Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania

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	Mary Hannah Leavitt
Since	2016

Philadelphia

Harrisburg

Pittsburgh

Court locations

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania is one of Pennsylvania's two intermediate appellate courts. The Commonwealth Court's headquarters is in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is the other intermediate appellate court in the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. 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 The Court's precedential and non-precedential ("unreported") opinions are posted on the Internet.

Appeals from Commonwealth Court decisions go to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Judges

Name	Born	Elected	Party When First Elected	Retained	Year of Next Retention Election	Reaches Age 75	Location	Prior Positions and Education
Mary Hannah Leavitt (President Judge)	(1947-03-17) March 17, 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio	2001	Republican	2011	2021	March 17, 2022	Harrisburg	Private Practice (1987–2001); Assistant Counsel, Chief of Litigation, and Chief Counsel, Pennsylvania Department of Insurance (1978–1987); J.D., Dickinson School of Law (1978); M.A., University of Pennsylvania (1972); B.A., Connecticut College (1969).
Renée Cohn Jubelirer	(1957-05-25) May 25, 1957 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	2001	Republican	2011	2021	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).
P. Kevin Brobson	(1970-11-26) November 26, 1970 in Mountoursville, Pennsylvania	2009	Republican	2019	2029	November 26, 2045	Harrisburg	Private Practice (1996–2009); Law Clerk, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (1995–1996); J.D., Widener University School of Law, Harrisburg Campus (1995); B.A., Lycoming College (1992).
Patricia A. McCullough	(1956-11-15) 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	(1959-11-04) November 4, 1959 in Wilmington, Delaware	2011	Republican	First term	2021	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	(1964-09-24) 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	(1957-09-11) 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	(1969-10-08) 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).
Andrew Crompton		2019 (appointed)	Republican	N/A	N/A			Various Counsel and Chief of Staff positions to Pennsylvania Senate Republican leadership (1994-2006, 2008-2019); J.D., Widener University School of Law (1993); B.A., Dickinson College (1990).

• Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter, Senior Judge

See also

•  Pennsylvania portal

External links

• Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
• Opinions of the Court