(5,.

51(621 L GLYLG DOO D G L KLV RIILFLDO

FDSDFLW DV ( HF WLYH LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI
2SH 5HFRUGV D G 6(1 7( 0 -25,7
6
3HWLWLR HUV
Y

1R

7 20 6 : :2 ) L KLV RIILFLDO FDSDFLW DV

RYHU RU RI WKH RPPR HDOWK RI 3H V OYD LD
(3 570(17 2) 200 1,7
1
( 2120,
( ( 230(17 D G 2)), ( 2)
23(1 5( 25 6
5HVSR GH WV

3HWLWLR HUV E D G WKUR JK WKH

GHUVLJ HG FR VHO GR KHUHE EUL J WKLV

SHWLWLR IRU UHYLH L WKH DW UH RI D FRPSODL W IRU PD GDP V D G GHFODUDWRU

UHOLHI D G L V SSRUW WKHUHRI DYHU DV IROOR V

3HWLWLR HUV ILOH WKLV SHWLWLR in the CourtV RULJL DO M ULVGLFWLR VHHNL J
D ULW RI PD GDP V D G GHFODUDWRU M GJPH W
FW

3D

6
7KLV R UW KDV M ULVGLFWLR

3D

GHU WKH HFODUDWRU - GJPH WV

GHU 6HFWLR

D RI WKH - GLFLDO RGH

((.

()

3HWLWLR HU (ULN U H R L WKH ULJKWI O ([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH

2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG

H EUL J WKL DFWLR L KL L GL LG DO D G RIILFLDO

FDSDFLW
3HWLWLR HU WKH 6H DWH 0DMRULW
3H

D F

L R H RI W R

ESDUW RI WKH

O D LD 6H DWH D G L D L WHJUDO FR WLW H W RI WKH 6H DWH

(

5H SR GH W 7KRPD : :ROI L WKH R HU RU RI WKH RPPR

RI 3H

HDOWK

O D LD 7KL DFWLR L EUR JKW DJDL W R HU RU :ROI L KL RIILFLDO

FDSDFLW D

R HU RU
5H SR GH W HSDUWPH W RI RPP LW D G (FR RPLF H HORSPH W

L D GHSDUWPH W LWKL WKH ([HF WL H UD FK RI JR HU PH W D G L WKH

GHSDUWPH W LWKL

KLFK WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG L DGPL L WUDWL HO KR HG

5H SR GH W 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG L D L GHSH GH W DJH F FUHDWHG

E

FW

RI

ULW RI PD GDP

3HWLWLR HU (ULN U H R

SHFLILFDOO

HHN DPR J RWKHU WKL J D

WR UH WRUH KLP D WKH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH

5HFRUG 7KL UHT H WHG UHOLHI PDNH WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG D HFH DU SDUW
WR WKL PDWWHU

( (

( (
FW RI

RSH UHFRUG OD

PDUNHG D WRWDO D G HFH DU R HUKD O RI WKH H[L WL J

UH OWL J L WKH 5LJKW WR . R /D

57./

36

)RU WKH ILU W WLPH JR HU PH W DJH FLH D G RIILFLDO ERUH WKH E UGH
WR KR WKDW D UHFRUG D
SUR H WKDW LW D

RW

EMHFW WR DFFH

D RSSR HG WR D UHT H WHU KD L J WR

36
SDUW RI WKH R HUKD O WKH /HJL ODW UH FUHDWHG D L GHSH GH W T D L

M GLFLDO DWFKGRJ DJH F DGPL L WUDWL HO KR HG L WKH HSDUWPH W RI

RPP LW D G (FR RPLF H HORSPH W WR ERWK J LGH D G R HU HH
LPSOHPH WDWLR RI WKH OD

WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG 225

PR J WKH PD

36

UH SR LELOLWLH RI WKH RIILFH WKH 225 HU H D D

L GHSH GH W DGM GLFDWRU ERG KHDUL J RSH UHFRUG DSSHDO IURP FLWL]H
DFFH

WR UHFRUG E ORFDO D G RPPR

PR J WKH RPPR

HDOWK DJH FLH

HDOWK DJH FLH

36

GH LHG
D

KR H DSSHDO DUH KHDUG E WKH

OOR is the Governors Office. 65 P.S. 67.102 (COMMONWEALTH

AGENCY. Any of the following: (i) The Governors Office.).
WDW WH WKH L GHSH GH W 225 L KHDGHG E D ([HF WL H LUHFWRU
36

