That the Pennsylvania Supreme Court provide

continuing oversight of the Luzerne County court system to

assure that the juvenile justice system functions in

accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 63 (relating to juvenile

matters) and the Juvenile Rules Procedure;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Court Administrator issue written reports

to the Governor and to the General Assembly, which shall also be

accessible to the public, on a quarterly basis for a two-year

period commencing on the date the Governor approves this

concurrent resolution, articulating the Pennsylvania Supreme

Court's and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Court's

progress on implementing the commission's recommendations; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That the Court Administrator issue a final written

report to the Governor and the General Assembly on the date

occurring two years following the date the Governor approves

this concurrent resolution outlining all of the commission's

recommendations implemented by the Court Administrator as well

as articulating why any of the commission's recommendations were

not implemented, if applicable; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this concurrent resolution be presented to the

Governor for his signature and to the Chief Justice of the

Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Court Administrator

immediately upon being signed.