State judges offer lesson in appeals

Gallery included local collegians, high school students

HOLLIDAYSBURG -- A three-member Superior Court panel convening Tuesday at the Blair County Courthouse took time to explain their roles and responsibilities between hearing legal arguments in pending cases.

"What we decide affects the lives of everyday people," Judge Vic Stabile of Cumberland County told a gallery that included local collegians and high school students.

While the cases were addressed in a county court, the right to appeal is available "if you think something has gone wrong," Stabile said.

During Tuesday's session, Stabile and President Judge Emeritus John Bender and Senior Judge Dan Pellegrini, heard a variety of arguments, including ones developing from cases involving child abuse, custody disputes, driving under the influence convictions and property rights.

"I was impressed with the breadth of their knowledge of the law," said Hollidaysburg Area Senior High School teacher Mike Rawlins, who accompanied his students to court. "They went from a DUI case to an oil-and-gas rights case within minutes."

Local attorney David P. Andrews, who advises the Juniata College mock trial team that recently returned from the national championship tournament in Memphis, Tenn., said he appreciated the chance for the collegians to hear not only the arguments the attorneys would offer, but also the questions those judges would have for the attorneys.

When responding to a question as to how they stop on top of the law, Stabile said that he, Bender and Pellegrini have 70 years of legal experience collectively.

The judges also said that they've read the legal briefs filed and reviewed the applicable laws before the attorneys present their arguments.

"We're expected to have a working knowledge of the cases," Stabile said. "And yet we're challenged by factual situations we haven't run across yet."

In answering what happens after the arguments conclude, Bender explained that one of the judges will write an opinion, then present that opinion to the other two for their review. With at least two votes, the opinion becomes the court's ruling.

Blair County President Judge Elizabeth Doyle said she was honored and thrilled to welcome the Superior Court panel, which provided the opportunity, especially for the students, to gain a greater understanding of the differences between trial courts and appellate courts.

She and Senior Judge Jolene G. Kopriva also recalled the last time a Superior Court panel convened in Blair County, when Bender was accompanied by judges Maureen Lally-Green and Joan Orie Melvin. Mirror records show that session was held in May 2003.

The Superior Court judges were also slated to attend a Blair County Inn of Courts meeting Tuesday night with local attorneys. They will convene again today at the courthouse to hear arguments in additional pending cases.

Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.