7KH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU L DSSRL WHG E WKH R HU RU D G L H WLWOHG WR

HU H D IL[HG L[ HDU WHUP

KLFK L FR SLF R O

HDU WHUP RI WKH DSSRL WL J R HU RU

RW FRWHUPL R

36

HFR G IL[HG L[ HDU WHUP L DO R SHUPLWWHG

7KH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU KD D
OD

ERWK M GLFLDO D G DGPL L WUDWL H L

36

PEHU RI H[FO L H G WLH

KR HIIHFWL HO

E
GHU WKH

DW UH

- GLFLDOO WKH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU L UHT LUHG WR

DSSHDO RIILFHU

LWK WKH IR U

DSSRL W WKH

HU H D WKH M GJH L 57./ DSSHDO D G

PR LWRU FD H DSSHDOHG WR WKH 225

36

7KH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU I UWKHU PR LWRU DOO GUDIW R WJRL J )L DO

HWHUPL DWLR

RI WKH 225 H[HUFL L J L GHSH GH W M GJPH W R WKH GUDIW

SUHSDUHG E WKH DSSHDO RIILFHU IUHH IURP SUH

RIILFLDO

UH E WKH SDUWLH RU RWKHU

LWKL WKH ([HF WL H UD FK 7KH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU WKH UH SR G WR WKH

DSSHDO RIILFHU
HWHUPL DWLR
OHJDO SUL FLSOH

LWK HGLW D G RU GLUHFWLR WR EH LPSOHPH WHG EHIRUH WKH )L DO

DUH L

HG

KLFK HGLW D G RU GLUHFWLR DUH RPHWLPH ED HG R

RW SUH LR O FR LGHUHG D G RPHWLPH FR WUDU WR WKH GUDIW

)L DO HWHUPL DWLR

D RULJL DOO SUHSDUHG E WKH DSSHDO RIILFHU

2 WKH DGPL L WUDWL H LGH WKH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU KD WKH G W WR

H

UH WKDW WKH REOLJDWLR

RI WKH 225 DUH FDUULHG R W D G WKH G W WR FR WURO WKH

DSSURSULDWLR RI WKH 225

KLFK DSSURSUiation shall be under the jurisdiction of

the executive director. 65 P.S.

2 -D DU

G
WKH

R HU RU 7RP RUEHWW DSSRL WHG

3HWLWLR HU (ULN U H R D WKH HFR G H HU ([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH 225

-D

OHWWHU DWWDFKHG D ([KLELW

([HF WL H LUHFWRU U H R UHFHL HG KL IL[HG L[ HDU FRPPL LR

R WKH DPH GDWH GH LJ DWL J KL WHUP D -D DU

RPPL LR

WKUR JK -D DU

DWWDFKHG D ([KLELW

([HF WL H LUHFWRU U H R WRRN WKH RDWK RI RIILFH R -D DU

2DWK DWWDFKHG D ([KLELW
6L FH KL OD I O DSSRL WPH W ([HF WL H LUHFWRU U H R KD
I OILOOHG WKH G WLH RI WKH SR W L FO GL J WKUR JK WKH GDWH RI WKL SHWLWLR
Despite Executive Director Arnesons six HDU DSSRL WPH W

H O

inaugurated Governor Tom Wolf purported to terminate Arnesons appointment,

effective immediately, by letter dated January 20, 2015, which was delivered WR
U H R E PH H JHU R -D DU

DW DSSUR[LPDWHO

30

-D

OHWWHU DWWDFKHG D ([KLELW

R HU RU :ROI GLG RW FLWH D

GL SOHD UH LWK ([HF WL H LUHFWRU

Arnesons performance or cite to any cause for his removal.

