A temporary official has been appointed to preside over a Pennsylvania district court after the clerk and two sheriff's deputies left office on the eve of a criminal contempt of court trial involving his performance in office.

The “unprecedented leadership vacuum” in the Dauphin County Clerk of Court's office prompted the state Supreme Court to declare a “judicial emergency” and order the county's chief judge to appoint an interim deputy clerk. Patti Sites will fill the role until Gov. Josh Shapiro appoints a deputy clerk. The position is normally elected.

The elected clerk, Democrat Bridget Whitley, and the office's first deputy resigned late Friday afternoon and the second deputy was fired.

Attorney Justin McShane said problems existed long before the change in leadership and that many employees left the company after Whitley took over earlier this year.

The presiding judge in Dauphin County described the dysfunction in the courts as “significant deficiencies and unacceptable backlogs.”

“When you have such high turnover and people are not properly trained, do not have adequate resources and everyone has the best intentions, it doesn't matter. There has to be a case flow that has to continue to happen to make sure that the people who belong in prison are in prison and the people who don't belong in prison are getting out of prison,” McShane said.

In May, the county's chief judge ordered the clerk's office to correct the deficiencies or face contempt of court charges. A criminal contempt hearing was scheduled for Monday.

“While the Clerk of Court is an independently elected official, the efficient and effective functioning of the office is critical to ensuring that the courts remain accessible,” Chief Judge Debra Todd said in a statement. She also cited the need to ensure that the office's “basic record-keeping function” is maintained.

The sudden departure of the clerk and two deputies required “quick action,” the Supreme Court said.