Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (February 2022) |
| Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
| Established | 1968 |
| 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 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 Superior Court |
| Judge term length | 10 years |
| Number of positions | 9 |
| Website | Commonwealth Court |
| President Judge | |
| Currently | TBD |
| Since | 2022 |
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.
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 and government regulation. 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 The Court's precedential and non-precedential ("unreported") opinions are posted online.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[edit]
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Renée Cohn Jubelirer[1] |
May 25, 1957 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 2001 | Republican | 2011, 2021 | 2031 | May 25, 2032 | State College | In-House Counsel, ATX Telecommunications Services (1997–2001); Assistant Solicitor, Lehigh County (1997–1999); Deputy Solicitor, Lehigh County (1996–1997); Private Practice (1984–1996); Assistant Professor, DePaul University College of Law (1985–1987); Teaching Fellow, Stanford Law School (1983–1984); J.D., Northwestern University School of Law (1983); B.A., Pennsylvania State University (1978). |
|
Patricia A. McCullough[2] |
November 15, 1956 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | 2009 | Republican | 2019 | 2029 | November 15, 2031 | Pittsburgh | Private Practice (2008–2009, 1991–2004); Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh (2006–2007); Judge, Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas (2005–2006); Assistant General Counsel, University of Pittsburgh Office of General Counsel (1983–1991); Law Clerk, Washington County Court of Common Pleas (1981–1983); J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1981); B.A., University of Pittsburgh (1978). |
|
Anne E. Covey[3] |
November 4, 1959 in Wilmington, Delaware | 2011 | Republican | 2021 | 2031 | November 4, 2034 | New Hope | Private Practice (1987–2011); Member, Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (2002–2011); Law Clerk, Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania (1985–1987); Assistant Counsel, Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (1984–1985); J.D., Widener University School of Law, Wilmington Campus (1984); B.A., University of Delaware (1981). |
|
Michael Wojcik[4] |
September 24, 1964 in Windber, Pennsylvania | 2015 | Democratic | First term | 2025 | September 24, 2039 | Pittsburgh | Private Practice (2012–2016); Solicitor, Allegheny County (2004–2012); Private Practice (1989–2004); J.D., University of Pittsburgh School of Law (1989); B.A., Juniata College (1986). |
|
Ellen H. Ceisler[5] |
September 11, 1957 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 2017 | Democratic | First term | 2027 | September 11, 2032 | Philadelphia | Judge, Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas (2007–2017); Director, Special Investigations & Fraud Unit, Philadelphia City Controller's Office (2006); consultant, Philadelphia School District (2005–2006); Deputy Director/Director, Philadelphia Police Department Integrity & Accountability Office (1997–2005); special advisor to the Sheriff, Office of the Sheriff of Philadelphia (1992–1994); private practice (1990–1992); Investigative Producer, WCAU (1988–1990); Assistant District Attorney, Philadelphia County District Attorney's Office (1986–1988); J.D., Temple University School of Law (1986); B.A., Temple University (1979); A.A., Montgomery County Community College (1977). |
|
Christine Fizzano Cannon[6] |
October 8, 1969 in Media, Pennsylvania | 2017 | Republican | First term | 2027 | October 8, 2044 | Media | Judge, Delaware County Court of Common Pleas (2012–2017); private practice (1994–2011); J.D., Widener University School of Law (1994); B.A., University of Arizona (1991). |
|
Lori Dumas |
December 2, 1967 | 2021 | Democratic | First term | 2031 | December 2, 2042 | Philadelphia | |
|
Stacy Marie Wallace |
March 21, 1971 | 2021[7] | Republican | First term | 2031 | March 21, 2046 | ||
|
Vacant [note 1] |
Senior judges[edit]
- Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter[8]
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ A vacancy was created when President Judge P. Kevin Brobson was elevated to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on January 3, 2022.
References[edit]
- ^ "Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Judge Patricia A. McCullough | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Judge Anne E. Covey | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Judge Michael H. Wojcik | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Judge Ellen Ceisler | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "Stacy Wallace Sworn in as Newest Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Judge | News | News & Statistics | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
- ^ "President Judge Emerita Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter | Commonwealth Court Judges | Commonwealth Court | Courts | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
External links[edit]
State intermediate appellate courts in the United States | ||
|---|---|---|
|  | |
Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wyoming do not have intermediate appellate courts. | ||