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 most important court in the state. It makes the final decisions on laws and cases. There are two lower appellate courts: the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania for cases about state agencies, and the Superior Court of Pennsylvania for other appeals.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has seven justices who help decide important legal matters. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and hears appeals from lower courts. It meets in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia.

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

The Pennsylvania courts of common pleas are the main trial courts. There are 60 of these courts 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 are in every county except Philadelphia County. They deal with smaller civil cases, minor crimes, and early hearings for bigger crimes. In Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Municipal Court handles similar tasks but for civil cases up to $12,000.

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 chosen by voters to serve for ten years. They may run with a political party’s support. After ten years, voters decide if the judge should stay for another term. If voters do not choose to keep a judge, the Governor selects a temporary judge until a special election happens.

Judges must stop being full-time workers when they turn 75 but can help part-time in lower courts until they are 78. Some judges, such as those in Philadelphia, need to be lawyers. Their pay changes based on the court and their job, and some earn more than $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. 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. The whole case starts over again in a bigger court.

Pittsburgh courts

In 2004 and 2005, the highest court in Pennsylvania changed 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.