Pennsylvania Superior Court
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The Pennsylvania Superior Court is one of Pennsylvania's two statewide intermediate appellate courts, the other being the Commonwealth Court. The Superior Court was established in 1895. It reviews most of the civil and criminal cases that are appealed from the Courts of Common Pleas in the state's 67 counties. The court's judges also review and decide on wiretapping applications presented by the state's Attorney General and district attorneys under Pennsylvania's Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act.[1]
The Superior Court consists of 15 judges who serve 10-year terms (beginning the January after their election and ending on the first Monday of the January ten years later - only on even-numbered years)[2][3]and Allegheny County along with senior judges who are appointed to serve on the court from time-to-time by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The president judge of the court is elected to a five-year term by his or her colleagues.[1]
Budget deficit
In Fiscal year 2008-2009, the Superior Court had a budget deficit of $5.3 million, according to a "State of the Courts" report prepared by Ronald Castille. Castille said that the deficit "threatens to diminish historic excellence in thoughtful and expeditious case management. Continued under-funding of Superior Court will have lasting consequences in its ability to manage its substantial caseload."[4]
Judicial pay
Justices of the Pennsylvania Superior Court are paid $175,923 annually, with the chief justice earning somewhat more. [5]
Judges
The Pennsylvania Superior Court was initially made up of seven judges that heard all cases together. In 1978, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court "exercised its constitutional supervisory powers over Pennsylvania courts to order the Superior Court to begin sitting in panels", citing the "exceedingly heavy volume of appeals coming to the Superior Court". The organization of the Superior Court was changed again in 1979, when the state electorate voted to permanently enlarge the court by eight members. [6]
Senior judges
History
The Superior Court was established in 1895 by Pennsylvania's state legislature to hear appeals from the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas.[1]
When the court was formed in 1895, it included seven judges who sat together to hear each case that came in front of the court. In 1978, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania ordered the court to begin hearing cases in panels of three judges.
In 1979, the Pennsylvania Constitution was amended to increase the number of judges on the court from 7 to its current level of 15. The eight additional positions were filled by 1986.
Judges are both elected and appointed to the court. Seniority is attained according to the length of continuous service on the Court, but elected judges receive seniority over appointed judges.[1]
Statistics
Appeals, 2007
The court provided these statistics in 2008 to indicate the number of appeals that were filed with the court, versus those that were pending and resolved in 2007.[7]
| Appeals | Total | Civil | Criminal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appeals pending, January 1, 2007 | 6,464 | 2,073 | 4,391 |
| New appeals in 2007 | 7,979 | 3,402 | 4,577 |
| Appeals concluded in 2007 | 8,156 | 3,394 | 4,762 |
| Appeals pending, January 1, 2008 | 6,287 | 2,081 | 4,206 |
External links
- Official website of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
- Description of Pennsylvania Superior Court, on Pennsylvania's statewide courts website.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 About the Superior Court of Pennsylvania
- ↑ Pennsylvania Constitution, Article V, Section 15
- ↑ Other Than in the City of Philadelphia Pennsylvania Constitution, Article V, Courts Other Than Philadelphia, Section 2
- ↑ Ronald Castille's State of the Courts, 2009
- ↑ The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review "Pittsburgh Teamsters, Union Locals Support Democrat Panella for Top Court", October 10, 2009
- ↑ History Of The Superior Court
- ↑ Pennsylvania Superior Court statistics, 2007
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