Media Center

April 27, 2026
Publications

I am John Miravich, a partner at McNees Wallace & Nurick, where I practice litigation and education law. After more than 30 years of practice in Berks County, I am launching this blog to analyze legal opinions and explain civil practice in Berks County. This will focus primarily on the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, the trial court where most civil, family, and orphans’ court matters in Reading and the surrounding municipalities are heard.

When the court issues a noteworthy opinion, whether it is interpreting a local rule, addressing discovery disputes, or applying Pennsylvania appellate precedent to facts we see every day in the courthouse on Washington Street, I will break down what it means and why it matters for lawyers and litigants here.

Practicing in Berks County also means knowing more than what is in the statewide rules. Berks County has its own local rules of civil procedure, administrative orders that affect filing deadlines, motion practice, and more. This blog will serve as a practitioner’s guide to these local requirements and how they shape day-to-day practice in the county.

I will also analyze opinions from the federal courts when they affect Berks County practitioners. The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has a courthouse in Reading at the Gateway Building on Penn Street. The Honorable Jeffrey L. Schmehl, a Reading native, former Berks County Solicitor, and President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas before his 2013 appointment to the federal bench, is the resident district judge handling civil and criminal matters arising locally. Likewise, the Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania has proceedings affecting Berks County residents and businesses. Chapters 7, 13, and 11 bankruptcy cases are heard in Reading by the assigned bankruptcy judge. When these courts issue noteworthy rulings or adopt local practices that shape how we litigate here, I will cover them.

This is not commentary on pending cases or legal advice. It is a combination of case analysis and a practitioner’s guide on:

• How judges are ruling on recurring issues.
• What the local rules require.
• Where Berks County practice diverges from what you’d expect in other jurisdictions.

I will be posting regularly as noteworthy opinions are issued and local rules or practices change. Whether you are a seasoned Berks County practitioner, a lawyer handling your first matter in Reading, or a litigant trying to understand how local courts operate, I hope this blog proves a useful resource. Questions and topic suggestions are always welcome.