Superior Court of Pennsylvania

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 November 24, 2021:

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)	(1948-11-06) November 6, 1948 (age 73) in Jeannette, Pennsylvania	2001	Republican	2011, 2021	N/A-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).
Mary Jane Bowes	(1954-07-18) July 18, 1954 (age 67) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	2001	Republican	2011, 2021	N/A-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)	(1955-05-04) May 4, 1955 (age 66) in Brooklyn, New York	2003	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	(1952-11-12) November 12, 1952 (age 69) in Brooklyn, New York	2009	Democratic	2019	N/A-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).
Judith Ference Olson	(1957-10-19) October 19, 1957 (age 64) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	2009	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	(1957-09-14) September 14, 1957 (age 64) in New York, New York	2013	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	(1959-03-25) March 25, 1959 (age 62)	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	(1967-09-24) September 24, 1967 (age 54) in Wiesbaden, Germany	2017	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	(1966-05-27) May 27, 1966 (age 55) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	2017	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	(1970-07-06) July 6, 1970 (age 51)	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	(1955-09-04) September 4, 1955 (age 66) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	2017	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	(1964-07-20) July 20, 1964 (age 57) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania	2019	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	(1969-12-08) December 8, 1969 (age 52) in Wilmington, Delaware	2019	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).
Vacant ^{[note 1]}
Vacant ^{[note 2]}

^ A vacancy was created when President Judge Emeritus Susan P. Gantman took senior status in 2020.
^ 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

Judges-elect[]

Megan Sullivan (beginning 2022)^[2]

References[]

^ ^a ^b "Learn". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 31, 2020.
^ Briggs, Ryan (November 3, 2021). "Brobson wins Supreme Court race as GOP poised to sweep Pa. judicial elections". WHYY. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

External links[]

[2] A vacancy was created when President Judge Emeritus Susan P. Gantman took senior status in 2020.

[3] A vacancy was created when Judge Jacqueline Shogan retired.

[:0-1] "Learn". Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Retrieved August 31, 2020.

[4] Briggs, Ryan (November 3, 2021). "Brobson wins Supreme Court race as GOP poised to sweep Pa. judicial elections". WHYY. Retrieved November 24, 2021.

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[note 2]

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