Paula Reed Ward
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Judge Anthony Mariani
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An Allegheny County court watch program filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against Common Pleas Judge Anthony M. Mariani, accusing him of violating the public’s First Amendment rights by blocking virtual access to proceedings in his courtroom.
The Abolitionist Law Center’s Court Watch program involves volunteers observing dozens of criminal court proceedings each week and then reporting observations to the public.
Since January, the program has requested virtual access to more than 100 hearings before Mariani. He has refused each time.
90.5 WESA
Allegheny County Common Pleas Judge Anthony Mariani was sued in federal court Tuesday for allegedly barring volunteer court observers from virtually attending hearings in his courtroom.
The Abolitionist Law Center brought the suit, which stated that Mariani is the only judge in the county’s court system to stop the public from attending court remotely amid the coronavirus pandemic. While Mariani has welcomed the court observers to attend in person, the lawsuit contends that due to the health threat posed by the virus, the public s First Amendment rights are being violated if observers can t have online access to proceedings.
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Our court system begins at the local level with minor courts. Our statewide court system includes Courts of Common Pleas, Commonwealth Court, Superior Court and at the top, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The judges of these statewide courts are elected in statewide elections.
House Bill 38 is a proposed amendment to our state Constitution that was passed in 2020 and needs passed again this year, then voted on in a statewide referendum. HB 38 proposes to elect judges for our statewide courts by district rather than statewide.
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