The Commonwealth Court has ruled that the president judge of the Bedford County Court of Common Pleas has no authority to withhold from the county treasury money in certain court-controlled funds, some of which was earmarked to reimburse the county for probation office payroll expenses.
County solicitors and municipal lawyers from across the state said the case demonstrates the unique relationship Pennsylvania courts and commissioners share as joint employers of certain county workers and how easily that relationship can sour in the absence of cooperation and communication from both sides.
