Chief Justice Castille will be remembered in the environmental community for authoring the 2013 Robinson Township v. Commonwealth PA Supreme Court opinion that revived the original meaning of the Environmental Rights Amendment to the Pennsylvania Constitution in declaring several provisions of the Oil and Gas Act (Act 13) unconstitutional, including a section preempting local land use regulation of shale gas operations. Read more here.
The opinion held the Environmental Rights Amendment was self-executing and outlined an affirmative duty of the state (and all local governments and agencies) to act as a trustee of our natural resources “to prevent and remedy the degradation, diminution, or depletion of our public natural resources" and to "act affirmatively to protect the environment." Read more here.
This year we also mourned the passing of Franklin Kury on August 16, 2026, who as a state Senator authored the legislation that became the Environmental Rights Amendment that was overwhelmingly passed by the voters of Pennsylvania in 1971. Read more here.
A Life Well Lived
Chief Justice Castille’s life was defined by service. Upon graduating from Auburn University in 1966 with a Bachelor of Science degree in economics, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
While serving in Vietnam, Lieutenant Castille was severely wounded by enemy gunfire. He was rescued by his platoon Sergeant, Angel Mendez, who himself was mortally wounded in the rescue.
Ron Castille lost his right leg as a result of his injuries and was medically retired from the Marine Corps in 1968.
For his valor he received the Bronze Star Medal with Combat “V,” two Purple Hearts, and other distinctions. Thereafter, he walked with crutches for the remainder of his life, yet he remained an avid golfer, downhill skier and boater.
He often remarked that he lived his life in honor of Angel Mendez and others with whom he served who made the ultimate sacrifice.
In 1993, Castille was elected a Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. He took office in January 1994 and was retained by the voters in 2003 and 2013.
On January 14, 2008, he was sworn in as Chief Justice of Pennsylvania, the 55th Chief Justice in Pennsylvania history, serving in that capacity until his mandatory retirement at age 70 on December 31, 2014.
Click Here for more on his life and accomplishments.
Resource Links:
-- Recognition of Environmental Rights For Pennsylvania Citizens: A Tribute To Chief Justice Castille - By John C. Dernback and Marc Prokopchak, Widener University School of Law
-- Op-Ed: Taking The Public Trust Seriously: The PA Supreme Court's Landmark Decision in PEDF v. Commonwealth - By John Dernbach, Distinguished Professor Of Law, Widener University [PaEN]
-- In Memoriam: Franklin L. Kury, Author Of The Environmental Rights Amendment To The Pennsylvania Constitution [PaEN]
[Note: This article will be updated as more information becomes available.]
[Posted: November 5, 2026] PA Environment Digest
