Superior Court of Pennsylvania
JurisdictionPennsylvania, United States except those cases which involve decisions of governmental agencies; public sector legal questions; actions to which the Commonwealth is a party other than criminal cases; or actions to which a not-for-profit, private corporation is a party, all of which are appealed instead to the Commonwealth Court.
LocationHarrisburg (headquarters)
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Composition methodStatewide partisan election with possible retention at term expiration. Vacancies are filled via appointment by the Governor.
Authorized byPenn. Const. Art. V § 3
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 541-44
Appeals toSupreme Court of Pennsylvania
Appeals fromCourt of Common Pleas
Judge term length10 years
Number of positions15
WebsitePennsylvania Courts
President Judge
CurrentlyJack A. Panella
SinceJanuary 3, 2019[1]

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is one of two Pennsylvania intermediate appellate courts (the other being the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania). It is based in Harrisburg.

Jurisdiction

The Superior Court hears appeals in criminal and most civil cases from the Courts of Common Pleas and on matters involving children and families.[2] Most appeals are decided on the submission of briefs only. However, when the parties request oral argument, those sessions are usually heard by panels of three judges sitting in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, or Pittsburgh, but the court also hears some appeals "en banc," i.e., with nine judges.[2] Sometimes, special argument panels sit in other counties around the Commonwealth. Although different panels of three judges may sit to hear appeals, there is only one Superior Court (that is, Pennsylvania is not divided into appellate territories).

Judges

Superior Court judges are elected in statewide elections. The term of a Superior Court Judge is 10 years. After serving 10 years, judges may hold their seats if they win a retention vote. Voters have the right to retain or reject (vote out of office) Superior Court judges in Pennsylvania. Superior Court judges must retire from active service at the age of 75. They may serve as Senior Judges though, as approved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

Judge[3] Born Joined[1] Term ends Mandatory retirement[lower-alpha 1] Party affiliation Law school
Jack A. Panella, President Judge May 4, 1955 January 4, 2004[lower-alpha 2] 2033 2030 Democratic Columbus
John T. Bender, President Judge Emeritus November 6, 1948 January 5, 2002 2031 2023 Republican Duquesne
Mary Jane Bowes July 18, 1954 January 5, 2002 2031 2029 Republican Pittsburgh
Anne E. Lazarus November 12, 1952 January 3, 2010 2029 2027 Democratic Temple
Judith Ference Olson October 19, 1957 January 3, 2010 2029 2032 Republican Duquesne
Victor P. Stabile September 14, 1957 January 1, 2014 2033 2032 Republican Dickinson
Alice Beck Dubow March 25, 1959 January 3, 2016 2025 2034 Democratic Pennsylvania
Mary P. Murray July 6, 1970 December 14, 2017 2027 2045 Republican Duquesne
Maria McLaughlin May 27, 1966 December 18, 2017 2027 2041 Democratic Widener
Carolyn H. Nichols September 4, 1955 December 20, 2017 2027 2030 Democratic Temple
Deborah A. Kunselman September 24, 1967 December 21, 2017 2027 2042 Democratic Notre Dame
Daniel D. McCaffery July 20, 1964 January 5, 2020 2029 2039 Democratic Temple
Megan McCarthy King December 8, 1969 January 5, 2020 2029 2044 Republican Pittsburgh
Megan Sullivan October 19, 1971 January 3, 2022 2031 2046 Republican Temple
Vacancy
  1. ↑ Judges must retire by the last day (December 31) of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 75.[4]
  2. ↑ Became President Judge on January 3, 2019.

Vacancies and judges-elect

Seat last held by Party Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Judge-elect Party Taking office
Jacqueline Shogan Republican Retirement October 12, 2021 Jill Beck Democratic January 2024
John T. Bender Republican Mandatory retirement December 31, 2023 Timika Lane Democratic January 2024

Senior judges

Judge[3] Born Joined[1] Party affiliation Law school
Correale F. Stevens[lower-alpha 1], President Judge Emeritus October 6, 1946 2016 Republican Dickinson
James Gardner Colins[lower-alpha 2] June 9, 1946 January 1, 2019 Democratic Villanova
Dan Pellegrini[lower-alpha 3] September 15, 1945 January 1, 2019 Democratic Duquesne
  1. ↑ Judge Stevens was a former Associate Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court (2013–2016).
  2. ↑ Judge Collins was a former judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (1984–2008; 2012–2019).
  3. ↑ Judge Pellegrini was a former judge of the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court (1990–2016).

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Historical List of Superior Court Judges". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
  2. 1 2 "Learn". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  3. 1 2 "Superior Court Judges". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
  4. ↑ "Constitution of Pennsylvania - Article V §16".
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