Pennsylvania Commission for Fairness & Justice

Pennsylvania Commission for Fairness & Justice Established in 2005, the Commission addresses inequities in PA's three branches of government.

We are proud to highlight West Chester University’s Post‑Trial Support for Jurors Program, which offers free and confide...
09/14/2026

We are proud to highlight West Chester University’s Post‑Trial Support for Jurors Program, which offers free and confidential psychological first aid to individuals after completing jury duty. This innovative program provides jurors with three complementary sessions with trained clinicians to help them process their experience and support their well‑being.

Today, we’re excited to welcome Franklin County and Fulton County as the newest Pennsylvania counties offering juror psychological first aid. Their participation strengthens a growing statewide commitment to supporting the mental health of those who serve our justice system.

We’re also pleased to share that Commission staff recently published an article in the ABA Judges' Journal, highlighting two practical steps every judicial district can take to address juror mental health. Our hope is that this work empowers more courts to adopt meaningful supports for jurors across the Commonwealth and beyond.

Together, we’re building a justice system that cares for the people who make it possible.

📣 Upcoming free programming alert! 📣October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this year, the second annual Pitts...
09/08/2026

📣 Upcoming free programming alert! 📣

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and this year, the second annual Pittsburgh Start Anew Clinic will take place on Friday, October 9, 2026. Sponsored by Jones Day, Start Anew is dedicated to supporting survivors of human trafficking, domestic violence, and sexual abuse. The event offers presentations, a resource fair, wellness spaces, individual consultation rooms, and free professional workwear.

If you are a survivor or looking to volunteer at this event, visit www.startanew.com or click the link in our bio to register!

Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs against a backdrop of emotional, physical, residential, and financial ties betwee...
08/24/2026

Intimate partner violence (IPV) occurs against a backdrop of emotional, physical, residential, and financial ties between the abuser and the abused. In short, every survivor’s story is unique, due in part to the many forms IPV can take.

To learn more about the nuanced dynamics of IPV, check out upcoming regional training opportunities from AOPC's STOP (Services, Training, Officers, and Prosecutors) team. Designed as substantive and interactive workshops, this training series is essential for judges, attorneys, court administrators, and other justice system stakeholders encountering survivors and rendering justice in our courts.

To register, follow the QR code in this post or click the link in our bio.

🔔 Free programming alert! 🔔On Thursday, September 10, join Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Rep. Jo...
08/19/2026

🔔 Free programming alert! 🔔

On Thursday, September 10, join Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, Rep. Joanna McClinton, for her historic event, A More Perfect Union: From Independence to Inclusion.

The program will feature a panel of legislative leaders from across the nation candidly exploring 250 years of American democracy and the path toward a more inclusive future. Held at the historic Mother Bethel AME Church in Philadelphia, it offers a unique chance to hear dynamic perspectives, engage with public servants, and connect with others who care deeply about our country’s next chapter.

Whether you’re passionate about civic engagement, American history, or strengthening our communities, this panel promises insight, inspiration, and meaningful dialogue!

TO REGISTER: Follow the QR code in this post, or click the link in our bio.

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PCFJ is proud to serve as a community partner for this event, supporting the work of its appointing member, Speaker McClinton.

As you may have heard, the Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bipartisan $50.85 billion state budget for the 2026–27 fiscal ...
08/13/2026

As you may have heard, the Governor Josh Shapiro signed a bipartisan $50.85 billion state budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year on July 12, 2026, following a 12-day delay. With the support of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, PCFJ sought a significant increase from its FY 2025-26 budget of $358,000. On July 12, the General Assembly passed and the Governor signed into law a budget of $509,000 for PCFJ.

This represents an increase of $151,000 from the 2025–2026 appropriation, a 42.2% increase in a budget that has remained largely flat over this Commission’s more than two‑decade history.

This hard‑earned increase would not have been possible without AOPC including our requested funding in its original budget submission and the strong strategic and advocacy work of this group—particularly the Executive Committee, the Ad Hoc Budget Committee, Staff Attorney, Brendan, and the Commissioners and Committee members who made personal appeals for sustainable funding.

Humbled and galvanized by this crucial development, we look forward to continuing and expanding our work to ensure equal access to justice for all Pennsylvanians.

Extra extra, read all about it! In May, PCFJ staff had their article on juror mental health published in the American Ba...
06/29/2026

Extra extra, read all about it!

In May, PCFJ staff had their article on juror mental health published in the American Bar Association's Judges' Journal, an award-winning publication distributed nationally.

The article, entitled "Compelled Duty, Guaranteed Care: A Roadmap for Juror Mental Health in Pennsylvania," elevates the important efforts PCFJ and leaders across our Commonwealth are undertaking to ensure jurors are properly equipped to deal with the stress that often accompanies jury service.

From PCFJ's customizable juror pamphlet to West Chester University's innovative partnership with certain judicial districts, we encourage you to learn more about how Pennsylvania is supporting citizens fulfilling an important civic duty.

To read the article and see where we're headed next, click the link in our bio.

Special thanks to Senior Judge Stephanie Domitrovich for the invitation to weigh in on this important topic. PCFJ would also like to thank Philadelphia Jury Commissioner Patrick Martin, WCU Director of Community Mental Health Services, Dr. Michele Pole, and our colleagues in Massachusetts - including Jury Commissioner Pamela Wood (ret.) and the staff at Riverside Community Care - for their contributions to this article.

Happy Pride Month from PCFJ!As June draws to a close, reflect back - and look ahead! - with us on the important work bei...
06/24/2026

Happy Pride Month from PCFJ!

As June draws to a close, reflect back - and look ahead! - with us on the important work being done across our Commonwealth to ensure LGBTQIA+ Pennsylvanians can access justice equally and live free from bias and discrimination.

Happy Juneteenth from the Pennsylvania Commission for Fairness & Justice! With our office closed today in observance of ...
06/19/2026

Happy Juneteenth from the Pennsylvania Commission for Fairness & Justice! With our office closed today in observance of the holiday, we invite you to learn more about this historic day and how it is observed in Pennsylvania.

It was an honor to celebrate the students who successfully completed the 2025–2026 First Judicial District Shadowing Pro...
06/15/2026

It was an honor to celebrate the students who successfully completed the 2025–2026 First Judicial District Shadowing Program. These talented young people spent the year gaining firsthand exposure to the courts, legal professionals, and the administration of justice. Pictured are moments from the May 21, 2026 Certificate Ceremony, including time spent with President Judge Nina Wright-Padilla, from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, and Chair of the Pennsylvania Commission for Fairness and Justice, Leonard J. Rivera. Congratulations to each participant on this important achievement—we look forward to seeing all that you accomplish in the future.

We are proud that PCFJ's sustained advocacy shaped the newly finalized IFP procedures, with many of our recommendations ...
05/28/2026

We are proud that PCFJ's sustained advocacy shaped the newly finalized IFP procedures, with many of our recommendations incorporated into the final rules. These changes strengthen fairness and help ensure that financial hardship does not stand between individuals and their ability to seek justice. The rules take effect November 1, 2026—visit the link in our bio to read them, and swipe through our post to learn more!

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601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 6200
Harrisburg, PA
17106

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Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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+17179981297

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