An inquiry about the questionable transfer of a rape case in Allegheny County from one judge to another has triggered a broader look at how criminal cases are assigned.

"This inquiry is going to include an examination of the processes used to assign cases in Allegheny County," Stuart Ditzen, a spokesman for the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, said Monday. "It will look systemically at the methods and procedures for assigning cases in the county."

As part of the inquiry, the office -- an arm of the state Supreme Court -- is reviewing how and why Tito L. Rivera was tried before Common Pleas Judge Donna Jo McDaniel.

Mr. Rivera, who was found guilty by jury in 2008 of rape and numerous other counts, was originally scheduled to be tried before Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski.

But following a request by then-Clerk of Courts George F. Matta II, who is a relative of the rape victim, the case was moved to Judge McDaniel.

At the time, she was administrative judge of the criminal division. The transfer was handled by Helen M. Lynch, the administrator of the criminal division.

Judge McDaniel sentenced Mr. Rivera to 80 to 160 years in prison.

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