Justice Department sues Pennsylvania’s court system over opioid disorder discrimination

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department has filed a lawsuit against Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System for violating the Americans with Disabilities Act.

UJS said the courts engaged in discrimination by not allowing or limiting the use of prescription medication to treat Opioid Use Disorder under court supervision.

The Justice Department identified three individuals with OUD who were discriminated against by UJS Courts — specifically, the Northumberland and Jefferson County Courts of Common Pleas. Two individuals alleged that the Jefferson County Court ordered all probationers to stop using their prescribed medication for OUD. A third individual alleged that the Northumberland County Court required her to stop using her prescribed OUD medication to graduate from drug court. The department’s investigation corroborated these allegations and additionally found evidence that other UJS Courts have policies that discriminate against individuals with OUD.

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