Superior Court of Pennsylvania

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.

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

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.[1] 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.[1] 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).

Superior Court 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.

Commissioned judges
Judge Born Joined Term ends Mandatory retirement[lower-alpha 1] Party affiliation Law school
Jack A. Panella, President Judge (1955-05-04) May 4, 1955 January 4, 2004 2023 2030 Democratic Columbus
John T. Bender, President Judge Emeritus (1948-11-06) November 6, 1948 January 5, 2002 2031 2023 Republican Duquesne
Mary Jane Bowes (1954-07-18) July 18, 1954 January 5, 2002 2031 2029 Republican Pittsburgh
Anne E. Lazarus (1952-11-12) November 12, 1952 January 3, 2010 2029 2027 Democratic Temple
Judith Ference Olson (1957-10-19) October 19, 1957 January 3, 2010 2029 2032 Republican Duquesne
Victor P. Stabile (1957-09-14) September 14, 1957 January 1, 2014 2023 2032 Republican Dickinson
Alice Beck Dubow (1959-03-25) March 25, 1959 January 3, 2016 2025 2034 Democratic Pennsylvania
Deborah A. Kunselman (1967-09-24) September 24, 1967 January 2, 2018 2027 2042 Democratic Notre Dame
Carolyn H. Nichols (1955-09-04) September 4, 1955 January 2, 2018 2027 2030 Democratic Temple
Mary P. Murray (1970-07-06) July 6, 1970 January 2, 2018 2027 2045 Republican Duquesne
Maria McLaughlin (1966-05-27) May 27, 1966 January 2, 2018 2027 2041 Democratic Widener
Megan McCarthy King (1969-12-08) December 8, 1969 January 5, 2020 2029 2044 Republican Pittsburgh
Daniel D. McCaffery (1964-07-20) July 20, 1964 January 5, 2020 2029 2039 Democratic Temple
Megan Sullivan (1971-10-19) 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.[2]

Vacancies and pending nominations
Seat last held by Vacancy reason Date of vacancy Nominee Nomination announced
Jacqueline Shogan Retirement October 12, 2021

Senior judges
Judge Born Assumed senior status Party affiliation Law school
Correale F. Stevens[lower-alpha 1], President Judge Emeritus (1946-10-06) October 6, 1946 2016 Republican Dickinson
James Gardner Collins[lower-alpha 2] – January 2019 Republican Villanova
Dan Pellegrini[lower-alpha 3] (1945-09-15) September 15, 1945 January 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. "Learn". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
  2. "Constitution of Pennsylvania - Article V §16".
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