Common Pleas Judge I. Raymond Kremer has had the rug pulled out from under him by a fellow jurist and is not sitting still over this moving experience.
The outspoken Kremer sent a memo to all Common Pleas judges on Tuesday, citing his ouster from Courtroom 1115 at One East Penn Square, across from City Hall, to make room for Common Pleas Judge Richard B. Klein, who has chambers in that building.
The change was approved by Administrative Judge Edward J. Blake.
"The act of bumping a fellow judge out of a courtroom he had been sitting in for years, for some period of time, is divisive and is not calculated to encourage good relations or cooperation," said Kremer.
He said he was in the "midst of a seven-week trial during the summer" when he first learned that Klein was going to be assigned "the permanent use of my then courtroom . . . on the basis of seniority of appointment."
Kremer said that "without any discussion or explanation" he learned he had been reassigned.
"I do not at this time review further the discourtesies and lack of consideration which have occurred," he said. "I believe these events represent an abuse of the seniority system.
"I would appreciate hearing from you, if you have a viewpoint on this matter."
Kremer, who has chambers in City Hall and will now have to walk to Civil Court at Five Penn Center, 16th and Market streets, sent a memo to Blake saying he resented Klein "calling me and telling me he is my senior, that he is 'going to the mat' on this one."
"I only take trips to a mat for more pleasant purposes and Judge Klein is not in my plans," Kremer said. "I was assigned by appropriate authority and never heard of any complaints or disputes whatsover.
"Now, after a lapse of two years, there is this rather startling display of discourtesy. I did not accept Room 1115 or Room 604 (his chambers) in City Hall subject to Judge Klein changing his mind, or claims by Judge Klein when it might suit his fancy."
In a memo to Blake, Klein said Kremer "is probably no farther from Five Penn Center than One East Penn Square."
Klein told Blake that because he is in charge of two civil case programs ''there is a distinct need for me to have a reasonable-size courtroom where I have access to my staff without spending 20 minutes in transition." If Kremer wants to take over the programs, "I would be more than happy to switch" with him and stay in Five Penn Center, Klein said.
"I do not think my walking problems, podiatric and medical treatement are relevant to a question of seniority," Kremer informed Blake. "I certainly do not propose to discuss them with Judge Klein."
In an interview yesterday, Klein said, "I still consider Ray Kremer a friend of mine."
"We already have a Buddy Ryan-Refrigerator Perry falling out in Philadelphia," said Klein. "That should be enough. It's time to patch things up."
Kremer was unavailable for comment.
Blake said he didn't want to discuss the hassle, adding that he switched the judges based "on my authority from the state Supreme Court."
He said he felt Klein's job of handling asbestos and certain civil suits requires him to be in the same building as his chambers.
