ALLENTOWN, Pa. — The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas will need to increase the size of its bench after state lawmakers granted the county an 11th judge last week.
Lehigh County was one of 10 counties awarded at least one new judicial position through Act 58 of 2023. It was one of 34 bills Gov. Josh Shapiro signed into law last week.
County judges, the Lehigh County Board of Commissioners and the delegation of state lawmakers had urged the General Assembly to add a new spot on the bench. Since the 10th judge was added in 2004, the county's population has increased by 20%.
According to a letter from the 10 judges to county officials this summer, the court's caseload only grew about 4.5% by 2019. But it still had one of the highest caseloads for similarly sized counties, according to a 2014 Pennsylvania Supreme Court study. The same study determined the county needed 10.59 judges.
The board of commissioners passed a resolution urging for the creation of an 11th judicial position in September. All 13 of the Lehigh Valley's state senators and representatives voted for the act.
“This will greatly assist the court in addressing the continually increasing demands on the court in our growing county," President Judge Brian Johnson said in a news release Wednesday. He thanked the board of commissioners and state lawmakers for their support.
Case backlogs aren't a problem just for judges and their support staff. Lengthy times in court can keep people waiting in jail for their trial or drag out expensive civil litigation.
“Justice delayed is justice denied. We want the growing population of Lehigh County to be able to access the courts and obtain justice without delays. Adding an additional judge to the court is a proactive necessity,” Rep. Josh Siegel said in the release.
Court of Common Pleas judges are elected in odd years, so the new position won't appear on the ballot until 2025. County judges are set to earn $219,933 in 2024.
