HARRISBURG (April 13, 2011) - Public hearings to examine Pennsylvania's legislative reapportionment process and Pennsylvania's judiciary will be held at Wilkes University on April 27 as part of a thorough review of the state's Constitution by subcommittees of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Constitutional Review Commission.

"These hearings are valuable opportunities for citizens to provide information that will help shape the subcommittee's recommendations to improve the structure and operation of government in the commonwealth," said Pennsylvania Bar Association President Gretchen A. Mundorff. "If the members of the commission's committees conclude that changes are needed based on public input and members' own findings, they will offer suggestions for enacting legislation, amending the state's Constitution or convening a Constitutional Convention."

"It's important that we hear all points of view during the hearing process," said James Gardner Colins, a former Commonwealth Court president judge and Philadelphia lawyer who is chairing the commission. "The constitutional scholars, practicing lawyers, sitting judges and public policy experts serving on our commission want to take a broad view and consider the multitude of ideas and opinions that could improve our commonwealth."

The Legislative Reapportionment Subcommittee is seeking citizens' input on the following issues:

• problems in past reapportionments
• specific individual or organizational injuries claimed to be created by Pennsylvania's constitutional reapportionment provisions
• how reapportionment problems or injuries can be cured by changing the Pennsylvania Constitution by amendment or convention
• how reapportionment problems would be cured by adopting a non-partisan reapportionment process

The Judiciary Subcommittee is seeking input on the following issues:

• the judicial conduct system, including reporting judicial officials, protecting confidences and insuring quick and thorough investigations
• judicial selection and financing of judicial campaigns
• representation of the indigent, including juveniles
• funding Pennsylvania's courts so as to guarantee an effective judiciary

The April 27 hearing by the Legislative Reapportionment Subcommittee takes place from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Wilkes University's Henry Student Center. Currently scheduled speakers include Prof. Thomas J. Baldino, Wilkes University; Prof. David Sosar, King's College; Prof. Brian Carso, Misericordia University; and Brett Heffner, Zionsville.

The PBA Constitutional Review Commission Judiciary Subcommittee takes place from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the same location. Currently scheduled speakers include President Judge Thomas F. Burke, Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas; Jacqueline Musto Carroll, Luzerne County district attorney; Al Flora Jr., Luzerne County chief public defender; Robert D. Schaub, Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association; Lynn Marks, executive director, Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts; Judge Peter Paul Olszewski Sr., Superior Court of Pennsylvania (retired); David I. Fallk, president, Committee for Justice for All; Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, chair, Senate Judiciary Committee; Sen. Lisa Baker, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming counties; and Robert W. Buehner, Montour County district attorney.

For a more information, go to this web address, www.pabar.org/crc, or contact Lindsay Still, Pennsylvania Bar Association, 100 South Street, P.O. Box 186, Harrisburg, PA 17108, [email protected].

In addition to the Legislative Reapportionment Subcommittee and the Judiciary Subcommittees, there are subcommittees of the PBA commission examining the structure of the General Assembly, local government, public education, and taxation and the uniformity clause. Some of these subcommittees also are holding public hearings.

In early 2012, the commission will submit a report to the association's House of Delegates, which sets the association's policies, for review and possible action.

Interest in potential changes to the state's Constitution is not new to the association. The

Pennsylvania Bar Association had a leadership role in the convening of the limited constitutional convention in 1967-1968.

Founded in 1895, the Pennsylvania Bar Association strives to promote justice, professional excellence and respect for the law; improve public understanding of the legal system; facilitate access to legal services; and serve the 29,000 lawyers who are members of the association.