Sterling v. Fineman

FORD ELLIOTT, Judge:

Before us are cross-appeals from the granting of summary judgment below. The appeals arise out of a recently instituted program, implemented for the purpose of reducing the case backlog on the overburdened civil docket of the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas. Commonly referred to as the Judge Pro Tem Program, the system has been variously described and reported upon by the Legal Intelligencer, Philadelphia County’s daily legal newspaper. Essentially, the program employs experienced litigators to preside over civil jury cases. Upon disposition, either by jury…