For the last ten years, the case load for Blair County judges has been on the rise.
Information supplied by the county shows that in 2003, the county’s court schedule included 2,680 criminal cases, 2,960 domestic relations cases, 587 custody cases, 894 juvenile cases and 466 protection From abuse cases. This doesn’t include the 7,587 civil court filings.
With only four full-time judges, the caseload has caught up with Blair County and now commissioners are exploring the possibility of adding another judge to the county’s court system.
Yesterday, all four county judges appeared at the meeting of the Blair County Commissioners to show their support for the possibility.
According to Barry Wright, Blair County’s chairman commissioner, the judges met with the commissioners prior to yesterday’s meeting to discuss the possibility of adding another full-time judge. Wright said through investigation, they learned where the Blair County judge situation stood against other counties in Pennsylvania.
“Blair County has really seen an increase in caseload, especially over the last 10 years,” said Wright. “Crime, drugs, domestic situations have all contributed to this problem. We figured we should really take a hard look at it.”
According to Wright, the timing is perfect. He explain Judge Joseph Peoples will turn 70 years of age in 2005. He said this is the retirement age for county judges and noted that one judge position will appear on the ballot in 2005.
“This is really an appropriate time for this,” said Wright. “If we can get two judges on the ballot and elected, boom, there they are for ten-year terms. It’s a perfect situation, but we need to get working on it now.”
The commissioners, with a vote of 3-0, decided to send letters to the state House and state Senate requesting the additional judge. He said in addition to the judge request, the county will also ask state officials to increase the state funding for each county judicial office.
Wright said currently, the state gives each county’s judicial office about $70,000 to cover the costs of secretaries, tip staff, etc. He said the state does pay the judge’s salary.
Should the state decide to increase the annual allotment, adding a fifth judge should only cost the county space, said Wright; however, should the state decide not to increase the funding, costs may be directed at the taxpayers, something Wright said the commissioners will, at all costs, try to avoid.
“Our judges here in Blair County work extremely hard, as does the court administrator and all the assistants who have a hand in it,” said Wright. “But the judges feel they could do so much more if their schedules were just a little lighter.”
