Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Superior Court of Pennsylvania | |
---|---|
Jurisdiction | Pennsylvania, 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. |
Location | Harrisburg (headquarters) Philadelphia Pittsburgh |
Composition method | Statewide partisan election with possible retention at term expiration. Vacancies are filled via appointment by the Governor. |
Authorized by | Penn. Const. Art. V § 3 42 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 541-44 |
Appeals to | Supreme Court of Pennsylvania |
Appeals from | Court of Common Pleas |
Judge term length | 10 years |
Number of positions | 15 |
Website | Pennsylvania Courts |
President Judge | |
Currently | Jack A. Panella |
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.
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] Cases are usually heard by panels of three judges sitting in Philadelphia, Harrisburg, or Pittsburgh, but may also be heard en banc by nine judges.[1] 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
as of January 3, 2022[update]:
Name | Born | Elected | Party when first elected | Retained | Year of next retention election | Reaches age 75 | Location | Prior positions and education |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
John T. Bender (President Judge Emeritus) |
Jeannette, Pennsylvania | November 6, 1948 in2001 | Republican | 2011, 2021 | Final term | November 6, 2023 | Pittsburgh | Magisterial District Judge, Allegheny County (1997–2001); Private Practice; Assistant District Attorney, Allegheny County District Attorney's Office; Law Clerk, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; J.D., Duquesne University School of Law (1976); B.A., Pennsylvania State University (1970). |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | July 18, 1954 in2001 | Republican | 2011, 2021 | Final term | July 18, 2029 | Pittsburgh | In-House Counsel, IT Corporation (1998–2001); Private Practice (1986–1998); J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1979); B.A., Georgetown University (1976). | |
Jack A. Panella (President Judge) |
Brooklyn, New York | May 4, 1955 in2003 | Democratic | 2013 | 2023 | May 4, 2030 | Bethlehem | Judge, Northampton County Court of Common Pleas (1991–2003); Private Practice (1982–1991); County Solicitor, Northampton County (1987–1991); Assistant County Solicitor, Northampton County (1982–1987); Law Clerk, Northampton County Court of Common Pleas (1980–1982); J.D., Columbus School of Law, The Catholic University of America (1980); B.S., St. John's University (1977). |
Anne E. Lazarus |
Brooklyn, New York | November 12, 1952 in2009 | Democratic | 2019 | Final term | November 12, 2027 | Philadelphia | Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (1991–2009); Private Practice, Ballard Spahr Andrews & Ingersoll LLP, (1990–1991); Solo Practitioner, (1980–1990); Law Clerk, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (1976–1990); LL.M., Temple University School of Law, 1986; J.D., Temple University School of Law (1976); B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook (1972). |
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | October 19, 1957 in2009 | Republican | 2019 | 2029 | October 19, 2032 | Pittsburgh | Private Practice (1984–2000); Law Clerk, United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania (1982–1984); J.D., Duquesne University School of Law (1982); B.A., St. Francis College (1979). | |
Victor P. Stabile |
New York, New York | September 14, 1957 in2013 | Republican | First term | 2023 | September 14, 2032 | Harrisburg | Private Practice (1987–2013); Deputy Attorney General (Torts Litigation Unit), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (1984–1987); Law Clerk, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania (1982–1984); J.D., Dickinson School of Law (1982); B.A., State University of New York at Stony Brook (1979). |
Alice Dubow |
March 25, 1959 | 2015 | Democratic | First term | 2025 | March 25, 2034 | Philadelphia | Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (2007–2016); Deputy General Counsel, Drexel University (2000–2006); private practice (1997–2000); Assistant City Solicitor, Philadelphia County Office of the City Solicitor (1992–1997); private practice (1985–1992); Law Clerk, Bucks County Court of Common Pleas (1984); LL.M., Temple University School of Law (1991); J.D., University of Pennsylvania Law School (1984); B.A., University of Pennsylvania (1981). |
Deborah A. Kunselman |
Wiesbaden, Germany | September 24, 1967 in2017 | Democratic | First term | 2027 | September 24, 2042 | Beaver | Judge, Beaver County Court of Common Pleas (2006–2017); County Solicitor, Beaver County (1998–2005); private practice (1996–2005); J.D., Notre Dame Law School (1992); B.A., Pennsylvania State University (1988). |
Maria McLaughlin |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | May 27, 1966 in2017 | Democratic | First term | 2027 | May 27, 2041 | Philadelphia | Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (2012–2017); Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia County District Attorney's Office (1992–2011); J.D., Widener University School of Law (1992); B.A., Pennsylvania State University (1988). |
Mary P. Murray |
July 6, 1970 | 2017 | Republican | First term | 2027 | July 6, 2045 | Pittsburgh | Magisterial District Judge, Allegheny County (2004–2017); private practice (2001–2017); Law Clerk, Beaver County Court of Common Pleas (1998–2001); private practice (1996–1998); J.D., Duquesne University School of Law (1996); M.B.A., Duquesne University (1995); B.A./B.S., Duquesne University (1992). |
Carolyn H. Nichols |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | September 4, 1955 in2017 | Democratic | First term | 2027 | September 4, 2030 | Philadelphia | Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (2012–2017); private practice (2008–2011); General Counsel, Philadelphia Parking Authority (1999–2005); Law Clerk, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (1997); private practice (1996–1999); Assistant Legal Counsel, Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (1995–1996); Legislative Assistant, Philadelphia City Council (1994–1995); Assistant City Solicitor, Philadelphia County Office of the City Solicitor (1990–1994); M.B.A., Eastern University (2002); LL.M., Temple University School of Law (1994); J.D., Temple University School of Law (1985); B.A., Temple University (1978). |
Daniel McCaffery |
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | July 20, 1964 in2019 | Democratic | First term | 2029 | July 20, 2039 | Philadelphia | Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (2014–2019); private practice (1997–2013); Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia County District Attorney's Office (1991–1996); J.D., Temple University School of Law (1991); B.A., Temple University (1988). |
Megan McCarthy King |
Wilmington, Delaware | December 8, 1969 in2019 | Republican | First term | 2029 | December 8, 2044 | Berwyn | Assistant District Attorney, Chester County District Attorney's Office (2015–2019); Assistant District Attorney, Lancaster County District Attorney's Office (1996–1999, 2012–2015); Adjunct Professor, Cabrini College (2008–2012); Law Clerk, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania (1999–2001); Attorney, Pennsylvania House of Representatives Republican Caucus (1995–1996); M.A.Ed., Rosemont College (2010); J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1995); B.A., Vanderbilt University (1992). |
Megan Sullivan |
October 19, 1971 | 2021 | Republican | First term | 2031 | October 19, 2046 | West Chester | Deputy Attorney General, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General (2017-2021); Litigation Attorney, The MacMain Law Group, LLC (2015-2017); Assistant General Legal Counsel, West Chester University (2012-2015); Assistant District Attorney, Chester County District Attorney’s Office (2002-2012); Associate, Montgomery, McCracken, Walker & Rhoads (2001-2002); B.A., Saint Joseph's University (1993); J.D., Temple University School of Law (2001). |
Vacancy | A vacancy was created when Judge Jacqueline Shogan retired. |
Senior judges
- Correale Stevens (President Judge Emeritus)
- Susan P. Gantman (President Judge Emeritus)
- John L. Musmanno
- James G. Colins
- Dante Pelligrini