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A rendition of the proposed $200 million Family Court building, planned for 15th and Arch Streets.
A rendition of the proposed $200 million Family Court building, planned for 15th and Arch Streets.
How did law firm miss Family Court conflict?
For a year and a half, John H. Estey and other lawyers at Ballard Spahr never raised an issue about a potential conflict over a proposed Family Court building.
Inga Saffron: Change of venue
Family Court's dire need for new quarters shouldn't be stymied by scandal surrounding the Center City project. A West Philadelphia site is a fine alternative.
Changing Skyline: Scandal aside, there may be a better location for the Family Court building: the old Provident Mutual Life Insurance building at 46th and Market. A concept design envisions almost twice the space for half the cost at that site.
Editorial: Courthouse is needed now
Inquirer editorial: Despite a government watchdog group's recent call to halt the Family Court project, it's critically important that Gov. Rendell keep the long-delayed courthouse on track.
State knew of Family Court deal
Official who said, “None of that has been presented to us,” had been briefed regularly.
When a no-bid deal to build a new Family Court surfaced last month, top development officials in the Rendell administration said the arrangement was news to them - and probably not permitted by state law.
 
Editorial: Castille must resign
Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille's sloppy - at best - handling of the process to build a new Family Court calls into question his ability to manage the state court system.
 
The latest high-court fiasco
Karen Heller: Powerful, plugged-in lawyers are hired to probe powerful, plugged-in lawyers.
 
Dueling lawsuits filed in battle over Philly Family Court development site
The wrangling over a canceled Family Court development project landed in courtrooms Wednesday, with dueling lawsuits filed by the Philadelphia Parking Authority and a Conshohocken developer over control of the Center City site.
 
Lawyer's dual roles no secret in court deal
Some lawyers at Jeffrey B. Rotwitt's firm knew about his dual roles in a deal to develop a $200 million Family Court building in Philadelphia, an internal firm e-mail shows. Those lawyers worked under Rotwitt and assumed the firm's managing partners had give permission for the arrangement, a spokesman said.
 
Lawyer for court also aided Foxwoods
One of the lawyers for Foxwoods, which has had several arguments before the state Supreme Court, worked with Justice Ronald D. Castille to find a site for a new Family Court building in the city.
 
Only justice was blind
Changing Skyline: It seems that Jeff Rotwitt's dual role in the Family Court project was an open secret in Philadelphia with everyone but Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and David Lawrence knowing. The question is: Why didn't the apparent conflict of interest trouble those who knew?
 
Lawyer picked to head Family Court building probe
Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille has hired a longtime adviser and colleague to conduct what he said would be an independent investigation of a troubled Family Court project in Center City.
 
Pa. representative calls for probe of Philly Family Court deal
A Republican state representative, not satisfied with Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille's internal investigation, called Wednesday for the state auditor general to probe a failed Family Court development deal.
 
FBI probes Family Court deal
The FBI has begun a criminal investigation into the botched deal to develop a Family Court building in Center City, according to sources familiar with the matter.
 
Haverford flap echoes in Family Court deal
The lawyer and law firm at the center of a busted development deal for a Family Court building in Center City are no strangers to controversy, a 2007 state grand jury reported showed.
 
Castille had front seat in court fiasco
It seems a little late for Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille to try to figure out how $12 million in public money was spent on a new Family Court facility he was overseeing.
 
Castille seeks invoices on Family Court deal
Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille pressed for details Wednesday on how $12 million in public money has been spent to date on a new Family Court facility in Center City - including lobbyists' fees, legal bills, and $1 million in land costs on a publicly owned site.
 
Castille pushed aside doubts on court deal
A series of e-mails between David C. Lawrence and lawyers of Ballard Spahr provide new insight into the interplay among the key players in the now-scuttled courthouse deal - especially the close relationship between Castille and Rotwitt.
 
Obermayer law firm fires Rotwitt
Jeffrey B. Rotwitt, the lawyer who earned fees on both sides of a deal to build a new Family Court building in Center City, was fired Thursday by his law firm.
 
Castille kills deal for new courthouse
After nearly two years and more than $10 million, Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille has killed the no-bid development deal for a new Family Court building.
 
Point man in review of court conflict
Henry E. Hockeimer Jr., the Ballard Spahr lawyer who has become a top choice for clients involved in sensitive investigations, has landed another dicey assignment - one that could cast his own firm in a critical light.
 
Changing Skyline: Where politics meets poor design
I owe the architects at EwingCole an apology for trashing their Family Court building, planned for an empty lot across from JFK Plaza, at 15th and Arch Streets.
 
Pa. will now bid Family Court bldg.
The state will now take over development of the new Family Court building. That follows an Inquirer report on how an attorney hired as a real estate consultant for the courts was also collecting fees from the co-developer,
 
Court disorder
Editorial: Even as Gov. Rendell hailed the agreement to build a new Family Court building - along with redeveloping the existing 18th and Vine Street court into a tourist mecca - he took the right stance Friday, vowing to assure that taxpayers aren't getting ripped off in the deal.
 
Lawyer profits from both sides of court deal
Architects and other consultants on the new Family Court building have already been paid more than $11 million in public funds even though there is no development deal signed.

And a lawyer has collected more than $4 million while working for both the court and the developer.
 
Family Court verdict: Second-rate
Changing Skyline: Mayor Nutter came into office promising to be the city's designer-in-chief. But this week's approval of a stunningly second-rate design for the new Family Court building on JFK Plaza suggests that, when it comes to public architecture, the forces of mediocrity still rule Philadelphia.
 
Courting mediocrity with bland designing
Changing Skyline: Officials are usually generous architecture critics. Yet, even the city's most gregarious boosters are having trouble mustering nice words for the planned Family Court building.
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