Instead, despite Governor Corbetts lawful usH RI KL DSSRL WPH W

SR HU WR ILOO D HPSW

HDW DW WKH 225

R HU RU :ROI EDOGO

WDWHG WKDW WKH

lawful process lacked transparency, was of questionable timing and appears to

have been rushed through.
, D W L W RI LUR

LG
R HU RU :ROI UHPR HG WKH KHDG RI WKH

L GHSH GH W T D L M GLFLDO DJH F WKDW R HU HH KL RIILFH G H WR KL S USRUWHG

concern about the trust of Pennsylvanias citizens in state government.

LG

In spite of Governor Wolfs unlawful power grab, and in spite of

EHL J

FHUHPR LR O

D G FRPS WHU D

FDUG RIILFH NH SDUNL J SD

HOO D KL SD D G EH HILW ([HF WL H LUHFWRU U H R UHSRUWHG

WR RUN R )ULGD -D
8 OH

WULSSHG RI KL , DFFH

WKL

DU
R UW GLUHFW RWKHU L H KH LOO FR WL

KL T D L M GLFLDO D G DGPL L WUDWL H G WLH

H WR GR R WR I OILOO

KLFK DUH WDW WRULO FRPPLWWHG WR KLP

GHU WKH 57./ IRU D IL[HG L[ HDU WHUP

8SR L IRUPDWLR D G EHOLHI

R HU RU :ROI KD

RW DSSRL WHG D H

([HF WL H LUHFWRU
Governor Wolfs and DCEDs DFWLR
RI SR HU SUL FLSOH L WKH 3H
. R /D

L WKL PDWWHU LRODWH HSDUDWLR

O D LD R WLW WLR D G DO R LRODWH WKH 5LJKW WR

( (

( (

()

HWLWLR HU (ULN U HVR DJDL VW DOO HVSR GH WV

7KH IRUHJRL J 3DUDJUDSK DUH L FRUSRUDWHG E UHIHUH FH D LI HW IRUWK
L I OO KHUHL
[M]andamus is employed to require . . . the performance of a
SDUWLF ODU G W

KLFK UH OW IURP WKH RIILFLDO WDWLR RI WKH SDUW WR KRP LW

is directed or from operation of law.

L G

3D

RPP

There is no question that mandamus is the appropriate remedy

where the vacancy resulting from illegal ouster has not been filled.
RPP

DW
0D GDP

RIILFLDO KR D
RPP

3D

L DSSURSULDWHO

HG WR HIIHFW UHL WDWHPH W RI D S EOLF

UR JI OO UHPR HG IURP KL OD I O RIILFH

3D

DW
3HWLWLR HU (ULN U H R

D WKH OD I OO DSSRL WHG ([HF WL H

LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG

3HWLWLR HU U H R UHPDL

WKH R O SHU R OD I OO H WLWOHG WR I OILOO

WKH RIILFH RI ([HF WL H LUHFWRU

1R RWKHU SHU R KD EHH DSSRL WHG WR I OILOO WKH RIILFH RI ([HF WL H
LUHFWRU

7KH R WHU RI 3HWLWLR HU U H R E

R HU RU :ROI D G

WKH RIILFH RI ([HF WL H LUHFWRU D SURKLELWHG E WKH 3H

( IURP

O D LD R WLW WLR

D G WKH 5LJKW WR . R /D
7KHUHIRUH 3HWLWLR HU U H R L H WLWOHG WR UHOLHI L PD GDP
(
HWLWLR HUV (ULN U HVR D G H DWH DMRULW
HVSR GH WV

(
D F V DJDL VW DOO

7KH IRUHJRL J 3DUDJUDSK DUH L FRUSRUDWHG E UHIHUH FH D LI HW IRUWK

L I OO KHUHL
SDUW PD REWDL D GHFODUDWLR RI H[L WL J OHJDO ULJKW G WLH RU
WDW
3D

RI SDUWLH E ILOL J D SHWLWLR

GHU WKH HFODUDWRU - GJPH W

FW

6
The purpose of the Declaratory Judgments Act is to settle and to

DIIRUG UHOLHI IURP

FHUWDL W D G L HF ULW

LWK UH SHFW WR ULJKW

WDW

D G RWKHU

legal relations, and is to be liberally construed and administered.

