Schroder calls for state probe of 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 Philadelphia Family Court development deal.

Rep. Curt Schroder (R-Chester) said an independent agency is needed to figure out the Family Court "fiasco" overseen by Castille.

The courts spent $12 million in public money on a deal that blew up after The Inquirer reported that Jeffrey B. Rotwitt, a lawyer hired by the courts, was also being paid by the project developer.

The state has now taken over the $200 million project planned for 15th and Arch streets, and the FBI has opened a criminal investigation.

Castille, meanwhile, has hired attorney William G. Chadwick to do an internal review of the deal. Chadwick served as Castille's second in command when Castille was Philadelphia's District Attorney in the 1980s.

Castille had previously retained Chadwick earlier this year under a $150,000 consulting contract to perform a review of the Philadelphia Court system.

Schroder noted that Chadwick was the second attorney Castille had hired to review the Family Court project.

"I think the public is right to be concerned about these things," he said, referring to questions that have been raised about Rotwitt's potential conflict and Castille's oversight.

"I don't think it's adequate to do more self-policing, more internal reviews and declare everything's fine once that is over," he said.

Schroder sent out a memo inviting other House members to cosponsor a resolution that would require Auditor General Jack Wagner's office to begin a probe of the deal.

Another possibility, Schroder said, would be an independent commission like the one looking into the corruption in Luzerne County courts.

Chadwick, who now runs Chadwick Associates, a Washington, D.C. consulting firm, said he's already begun reviewing documents in the transaction. Chadwick has also been hired by the House Democratic Caucus to research legislative practices in the wake of the Bonusgate scandal.

"In the end, transparency and the work product will speak for itself," he said. "We will certainly cooperate with any legitimate investigation by anyone."

Castille could not be reached for comment.

In a hurry to get a new Family Court building, Castille in 2008 authorized millions in payments to Rotwitt, to architects and to developer Donald B. Pulver without bids and without a final development contract.

Castille has said he was relying on Rotwitt's advice on the payments and had no idea that he was also getting a cut of Pulver's development fees. Rotwitt, however, insists that Castille knew all along about his role as codeveloper.

Pulver and Rotwitt have since been kicked off the project, and Castille says he may seek to get some of the $12 million back.

Castille first appointed Henry E. Hockeimer Jr., a lawyer with Ballard Spahr, to investigate. But that arrangement drew criticism because Ballard has also been working on the Family Court deal since 2008.

Schroder said Castille's decision to replace Hockeimer with Chadwick has failed to assure the public that all the facts will come to light.

"There's a perspective out there that sometimes the court likes to keep itself shielded from public accountability," he said. "My point is that cannot continue."

.