SUNBURY - Because of state fiscal concerns, the court vacancy that will occur in early January when Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage retires may not be filled until after the 2015 election.
Normally, such vacancies are filled when the governor nominates a judge, and the state Senate votes to confirm that choice. Following this scenario, Sacavage's successor would likely be appointed sometime in 2014 to fill the balance of the term that expires in early January 2016.
When asked Friday about the process for appointing an interim successor to Sacavage, however, Todd Roup, chief of staff to state Sen. John Gordner, said it is unclear when or whether any appointment will be made.
Roup explained Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille and Gov. Tom Corbett previously agreed that, to save money, there should be a hold on interim judicial appointments, with senior judges being assigned to the respective counties to keep up with the caseload. It costs less to assign senior judges than to appoint new judges, Roup noted.
Since that policy was instituted, Roup noted, judges have been appointed and confirmed only in rare cases where county courts are experiencing a very high caseload, Since Corbett took office, Roup added, there have only been five county judges who were nominated and confirmed to fill vacancies, mainly in major metropolitan areas.
Currently, there are 18 vacant judgeships in county courts throughout the commonwealth, Roup noted. Northumberland County's will be the 19th.
"At this point, we will have to wait and see what the governor and chief justice decide as we begin discussing the state's new fiscal year," Roup said.
Castille was just retained by voters for another 10-year term. However, because he is 69 years old, he can only serve one more year of that term. The mandatory retirement age for judges is 70.
Normally, Roup said, the process for filling a court vacancy would involve the county bar association screening potential candidates and making a recommendation to the governor.
Roup confirmed Gordner's office has received some initial inquiries from attorneys about the vacancy. He declined to identify the attorneys or reveal how many called.
Reasons to retire
Sacavage, who was retained as judge in the 2005 election, didn't give a reason for retirement in his announcement Tuesday, but said by phone the next day there are several factors.
Most significant among them, he said, was that he had reached the magic number 80 - a combination of service time (18 years) and age (62) that makes him eligible to serve as a senior judge.
Citing the potential for rules to change about that service, he also noted the uncertainty created by the state pension crisis, and how that had a bearing, too. A third consideration, he said simply, is "it's time."