Judiciary of Pennsylvania

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania is the organized system of courts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States. It helps make sure laws are followed and that people get fair treatment when solving problems or disagreements. This system includes many types of courts, each with special jobs to handle different kinds of cases. From small local issues to big important decisions, the courts in Pennsylvania work together to support justice for everyone.

Courts

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the state and the last court to make decisions. Below it are two intermediate appellate courts: the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania for cases about state agencies, and the Superior Court of Pennsylvania for all other appeals.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has seven justices who help make important decisions about laws and cases. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and hears appeals from lower courts across the state, meeting in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania handles appeals from state agencies and some special cases about government rules. It also acts as a trial court for certain civil cases involving the state government and elections.

The Pennsylvania courts of common pleas are the main trial courts. There are 60 of these districts across Pennsylvania's 67 counties. They handle big civil cases, serious crimes, family matters like adoption, divorce, and child custody, as well as issues with trusts and estates and charitable organizations.

Smaller courts called magisterial district courts exist in every county except Philadelphia County. They deal with smaller civil cases, minor crimes, and preliminary hearings for bigger crimes. In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Municipal Court handles similar tasks but with a limit of $12,000 for civil cases.

Main article: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Main article: Superior Court of Pennsylvania

Main article: Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania

Administration

In Pennsylvania, the Supreme Court justice who has served the longest becomes the Chief Justice. Each of the 60 judicial districts has a president judge and a court administrator. In smaller districts with seven or fewer judges, the president judge is the one with the longest service. In larger districts with eight or more judges, the president judge is chosen by the court for a five-year term.

The official record of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court decisions is called the Pennsylvania State Reports, and it has been used since 1845. For the Superior Court and the Commonwealth Court, there are no official records, but there is an unofficial one called the Pennsylvania Reporter. Trial court decisions are not officially recorded, but some are published in different reports for each county. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts shares recent decisions from all three main courts on its website.

Officers

Judges

In Pennsylvania, judges are elected to serve for ten years. They can run with a political party’s support. After their term ends, voters decide if they should stay for another ten years. If voters choose not to keep a judge, the Governor picks a temporary replacement until a special election happens.

Judges must leave their full-time jobs when they turn 75 but can help part-time in lower courts until they are 78. Some judges, like those in Philadelphia, must be lawyers. Their pay changes depending on the court and their job, with some earning over $200,000 each year for full-time work.

Law

Further information: Law of Pennsylvania

Procedure

In criminal cases, a first hearing helps decide if there is enough proof that a crime happened and that the person accused might have done it. If the proof is strong enough, the judge will send the case to a bigger court for a full trial. If not, the case ends at this early stage. The person accused can also choose to skip this first hearing.

Everyone has the right to ask for a new trial from a smaller court to a bigger court. This isn’t a normal appeal where someone argues about a mistake in the first trial. Instead, the whole case starts over again in a bigger court.

Pittsburgh courts

In 2004 and 2005, the highest court in Pennsylvania made changes to the courts in Pittsburgh. They created a new group called the Pittsburgh Municipal Court and moved all its cases there. Now, judges from Allegheny County take turns working in this court. The old Pittsburgh Magistrates Court still exists by law but is not used anymore.