Nurses, Inc. v. Dept of Labor & Indus.
3D

3D

G
FLWL J

D
R HU RU :ROI S USRUWHG WR R W 3HWLWLR HU U H R IURP WKH RIILFH

RI ([HF WL H LUHFWRU
7KH

GHU KL DOOHJHG SR HU

GHU WKH 5LJKW WR . R /D

( GH LHG 3HWLWLR HU U H R EH HILW L FO GL J SD L

response to the Governors actions.

8 GHU 3H

O D LD OD

WKH R HU RU FD R O UHPR H WKH ([HF WL H

LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH UHFRUG IRU FD H

The Governors action of removing the ExecutL H LUHFWRU LWKR W
FD H WD G WR

OD I OO L FUHD H WKH SR HU RI WKH ([HF WL H UD FK DW WKH

H[SH H RI WKH RWKHU EUD FKH RI JR HU PH W 7KH D F

D D SDUW RI WKH 6H DWH

is injured by the Governors attempt to upset the balance of power commanded E

WKH 3H

O D LD R WLW WLR
R HU RU :ROI D G WKH

( EHOLH H WKDW WKH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU FD

be removed at the Governors pleasure.

FFRUGL JO WKHUH H[L W D GL S WH EHW HH 3HWLWLR HU D G
5H SR GH W D WR KHWKHU R HU RU :ROI KD WKH OD I O D WKRULW WR UHPR H WKH
([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG DW KL SOHD UH RU LI WKH
([HF WL H LUHFWRU FD R O EH UHPR HG IRU FD H
HFODUDWRU M GJPH W IURP WKH R UW R OG UH RO H WKH SUH H W
FR WUR HU

EHW HH WKH SDUWLH

7KHUHIRUH 3HWLWLR HU DUH H WLWOHG WR GHFODUDWRU M GJPH W WR UH RO H

WKH SUH H W GL S WH
( )

()

: (5()25( 3HWLWLR HU UHT H W WKDW WKH R UW H WHU M GJPH W L WKHLU

ID RU D G JUD W WKH IROOR L J UHOLHI

D ULW RI PD GDP

UH WRUL J (ULN U H R D WKH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU

RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG

EDFNSD D G EH HILW IRU (ULN U H R
H WHU M GJPH W GHFODUL J WKDW WKH R HU RU FD R O UHPR H WKH
([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG IRU FD H
M GJPH W GHFODUL J WKDW WKH R HU RU LRODWHG WKH 3H

O D LD

R WLW WLR E UHPR L J (ULN U H R D ([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI

2SH 5HFRUG
M GJPH W GHFODUL J WKDW WKH R HU RU LRODWHG WKH 5LJKW WR . R
/D E UHPR L J (ULN U H R D ([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH
5HFRUG

LWKR W FD H
M GJPH W GHFODUL J WKDW WKH

LRODWHG WKH 3H

R WLW WLR E GH L J (ULN U H R WKH SD EH HILW D G DFFH

([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG
M GJPH W GHFODUL J WKDW WKH

RI WKH

LWKR W FD H
LRODWHG WKH 5LJKW WR . R /D

E GH L J (ULN U H R WKH SD EH HILW D G DFFH

WKH 2IILFH RI 2SH 5HFRUG

O D LD

RI WKH ([HF WL H LUHFWRU RI

LWKR W FD H

D L M FWLR SHUPD H WO H MRL L J WKH R HU RU IURP PDNL J D

I UWKHU DWWHPSW WR UHPR H (ULN U H R D ([HF WL H LUHFWRU LWKR W FD H

VERIFICATION
I , E r i k A m e s o n , verify that the statements i n the foregoing P e t i t i o n f o r
R e v i e w a r e t r u e a n d c o r r e c t t o t h e best o f m y k n o w l e d g e , i n f o r m a t i o n a n d b e l i e f . I
m a k e t h i s v e r i f i c a t i o n subject t o 18 P a . C . S . 4 9 0 4 r e l a t i n g t o u n s w o r n f a l s i f i c a t i o n
to authorities.

D a t e : 3-6 3'^v-QC'/5'
Erik Ameson

Exhibit A

Exhibit B

Exhibit C

Exhibit D