In response to the stories, Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille appointed McCaffery in January to lead a review of a court system that Castille said was facing "alarming and serious trends."
The panel named yesterday is a key part of a reform effort that McCaffery said could bring a "sea change" for the Philadelphia court system.
"There is a commitment from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to do everything that's in our power" to fix the system's failings, McCaffery said.
The nine panel members named to tackle those issues have broad experience in criminal justice. They include current and former judges, former prosecutors, and veteran defense lawyers, including the former head of the Defender Association of Philadelphia.
The panel members, all volunteers, are:
Former Common Pleas Court Judge John L. Braxton, who served on that court from 1981 to 1995. A former city prosecutor who led the Municipal Court unit in the District Attorney's Office, he now works as an arbitrator and mediator.
Montgomery County Commissioner Bruce L. Castor Jr., the county's district attorney from 2000 to 2008.
Steven L. Chanenson, a law professor at Villanova University and a former federal prosecutor in Chicago. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Commission on Sentencing.
A. Roy DeCaro, a former federal and city prosecutor who now works as a plaintiff's trial lawyer in civil cases.
Charles J. "Joey" Grant, a defense lawyer and former federal public defender. He was also a top city homicide prosecutor.
Michael J. Kane, a former state and federal prosecutor who is executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
Common Pleas Court Judge Benjamin Lerner, the former head of the Defender Association and a former Pennsylvania deputy attorney general.
