| Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
Judges' seats in the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's chambers in the Pennsylvania State Capitol |
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| Established | May 22, 1722 |
| Jurisdiction | Pennsylvania, United States |
| Location | Harrisburg Pittsburgh Philadelphia |
| Composition method | Partisanly elected and retained |
| Authorized by | Pennsylvania Constitution |
| Judge term length | 10 years |
| Number of positions | 7 |
| Website | Official site |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Ronald D. Castille |
| Since | January 7, 2008 |
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the court of last resort for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
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The original Pennsylvania constitutions, drafted by William Penn, established a Provincial Court under the control of his British governors. The General Assembly, however, espoused the principle of separation of powers and formally called for a third branch of government starting with the 1701 Judiciary Bill. In 1722, the appointed British governor needed the House to raise revenues. House leaders agreed to raise taxes in return for an independent Supreme Court.
Predating the United States Supreme Court by 67 years, Pennsylvania's highest court was established by the General Assembly on May 22, 1722. Interpreting the Pennsylvania Constitution, it was the first independent Supreme Court in the United States with the power to declare laws made by an elected legislative body unconstitutional.
It meets in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Supreme court consists of seven justices each elected to ten year terms. Supreme court judicial candidates may run on party tickets. The justice with the longest continuous service on the supreme court automatically becomes Chief Justice. Justices must step down from the Supreme Court when they reach the age of 70, although they may continue to serve part-time as "senior justices" on panels of the Commonwealth's lower appellate courts until they reach the age of 78, the age of mandatory retirement.[1]
Prior to 2002, judicial candidates in Pennsylvania were prohibited from expressing their views on disputed legal or political issues. But after a similar law in Minnesota was struck down as unconstitutional (Republican Party of Minnesota v. White), the Pennsylvania rules were amended and judicial candidates may now express political viewpoints as long as they do not “commit or appear to commit the candidate with respect to cases, controversies or issues that are likely to come before the court.” (PA Code of Judicial Conduct, Canon 7 (B)(1)(c))[2]
After the ten year term expires, a statewide YES/NO vote for retention is conducted. If the judge is retained, he/she serves another ten year term. If the judge is not retained, the governor, subject to the approval of the State Senate, appoints a temporary replacement until a special election can be held. As of 2005, only one judge has failed to win retention. Justice Russell M. Nigro received a majority of "NO" votes in the election of 2005 and was replaced by Justice Cynthia A. Baldwin, who was appointed by Governor Rendell in 2005.
Only one Supreme Court Justice, Rolf Larsen, has been removed from office by impeachment. In 1994, the State House of Representatives handed down articles of impeachment consisting of seven counts of misconduct. A majority of the State Senate voted against Larsen in five of the seven counts but only one charge garnered the two-thirds majority needed to convict.
Under the 1874 Constitution until the Pennsylvania state constitution of 1968, Supreme Court justices were elected to 21 year terms. At the time, it was the longest term of any elected office in the United States.
| Name | Born | Elected | Year of Next Retention Election | Reaches Age 70 | Prior Positions and Education |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March 16, 1944 in Miami, Florida | 1993 (retained in 2003) | 2013 | March 16, 2014 | Private Practice (1991–1993); District Attorney, Philadelphia County (1986–1991); Deputy District Attorney, Philadelphia County (1971–1985); J.D., University of Virginia School of Law (1971); B.S., Auburn University (1966). | |
| December 14, 1946 in Somerset County, Pennsylvania | 1997 (retained in 2007) | None - final term | December 12, 2016 | Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (1993–1997); Private Practice (1987–1993); First Deputy Attorney General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1983–1987); Director, Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection (1982–1983); First Assistant District Attorney, Somerset County (1973–1976); Private Practice (1972–1982); J.D., Columbia Law School (1972); B.A., University of Virginia (1969). | |
| November 18, 1948 in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania | 2001 | 2011 | November 18, 2018 | Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (1995–2001); District Attorney, Cumberland County (1984–1995); Private Practice (1980–1989); Assistant District Attorney, Cumberland County (1975–1983); J.D., Dickinson School of Law (1975); B.A., Franklin & Marshall College (1970). | |
| December 24, 1947 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 2003 | 2013 | December 24, 2017 | Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (1989–2003); Private Practice (1980–1989); Deputy Attorney General, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1975–1979); J.D., Duquesne University School of Law (1975); B.A., University of Pittsburgh (1971). | |
| October 15, 1957 in Ellwood City, Pennsylvania | 2007 | 2017 | October 15, 2027 | Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (2000–2007); Private Practice (1982–1999); J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1982); B.A., Chatham College (1979). | |
| June 3, 1950 in Belfast, Northern Ireland | 2007 | 2017 | June 3, 2020 | Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (2003–2008); Judge, Philadelphia Municipal Court (1993–2003); J.D., Temple University School of Law (1989); B.A., La Salle University (1977); Police Officer, Philadelphia Police Department (1970–1989). | |
| April 6, 1956 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 2009 | 2019 | April 6, 2026 | Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania (1998–2009); Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (1990–1998); Magistrate and Chief Magistrate, Pittsburgh Municipal Courts (1985–1990); Private Practice (1981–1985); J.D., Duquesne University School of Law (1981); B.A., Notre Dame University (1978). |
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