Westmoreland Co. judge assigned to Sandusky preliminary hearing

HARRISBURG, Pa. —

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has assigned an out-of-county magisterial senior district judge to preside over the preliminary hearing in the case of retired Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky.

The assignment was in response to a request from the Centre County Common Pleas Court for an out-of-county judicial assignment.

According to a news release, Judge Robert E. Scott, a senior judge of Westmoreland County, has been assigned to hear the matter. Scott has no known connections with the university, the Second Mile charity, nor any officers or representatives of any of those entities.

The preliminary hearing will be held Dec. 7 at the Centre County Courthouse, or on a date to be determined by Scott.

Under Centre County’s court procedures, preliminary hearings typically are presided over by a magisterial judge on rotating assignment in Centre County Central Court on the date scheduled for the hearing. Scott will preside in lieu of assignment to any Centre County magisterial district judge.

Scott has been a jurist since 1964. A senior judge is one who has retired from active service but remains available by appointment to hear cases.

In addition, in response to high interest in the case and to establish a single source for updates, scheduling and other court information regarding the Sandusky case, a new website was launched today by the Centre County Court Administration Office to provide detailed information about the Sandusky case going forward.