Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
PRESS RELEASE
CONTACT: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Bill Pennewill
717-795-2000
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Adopts First Rules of Evidence
HARRISBURG, MAY 8, 1998 -- The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania announced its adoption today
of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's first Rules of Evidence. The effective date of the Rules will be
October 1, 1998.
Modeled in part upon the Federal Rules of Evidence, Pennsylvania's new Rules of Evidence
condense decades of Pennsylvania court decisions, rules and statutes so that practitioners and members of
the judiciary can now have rules governing the admissibility of evidence available in a single reference. Prior
to this historic event, lawyers and judges were required to consult several different resources in order to
determine the admissibility of evidence in legal proceedings.
The Rules of Evidence were adopted by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upon the
recommendation of its Ad Hoc Committee on Evidence. Chaired by former Lycoming County president
judge Thomas C. Raup, the Committee consisted of Villanova Law School professor Leonard Packel
(Editor), Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas judge Richard A. Lewis, and attorneys: David F. Binder
(of Raynes, McCarty Binder Ross & Mundy), Raymond J. Bradley (of Wolf Block Schorr & Solis Cohen),
Charles B. Gibbons, Esquire (of Klett Lieber Rooney & Schorling), John Edward Iole (of Jones Day Reavis &
Pogue), and Ellen M. Viakley (of Manifesto & Donahoe, P.C.). Editorial assistance was also provided by
Kathryn M. Stanchi, Esquire, during her tenure with Villanova
Law School. (Ms. Stanchi is now affiliated with Temple University.)
"The Ad Hoc Committee's work required detailed study and thoughtful deliberation prior to its
submission of a proposal for the Supreme Court's consideration," said Chief Justice John P. Flaherty.
"I commend the committee members' efforts and those of my colleague, Justice Ronald D. Castille, who
served as the Court's liaison to the Committee."
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"My colleagues and I also appreciate the considerable input from members of the bar and the
public which the Ad Hoc Committee received following publication of the proposed rules for public
comment," said Chief Justice Flaherty. "The expertise gained during a public comment period is always
of considerable value in shaping a final proposal."
Mr. Justice Castille also noted the significant contributions by the Legislature and praised state
Senate Judiciary Committee chair Stewart J. Greenleaf, and former state senator Craig Lewis for their
efforts as well as the efforts of many other members of the General Assembly for their cooperation in
the review and adoption process of this project.
Chief Justice Flaherty said the Supreme Court believes the new Rules of Evidence will be of
enormous benefit to judges and the practicing bar and will promote greater efficiency within the judicial
system.
An order adopting a standing Supreme Court committee to oversee the Rules of Evidence will
be issued in the near future. The Committee on the Rules of Evidence will operate similarly to other
existing Supreme Court committees.
The Pennsylvania Rules of Evidence are available for immediate review on the Pennsylvania
Judiciary Internet website at: http://www.courts.state.pa.us.
Copies of the Rules of Evidence have also been mailed to the president judge of the Court of
Common Pleas of each judicial district and should appear in the Pennsylvania Bulletin in the near
future.
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