Apr 22, 2002 By Jennifer Harr 3 min read

Fayette County President Judge William J. Franks said he has not recommended any changes to the areas covered by the county’s 13 district justices. “I am not recommending that the districts be changed or that any of them be eliminated or consolidated,” said Franks.

In a report filed last week with the Administrative Office of the Pennsylvania Courts, Franks said he felt that that the collective caseload of the district justices warranted each of their positions. He said he did not feel that redrawing any boundary lines in any of their coverage areas was needed.

Due to the AOPC on Friday, Franks said that it is required that the president judge consider a myriad of things, including the number of cases each district justice sees, to determine if any of their positions are unneeded or overtaxed.

Now, the process goes to the state Supreme Court for review, said Franks. Officials there will decide if Franks’ assessment is correct and can recommend changes like elimination or consolidation of an office. That process, said Franks, will take several months.

“We put in information that we thought justified each magisterial district staying as it is,” said Franks.

The report will be released officially on Monday and can be reviewed by the general public at any of the county’s district justices’ offices.

Additionally, it will be available at public libraries and in the Court Administrator’s office at the courthouse, said Franks.

In conducting the study, Franks said he found that the average yearly caseload among the district justices was 1,900. Further, he said that, on the high end, some offices can see 2,700 cases a year, while others see around 700.

“One glaring thing is Wendy Dennis,” said Franks, referring to the district justice who covers the mountain area.

Dennis is based in Farmington, but also covers townships that border Maryland and West Virginia on the mountain side. Franks said that if the Supreme Court needs further edification, he is preparing documentation that Dennis coverage is integral because she is the only district justice close enough to serve the smaller communities.

He noted that Dennis’ coverage area amounts to one-fifth of the county, and said that she’s “not that near any of the other district justices.”

Public input is also being sought, and Franks said that he has a hearing scheduled for May 31 at 9:30 a.m. in his courtroom.

At that time, anyone with opinions to offer on the proposed plan can offer input.