Let’s hope that Castille’s notorious lack of tolerance for bullsh*t results in the court working more efficiently and less dysfunctionally than it has in the past.
Ronald D. Castille, the former district attorney of Philadelphia who was elected a justice of the state’s highest court in 1993, was formally installed yesterday as the new chief justice of Pennsylvania.In a ceremony attended by the elite of Pennsylvania’s legal community, Castille, 63, became the 55th chief justice of the nation’s oldest appellate court. He succeeds Ralph J. Cappy, who retired this month.
Castille told the audience in the Supreme Court chamber at City Hall that the nation’s courts must be independent of the two other branches of government and that justices, who are elected in Pennsylvania, do not serve the political parties in
which they ran.“We are simply elected to serve a higher calling, and that calling is justice,” said Castille, a Republican, who reminded those assembled that justice must be equal and be imparted “even for the most hated and despised of our society.”
The ceremony drew about 100 people, including Gov. Rendell and his wife, Judge Marjorie O. Rendell of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Mayor Nutter; U.S. Attorney Patrick L. Meehan; five former justices; and a number of other judges.
Cappy and the five current justices spoke warmly of Castille, who served as an assistant prosecutor for 15 years before he was elected district attorney in 1985.
Nutter told the audience that he was heartened by Castille’s remarks last month when he said he wanted the high court to be viewed as nonpolitical, and that he considered those remarks a “tremendous public statement.”
Rendell, who is poised to appoint an interim justice to succeed Cappy until voters elect a justice in 2009, predicted that Castille would do well at the helm of the court.
“Ron Castille will be a great leader to . . . take this court to places that it’s never been before,” Rendell said.
Stilp didn't waste any time
Well Gene Stilp didn’t waste any time… he already brought a complaint against the new Chief Justice.
What is the cause of action?
What are the allegations?
Stilp's Complaint
“In what we’re pretty sure is Stilp’s millionth court filing since the short-lived 2005 pay raise, the Dauphin County activist and onetime Nader Raider claims that Castille ran afoul of disciplinary rules when he told Philly Daily News columnist John Baer late last year that he was soon going to allow a grand jury probe of casino owner Louis DeNaples to proceed.”
(from http://blogs.mcall.com/capitol_ideas/2008/01/drawi…)
A Smelly PA Judiciary and other thoughts
Well if Castille shall go down, it would not be the first time a Chief in less than a year…Anyone smell anything ODD going on in PA? I will elaborate.
Ten Reasons I believe SOMETHING SMELLS in PA.
1. Sandra Shultz Newman elected Chief of Supreme Court and in less than a year leaves.(and her son John Newman steps down as Head of Liquor control board – I know probsbly not connected just coincidental)
2. Nigro Ousted! –
3.Cappy Becomes NEW Chief…then retires a year later (But not before implementing some cool open records and electronic filing stuff also security of the Records)
4. Joyce of Superior Court indicted for allegedly using JUDICIAL letterhead from the Commonwealth to “convince” insurance company to pay out tens of thousands in cash – said was running for seat STILL but was FORCED to give up place in court
5. FUMO!!!! How many counts on that indictment?? Case pushed to April
6.Lynne Abraham in Sept 2006 says she was NOT running for DA, now she’s quiet and says she might not leave? But a run for AG?? Whats the Big dang secret? We know Darnell Jones is looking for DA job and met with her recently, but we are talking AG here RIGHT?? Whatever!
7.Longest standing Judge in Commonwealth Judge Collins announces what Rendell said was a “planned” retirement. I mean are we IDIOTS but MOST people PLAN their retirement?? What did Eddie mean? It wasn’t a “forced” retirement, right?
8. Third Circut Federal Court of PA recently DISAGREED with the Superior courts rulings on Arbitration. WAIT there’s a court missimg! Where is the PA Supreme Court in all of this?? I Know! Busy going through Chiefs! Will Castille be next?
9.Judge Lokuta (Luzerne County) testified that SHE called the Feds due to her cases being “omitted” and UNDOCKETED as the court reports to date she handled NO criminal CASES. She mentioned even a high profile case that drew media attention. What the heck happened to the records and I thought this was Lokuta misconduct trial?
10. Castille new Chief (That would be the third in a little under three years) saying he is tough but ALREADY before he gets his feet wet his record is in quetion? Not to mention Rendell says Castile will bring something to the court it has not seen? What the heck might that be other than what SHOULD have been going on – Like following the law, docketing cases and ENSURING the INTEGRITY of the COURT???
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