Courts in Pennsylvania
| More information on Pennsylvania's state courts: |
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| Selection methods Elections Salaries Federal courts |
In Pennsylvania, there are three federal district courts, state supreme court, a superior court, a commonwealth court, and trial courts with both general and limited jurisdiction. These courts serve different purposes, which are outlined in the sections below.
Click a link for information about that court type.
The image below depicts the flow of cases through Pennsylvania's state court system. Cases typically originate in the trial courts and can be appealed to courts higher up in the system.
Judicial selection process
- See also: Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
Selection of state court judges in Pennsylvania occurs through partisan elections. While in many states elected judges run for re-election at the end of their terms, judges in Pennsylvania, except for magisterial district judges, run in yes-no retention elections in order to remain on the court.[1]
Federal courts
There are three federal district courts in Pennsylvania. These courts may hear appeals from state courts and are also the point of origination for federal cases and lawsuits. The federal district courts in Pennsylvania are:
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Appeals go to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
Active judges
Eastern District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| June 22, 2004 - |
Columbia, 1974 |
University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1977 |
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| June 24, 2004 - |
City University of New York, City College, 1978 |
University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1981 |
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| October 31, 2008 - |
Ithaca College, 1981 |
Temple University Law, 1986 |
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| June 19, 2013 - |
University of Puerto Rico, 1972 |
University of Puerto Rico School of Law, 1975 |
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| June 25, 2013 - |
Dickinson College, 1977 |
University of Toledo Law, 1980 |
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| March 28, 2014 - |
St. Joseph's University |
University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1979 |
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| November 21, 2014 - |
Liverpool University, 1984 |
University of Pennsylvania Law School, 1993 |
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| December 4, 2014 - |
Villanova University, 1985 |
University of Notre Dame, 1988 |
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| December 4, 2014 - |
Villanova University, 1984 |
Villanova University Law, 1987 |
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| December 5, 2014 - |
DeSales University, 1977 |
Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, 1980 |
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| October 24, 2018 - |
Villanova University |
Temple University |
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| May 28, 2019 - |
University of Pennsylvania, 1996 |
Harvard Law School, 1999 |
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| August 20, 2019 - |
Boston University, 1977 |
Howard University, 2011 |
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| December 20, 2019 - |
Davidson College, 1990 |
Wake Forest University School of Law, 1998 |
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| December 31, 2019 - |
Long Island University, 1989 |
New York Law School, 1994 |
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| December 16, 2022 - |
Tufts University |
Temple University, Beasley School of Law |
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| December 23, 2022 - |
Cornell University, 1999 |
Harvard Law School, 2007 |
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| December 23, 2022 - |
University of Virginia, 1993 |
University of Richmond School of Law, 1996 |
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| January 18, 2023 - |
Hampton University, 1991 |
West Virginia University College of Law, 1995 |
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| September 19, 2024 - |
Temple University, 1998 |
Temple University, Beasley School of Law, 2001 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 11
- Republican appointed: 8
Middle District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 29, 2002 - |
Cornell University, 1979 |
Dickinson School of Law, 1982 |
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| December 27, 2012 - |
University of Notre Dame, 1987 |
Dickinson School of Law, 1990 |
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| November 8, 2019 - |
Swarthmore College, 1997 |
Brooklyn Law School, 2001 |
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| November 7, 2023 - |
Marywood College, 1987 |
Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson Law, 1992 |
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| February 5, 2024 - |
Pennsylvania State University, 1998 |
Tulane University School of Law, 2001 |
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| August 13, 2024 - |
Villanova University, 1982 |
Dickinson School of Law, 1985 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 3
- Republican appointed: 2
Western District
| Judge | Appointed By | Assumed Office | Bachelors | Law |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| October 19, 2011 - |
Alfred University, 1990 |
Harvard Law School, 1993 |
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| October 19, 2011 - |
University of Pittsburgh, 1978 |
University of Pittsburgh School of Law, 1981 |
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| September 10, 2018 - |
Pennsylvania State University, 1978 |
Temple University Law, 1983 |
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| September 19, 2018 - |
Pennsylvania State University, 1976 |
University of Pittsburgh, 1979 |
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| July 12, 2019 - |
Grove City College, 2000 |
University of Michigan Law School, 2003 |
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| August 5, 2019 - |
Duquesne University, 2002 |
Duquesne University School of Law, 2005 |
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| September 30, 2019 - |
Juniata College, 1992 |
Ohio Northern University, Pettit College of Law, 1995 |
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| December 31, 2019 - |
Pennsylvania State University, 1989 |
Duquesne University, 1992 |
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| July 31, 2020 - |
Allegheny College, 1993 |
Notre Dame Law School, 1996 |
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| September 11, 2020 - |
Princeton, 1997 |
Cornell Law School, 2000 |
The list below displays the number of active judges by the party of the appointing president. It does not reflect how a judge may rule on specific cases or their own political preferences.
