Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is one of Pennsylvania's two intermediate appellate courts. The Commonwealth Court's headquarters is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, with jurisdiction over administrative and civil public law. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is the other intermediate appellate court in the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, having jurisdiction over criminal and private civil cases.

Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Established1968
JurisdictionPennsylvania 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.
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. § 561-64
Appeals toSupreme Court of Pennsylvania
Appeals fromCourt of Common Pleas
Superior Court
Judge term length10 years
Number of positions9
WebsiteCommonwealth Court
President Judge
CurrentlyRenée Cohn Jubelirer
Since2022
Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is located in Pennsylvania
Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Harrisburg
Harrisburg
Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh
Court locations

The jurisdiction of the nine-judge Commonwealth Court is limited to appeals from final orders of certain state agencies and certain designated cases from the Courts of Common Pleas involving public sector legal questions, government regulation, and certain matters involving Not-for-profit organizations. The Commonwealth Court also functions as a trial court in some civil actions by or against the Commonwealth government and cases regarding statewide elections. (42 Pa.C.S. §§ 761–764).

Article V, section 4 of the 1968 Pennsylvania Constitution created the Commonwealth Court. Acts enacted in 1970 set up the court. Judges are elected to 10-year terms, and must retire at the age of 75.

The Commonwealth Court publishes its precedential opinions in the Atlantic Reporter 3d series. From 1970 to 1995, the court maintained an official reporter, Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Reports, volumes 1–168 (1970–1995). The Court's precedential and non-precedential ("unreported") opinions are posted online.

Appeals from Commonwealth Court decisions go to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Judges
Judge Born Joined Term ends Mandatory retirement[lower-alpha 1] Party affiliation Law school
Renée Cohn Jubelirer, President Judge[2] (1957-05-25) May 25, 1957 January 5, 2002 2031 2032 Republican Northwestern
Patricia A. McCullough[3] (1956-11-15) November 15, 1956 January 3, 2010 2029 2031 Republican Pittsburgh
Anne E. Covey[4] (1959-11-04) November 4, 1959 January 1, 2012 2031 2034 Republican Widener
Michael H. Wojcik[5] (1964-09-24) September 24, 1964 January 3, 2016 2025 2039 Democratic Pittsburgh
Christine Fizzano Cannon[6] (1969-10-08) October 8, 1969 December 31, 2017 2027 2044 Republican Widener
Ellen H. Ceisler[7] (1957-09-11) September 11, 1957 December 31, 2017 2027 2032 Democratic Temple
Stacy Wallace (1979-07-18) July 18, 1979 January 14, 2022 2031 2054 Republican Duquesne
Lori Dumas (1967-12-02) December 2, 1967 February 18, 2022 2031 2042 Democratic North Carolina Central
Vacancy
  1. Judges must retire by the last day (December 31) of the calendar year in which they reach the age of 75.[1]

Vacancies and pending nominations
Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Nomination announced
P. Kevin Brobson Elevation January 3, 2022

Senior judges
Judge Born Joined Assumed senior status Party affiliation Law school
Bonnie Brigace Leadbetter, President Judge Emerita[8] (1947-02-19) February 19, 1947 January 9, 1996 February 1, 2016 Republican Pittsburgh
Mary Hannah Leavitt, President Judge Emerita[9] (1947-03-17) March 17, 1947 January 5, 2002 March 18, 2022 Republican Dickinson

See also

References
  1. "Constitution of Pennsylvania - Article V §16".
  2. "Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  3. "Judge Patricia A. McCullough | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  4. "Judge Anne E. Covey | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  5. "Judge Michael H. Wojcik | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  6. "Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  7. "Judge Ellen Ceisler | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  8. "President Judge Emerita Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  9. "President Judge Emerita Mary Hannah Leavitt". www.pacourts.us.
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