PENNSYLVANIA - STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE

• NCJ Number: 55121
• Author(s): J B VENHOFF
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 90 pages
• Grant Number(s): 77-DF-99-0052
• Sponsoring Agency: US Dept of Justice
• Corporate Author: American Bar Association; National Ctr for State Courts
• Publication Format: Document
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: STATE COURT ORGANIZATION PROFILE SERIES

Annotation

THIS REPORT, ONE IN A SERIES CONTAINING PROFILES OF NONFEDERAL COURT SYSTEMS, DESCRIBES THE ORGANIZATION OF STATE COURTS IN PENNSYLVANIA.

Abstract

THE PENNSYLVANIA COURT SYSTEM HAS THREE APPELLATE COURTS. THE COURT OF LAST RESORT IS THE SUPREME COURT. IT HAS JURISDICTION OVER FINAL ORDERS OF THE TWO INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURTS PLUS EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER FINAL ORDERS OF GENERAL TRIAL COURTS IN CASES OF FELONIOUS HOMICIDE, THE RIGHT TO PUBLIC OFFICE, PROBATE OR ORPHAN COURT MATTERS, AND CERTAIN OTHER CASES. THE TWO INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURTS ARE THE COMMONWEALTH COURT AND THE SUPERIOR COURT. THE GENERAL TRIAL COURT IS THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS. GENERALLY, THIS COURT HAS JURISDICTION OVER ALL MATTERS NOT WITHIN THE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF LOWER COURTS. MANY LOWER COURTS HAVE DIVISIONS (CIVIL, CRIMINAL, FAMILY, AND ORPHANS). PROCEDURES PERTAINING TO THE FOLLOWING AREAS HAVE BEEN ESTABLISHED: THE QUALIFICATIONS, SELECTION, AND TERM OF THE JUDICIARY; THE DISCIPLINE AND REMOVAL OF JUDGES; COMPENSATION; RETIREMENT AGE AND ACTIVE SERVICE; CONTINUING EDUCATION; AND THE USE OF PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS. THE SUPREME COURT EXERCISES GENERAL SUPERVISORY AND ADMINISTRATIVE AUTHORITY OVER ALL COURTS AND JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. ALL MULTIJUDGE COURTS HAVE AN ADMINISTRATIVE HEAD, AND JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AUTHORITY IS VESTED PRIMARILY IN THE SUPREME COURT. THE DEGREE TO WHICH A STATEWIDE NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IS NOT KNOWN. THE DETAILED PROFILE OF THE COURT SYSTEM CONCERNS THE COURT OF LAST RESORT, INTERMEDIATE APPELLATE COURT, TRIAL COURTS OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, TRIAL COURTS OF LIMITED JURISDICTION, JUDGES, PARAJUDICIAL OFFICERS, NONJUDICIAL PERSONNEL, JUDICIAL POLICYMAKING AND ADVISORY BODIES, COURT ADMINISTRATION, COURT FINANCING, AND COURT RECORDS AND STATISTICS. SOURCES OF INFORMATION USED TO PREPARE THE PROFILE ARE LISTED. ORGANIZATIONAL CHARTS OF THE COURT SYSTEM ARE INCLUDED. DATA ON SIMILARITIES BETWEEN THE PENNSYLVANIA COURT SYSTEM AND AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION STANDARDS RELATING TO COURT ORGANIZATION ARE PROVIDED. (DEP)