- Democrat appointed: 2
- Republican appointed: 8
Judicial selection
Judges who sit on the federal district courts are nominated by the president of the United States and confirmed by the United States Senate. These judges serve life terms. To read more about the judges on these courts, click here.
Bankruptcy courts
There are three federal bankruptcy courts in Pennsylvania. These courts have subject-matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy cases. The federal bankruptcy courts in Pennsylvania are:
- United States bankruptcy court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- United States bankruptcy court, Middle District of Pennsylvania
- United States bankruptcy court, Western District of Pennsylvania
State supreme court
- See also: Pennsylvania Supreme Court
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the state's court of last resort and has seven judgeships. The current chief of the court is Debra Todd. The court was established by the Pennsylvania Provincial Assembly in 1722 as a successor to the Provincial Court established in 1684.[2] It is the oldest appellate court in the United States.[3]
As of January 2024, five judges on the court were elected in partisan elections as Democrats and two judge were elected as Republicans.
The following judges sit on the court:
| Office | Name | Party | Date assumed office |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Kevin Brobson | Republican | January 3, 2022 |
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Christine Donohue | Democratic | January 8, 2016 |
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Kevin M. Dougherty | Democratic | January 5, 2016 |
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Daniel D. McCaffery | Democratic | January 2, 2024 |
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Sallie Mundy | Republican | 2016 |
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | Debra Todd | Democratic | 2008 |
| Pennsylvania Supreme Court | David Wecht | Democratic | January 7, 2016 |
State courts of appeal
Superior court
- See also: Pennsylvania Superior Court
The Pennsylvania Superior Court is one of Pennsylvania's two statewide intermediate appellate courts, the other being the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court. The superior court was established in 1895. It reviews most of the civil and criminal cases that are appealed from the courts of common pleas in the state's 67 counties. The court's judges also review and decide on wiretapping applications presented by the state's attorney general and district attorneys under Pennsylvania's Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act.[4]
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
January 1, 2014 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 9, 2004 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 15, 2016 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 4, 2010 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2018 - Present |
Elected |
|
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January 3, 2020 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2018 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 4, 2010 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 7, 2002 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2018 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2018 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 3, 2022 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 1, 2024 - Present |
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January 1, 2024 - Present |
Commonwealth court
- See also: Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court
The Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court is one of Pennsylvania's two intermediate appellate courts, the other being the Superior Court. The Commonwealth Court was established in 1968 in Article V, section 4 of the 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution.[5]
The court is made up of nine judges who serve 10-year terms (beginning the January after their election and ending on the first Monday of the January 10 years later - only on even-numbered years).[6][7] The president judge is chosen by his or her colleagues for a five-year term. The court generally decides cases in three-judge panels and sits in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh.[5]
The following judges sit on the court:
| Judge | Tenure | Appointed By |
|---|---|---|
|
2018 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2012 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2016 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 6, 2002 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
2018 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 4, 2010 - Present |
Elected |
|
|
January 3, 2022 - Present |
||
|
January 3, 2022 - Present |
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January 1, 2024 - Present |
Trial courts
Court of common pleas
- See also: Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas
The Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas refers to the trial level courts in Pennsylvania.
While Pennsylvania has minor courts for summary offenses, small civil claims, and landlord-tenant matters, the primary courts are the Courts of Common Pleas. These courts are organized into 60 judicial districts. They are where most misdemeanor and all felony criminal cases are disposed of, where Orphan's Court matters are addressed, and where larger civil cases are originated. Family law matters, such as custody, divorce, and support are also addressed at the primary level under the supervision of the Court of Common Pleas for a county.[5]
Magisterial districts
- See also: Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
The Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts are minor courts in Pennsylvania that deal with small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic cases and minor criminal matters. Magisterial district judges are chosen in competitive elections for six-year terms.[8][5][9]
Philadelphia municipal court
- See also: Philadelphia Municipal Court
The Philadelphia Municipal Court is a minor court in Pennsylvania that deals with municipal matters. Judges of this court are elected.[8][5]
Pittsburgh municipal court
- See also: Pittsburgh Municipal Court
The Pittsburgh Municipal Court is a minor court in Pennsylvania that deals with municipal matters. This court is staffed by magisterial district judges.[8][5]
In other states
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ National Center for State Courts, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania," archived November 25, 2020
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "A Brief History of the Courts of Pennsylvania," accessed September 25, 2019
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "Supreme Court of Pennsylvania," accessed September 25, 2019
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "Superior Court of Pennsylvania," accessed September 21, 2016
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "Learn - Pennsylvania court structure," accessed March 17, 2021
- ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, Article V, Section 15
- ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, Article V, Courts Other Than Philadelphia, Section 2
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "Minor Courts of Pennsylvania," archived April 28, 2012
- ↑ The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, "How judges are elected," accessed June 19, 2019
Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
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