A Lebanon County Judge has denied the Times News and Republican Herald’s request for a copy of the transcript sought of the hearing involving Schuylkill County Commissioner George Halcovage Jr.

Dated May 10, Senior Judge Robert Eby said in an order “no official record was taken of any comment made by counsel and or the court and no testimony was presented.”

A hearing was scheduled May 5 with Halcovage, and the two women identified as Jane Doe 1 and Jane Doe 2 and lawyers for both sides in the Schuylkill County Courthouse. The women sought protection from Halcovage. Eby did grant a sexual violence protection order that prohibits Halcovage from abusing, stalking, harassing or threatening the women. Other prohibitions are also included. The order, which expires March 22, 2024, was entered by agreement of both sides but without admission of Halcovage.

Media was barred from the proceeding.

Eby said the hearing wasn’t needed because each side came to an agreement. He goes on to say “the matter was not on the record and no transcript generated or ordered.”

Comments to the court by counsel and/or the parties was included and was limited to “notification from counsel that the parties had arrived at an agreement for a nonacknowledgement order (as contemplated by the PFA/PSVI” and “questions posed by the court were limited solely to the parties’ identity, their understanding of the effect of a nonacknowledgement order, and their individual request/agreement to the entry of a nonacknowledgement PFA order.”

Eby notes “no testimony or argument was stenographically recorded.”

In conclusion, “the court is without ability to consider and/or grant the transcript request as presented, and that request is respectfully denied,” Eby wrote.

Paula Knudsen Burke, local legal initiative attorney with the Reporters Committee For Freedom of the Press, said she was “disappointed “a transcript was not available but “at least we have down on paper a definitive account from the judge about what happened that day.”

Halcovage has been sued in federal court by four women, all Schuylkill County employees, who have accused him of sexual harassment. Their names are not in the lawsuit, but they are identified as Jane Doe 1, Jane Doe 2, Jane Doe 3 and Jane Doe 4.

Other defendants are also named in the suit.