OVERVIEW OF COURTS

*produced by members of Philly 15th’s endorsements committee

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the ultimate authority on matters concerning interpretation of Pennsylvania’s laws or Constitution. The Court’s review is discretionary in many cases, and mandatory for limited categories of cases (e.g., interpretation of state constitution, cases involving the death penalty).  The Supreme Court supervises and oversees the operations of the Pennsylvania court system as well as the regulation of the practice of law. There are seven justices on the Supreme Court who sit for 10-year terms. There is one seat open on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court this election cycle. Philly 15th endorses Daniel McCaffery for Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court hears civil and criminal appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas. This is one of the busiest courts in the country. Generally, panels of three judges preside over these cases. There are 15 judges who sit on this Court. There are two seats open on the Pennsylvania Superior Court this election cycle. Philly 15th endorses Jill Beck & Timika Lane for Pennsylvania Superior Court.

The Commonwealth Court hears original actions brought by and against the Commonwealth, appeals from decisions made by state agencies and some appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas. Generally, panels of three judges preside over these cases. There are 9 judges who sit on this Court. There is one open seat on the Commonwealth Court this election cycle. Philly 15th endorses Matt Wolf for Commonwealth Court.

The Court of Common Pleas is Pennsylvania’s general jurisdiction trial court with a complement of one hundred and one judges.  The Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County is organized into three divisions based on case types:

1.    The Trial Division, which is responsible for major civil cases (where the contested amount exceeds $12,000) and most felony criminal cases;

2.    the Family Division, which has the Domestic Relations Branch that hears divorce, paternity, custody, child support and domestic violence matters, and the Juvenile Branch that hears delinquency, dependency, and adoption cases); and

3.    the Orphans’ Court Division, which handles proceedings involving estates, wills and trusts.

There are ten open seats on the Court of Common Pleas this election cycle. Philly 15th endorses Natasha Taylor,Tamika Washington, Samantha Williams, Kay Yu, John Padova, Chesley Lightsey, Brian McLaughlin, Caroline Turner, Jessica R. Brown, and James Eisenhower for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.

The Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction (by type of case, and by dollar amount in controversy). It, too, is organized into three divisions:  Criminal, Civil and Traffic.   There are two open seats on the Municipal Court this election cycle. Philly 15th endorses Barbara Thomson for Municipal Court.

* For the complete list of Philly 15th’s endorsements, please go here.