Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania

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Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
Commonwealth Court of PA logo.svg
Established1968
Jurisdiction Pennsylvania 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.
Location Harrisburg (headquarters)
Philadelphia
Pittsburgh
Composition methodStatewide partisan election with possible retention at term expiration. Vacancies are filled via appointment by the Governor.
Authorised byPenn. Const. Art. V § 3
42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 561-64
Appeals to Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Appeals from Court of Common Pleas
Superior Court
Judge term length10 years
Number of positions9
Website Commonwealth Court
President Judge
CurrentlyRenée Cohn Jubelirer
SinceJanuary 7, 2022 [1] [2]
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Philadelphia
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Harrisburg
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Pittsburgh
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Court locations

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.

Contents

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 [3] BornJoined [1] Term endsMandatory retirement [a] PartyLaw school
Renée Cohn Jubelirer, President JudgeMay 25, 1957 (age 68)January 7, 2002 [b] 20312032 Republican Northwestern
Patricia A. McCulloughNovember 15, 1956 (age 69)January 4, 201020292031 Republican Pittsburgh
Anne E. CoveyNovember 4, 1959 (age 66)January 2, 201220312034 Republican Widener
Michael H. WojcikSeptember 24, 1964 (age 61)January 4, 201620352039 Democratic Pittsburgh
Christine Fizzano CannonOctober 8, 1969 (age 56)January 1, 201820272044 Republican Widener
Lori A. Dumas December 2, 1967 (age 57)January 3, 202220312042 Democratic North Carolina Central
Stacy WallaceJuly 18, 1979 (age 46)January 3, 202220312054 Republican Duquesne
Matthew S. Wolf1968 (age 56–57)January 1, 202420332043 Democratic Loyola New Orleans
Vacant
  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 7, 2022.

Senior judges

Judge [3] BornPartyLaw school
Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter, President Judge EmeritaFebruary 19, 1947 (age 78) Republican Pittsburgh
Mary Hannah Leavitt, President Judge EmeritaMarch 17, 1947 (age 78) Republican Dickinson

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Historical List of Commonwealth Court Judges". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
  2. ↑ "Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Elects Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer as President Judge". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. January 7, 2022.
  3. 1 2 "Commonwealth Court Judges". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.
  4. ↑ "Constitution of Pennsylvania - Article V §16".
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