A basic knowledge of Pennsylvania courts and judges can be very beneficial if you ever find yourself compelled to appear in a Pennsylvania court house. All too often individuals and businesses find the need to file a lawsuit, or are at the receiving end of a lawsuit, and their lack of knowledge on how the court system works leaves them lost in the proceedings. Regardless of the circumstances that put you there, it doesn’t hurt to understand the Pennsylvania state courts process and know a little about the individual overseeing your case.
It’s important to understand that there are multiple courts in Pennylvania that oversee different types of cases. Each of these courts have judges that administer the law and case process. When considering Pennsylvania courts and Pennsylvania judges, keep the following in mind:
1. Four levels make up the Pennsylvania court system: Special Courts, Court of Common Pleas, Superior and Commonwealth Court and the Supreme Court.
2. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court only hears appellate cases and has its own appointed judges in Pennsylvania.
3. Bankruptcy information and case filings are also accessible through PA court records.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Understand the system for Pennsylvania courts and judges
The bottom level of the Pennsylvania court system are the Special Courts, which handle all traffic and parking violations, bail issues and minor criminal and civil cases. There are three specific areas of the Special Courts: the Magisterial District Judges in PA, municipal courts and traffic courts. Next are the Courts of Common Pleas, located in each Pennsylvania county. These Pennsylvania courts handle major criminal and civil cases, family law and the appeals of Special Courts' decisions. Each county Court of Common Pleas has local rules that must apply to any case in addition to state and federal laws.
I recommend: Access local rules for PA court of Common Pleas by county on
Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System. Search Pennsylvania court case records on
Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System – Web Docket Sheets page.
File an appeal with the Supreme and Appellate courts in Pennsylvania
The next tear of the Pennsylvania court system are the Superior Court and Court of the Commonwealth. The Superior Court handles criminal cases and appellate cases on decisions made by the Court of Common Pleas. The Court of the Commonwealth only hears civil cases and appellate cases that involve the Commonwealth as a party in the case. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court only hears appellate cases, regarding either Superior Court or Court of the Commonwealth decisions, or appeals directly filed with the state Supreme Court.
I recommend: Visit the
Superior Court of Pennsylvania website for a directory of Pennsylvania judges in the Superior Court and their biographies. Access the
Opinion Content Search Page of Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System to search for appellate case decisions from all three courts.
Access records from bankruptcy courts in Pennsylvania
Whether you need to search for a bankruptcy filing on a debtor or determine if bankruptcy is an option for you or your company, the Pennsylvania Bankruptcy Courts can assist you with both. Three districts make up the Pennsylvania Bankruptcy court: the western, middle and eastern districts. Each provides information on the basics for bankruptcy filing, contact information for trustees and bankruptcy attorneys and an online search of Pennsylvania bankruptcy records through the PACER system (Public Access to Court Electronic Records).
I recommend: Obtain local court rules for Pennsylvania Bankruptcy court information at the
US Bankruptcy Court – Middle District of Pennsylvania website. Visit the bankruptcy court records search at the
US Bankruptcy Court – Eastern District of Pennsylvania (each district provides a similar online search).
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Regardless of how much knowledge you have of courts and judges in Pennsylvania, you should hire an attorney who specializes in your specific type of case to represent you.
The official source of Pennsylvania Courts and Judges is
the Pennsylvania Courts and Judges page at Business.com
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