HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has issued an order declaring a judicial emergency in Dauphin County.
The order, issued on Saturday, June 29, was declared for the Twelfth Judicial District due to an "unprecedented leadership void in the Office of the Clerk of Courts" following unexpected vacancies on Friday, June 28.
According to the declaration, in May, the President Judge of the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas found substantial deficiencies and an "unacceptable" backlog in the filing, scanning and processing of orders and documents by the Office of the Clerk of Courts of Dauphin County.
As a result, the President Judge issued an administrative order requiring corrective action. When the action reportedly didn't happen, the President Judge scheduled contempt proceedings, according to the courts.
However, on June 28, the Clerk of Courts abruptly resigned, as did the first deputy. The Clerk of Courts reportedly fired the second deputy.
“While the clerk is an independently elected official, the efficient and effective operation of the office is critical to ensuring that the courts remain accessible to all court users and that the essential recordkeeping function of that office is properly and continuously performed in support of the judiciary and the timely administration of justice,” said Chief Justice Todd.
“While Dauphin County President Judge Scott Evans has taken appropriate and necessary steps to bring consistency and stability to the office, Friday’s abrupt departure of the Clerk of Courts and her two deputies necessitated swift action by the Supreme Court," she continued.
On July 1, Dauphin County President Judge Scott Evans swore in Patti Sites to run the office until Gov. Josh Shapiro makes a more permanent appointment under state law, an aide in his chambers confirmed to the Associated Press.
Sites spent 17 years working in the office before she left in January with the arrival of then-newly elected Democratic clerk Bridget Whitley.
