Pennsylvania's

State Court System

Pennsylvania's Unified Court System


Pennsylvania has a unified court system that is designed to handle the wide variety of cases that arise in the state.  Cases begin in the lower courts, and may be appealed all the way up to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  Here's a look at the roles of the courts at all four levels:
Magisterial District Courts:   Magisterial Courts have a wide range of functions.  They handle misdemeanor and summary (minor) criminal cases, including traffic offenses, disorderly conduct, and simple drug possession.   Small-claims civil cases are also heard in magisterial courts. The magisterial district judge (magistrate) can also set bail requirements, grant emergency Protection From Abuse orders, issue warrants, and perform marriages.

In Pennsylvania, magisterial district judges serve a six-year term and must run for re-election.  Magistrates are not required to be lawyers, but if they are not lawyers, they must take a training course and pass a qualification test.  Allegheny County has 46 magisterial districts.  

You can find a map of Pennsylvania's magisterial districts here:   Magisterial District Map
Zoom in to find your district.  Click on the district number to find the name and contact information of the judge in your district. 

Court of Common Pleas:   
Allegheny County's Common Pleas Courts have several divisions, including, Civil, Criminal, Family and Orphan's Courts.  Civil Courts handle most major civil cases, including contract disputes, and business law.  The Criminal Division handles cases like assault, murder, and property theft.   Family Court hears divorce, custody, domestic violence and juvenile cases, and Orphan's Court handles issues like adoptions, guardianship and estate law.

Common Pleas judges are elected for 10-year terms.  There are 40 Common Pleas judges in Allegheny County. 

Pennsylvania's Unified Court System

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Intermediate Appellate Courts:  Pennsylvania Superior and Commonwealth Courts
Pennsylvania has two intermediate courts that hear appeals of the Court of Common Pleas decisions.  The Commonwealth Court handles appeals (and some original cases) that involve Pennsylvania's state agencies, while the Superior Court hears all other appeals.  
Superior Court  
Pennsylvania's Superior Court hears appeals of civil and criminal decisions from the Court of Common Pleas. 

Pennsylvania has 15 Superior Court Judges, who are elected in statewide elections.  They serve 10-year terms.
Commonwealth Court
Pennsylvania's Commonwealth Court hears original cases filed against the state or state agencies, as well as appeals of Common Pleas decisions involving state agencies.  

Pennsylvania has 9 Commonwealth Court judges who are elected in statewide elections.  They serve 10-year terms.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court
 The Pennsylvania Supreme Court hears appeals of decisions by the PA Superior and Commonwealth Courts.  Like the US Supreme Court, the PA Supreme Court has discretion over which cases to take. 
 
There are 7 justices on the PA Supreme Court, who are elected in statewide elections.  They are elected for 10-year terms.  

How Are Judges Elected in PA?

How Are Judges Elected in Pennsylvania?
Magisterial District Judges are elected for 6-year terms in competitive, partisan elections.  Their seats come open every 6 years, and they must run again against other candidates to win a new term.   
 
Judges in the Common Pleas and statewide Appellate Courts are elected for 10-year terms.  When running for their first terms, they run in competitive, partisan elections.  As in other partisan races, voters usually have a choice of candidates.  After a judge's first term, their seat does not come open for a competitive race.  Instead they can run for "retention" for another ten year term. 

What is "Retention"?   When judges run for retention, voters will have a yes/no ballot option on retaining the incumbent judge, rather than a choice of candidates.  It is extremely rare for judges to be removed on a retention vote.  
Who are the judges  in the Allegheny County and State Courts?
What are their salaries?
When do their current terms end?  

Find out in our Directory -->

What kinds of cases are reviewed in the PA Appellate Courts?  See some examples here:

https://www.pacourts.us/news-and-statistics/cases-of-public-interest

Learn more about the PA Court System in this Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts program with the Honorable Ronald Arnoni, Magisterial District Judge serving Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. In this interview, Judge Arnoni describes the roles of the Magisterial, Common Pleas and Appellate Courts.


"Pennsylvania Court System Overview"




This presentation, recorded October 14, 2021, was part of the "Democracy in America" series, sponsored by the Mt. Lebanon Public Library, the Denis Theatre, and LWVPGH.

Learn more with these resources:

Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Infographic:  https://www.pacourts.us/learn/

Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts Workshop video :  Court Basics & Judicial Elections - Allegheny County

More resources from Pennsylvanians for Modern Courts:   https://www.pmconline.org

Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas:   https://www.alleghenycourts.us/Home/Default.aspx

Finding Judicial Candidate Information

During election season, you can find information about your judicial candidates at  Vote411.org  and on our Judicial Candidates page.

Bar Association Candidate Rankings

The Allegheny County Bar Association's Judiciary Committee reviews judicial candidates in Allegheny County and provides them with a rating of their qualifications. The ACBA ratings can be found at https://www.judicialvote2025.org/ratings.

The Pennsylvania Bar Association reviews statewide judicial candidates and provides them with a rating.  You can view the PABA ratings for candidates for PA's Commonwealth, Superior, and Supreme Court at  http://pavotesmart.org/current-judicial-ratings

 

How does the Allegheny County Bar Association determine ratings for judicial candidates?

Hear from two ACBA members, Democrat Caroline Mitchell, and Republican Heather Heidelbaugh to learn how they decide on which ABA "Bar Rating" to assign to the candidates they review.  

 

 

Finding more information about judicial candidates
Campaign law does not allow judicial candidates to state their positions on any issues that may come before them in court.  This makes it difficult for voters to understand the differences between candidates and make an informed choice.  Here are a few ways to learn more about judicial candidates:  
  • View the Judicial Candidates who will be on your ballot at  Vote411.org.  You will see the candidate's names, and any biographical and survey information they provided, including links to their campaign websites and social media accounts.
  • View the candidates' online campaign materials using the links you found on Vote411.
  • Check their campaign finance records to see who is contributing to their campaigns.  This information is required to be publicly available from your county.  Information for Allegheny County can be found here:

https://documents.alleghenycounty.us/PAVClient/PublicAccess/index.html 

  • Check to see who has endorsed the candidate.  Many issue-based organizations endorse judicial candidates.  Sometimes you can find these endorsements on a candidate's website or campaign literature, and sometimes you can find them on the organization's website. 

Enter your address to see which candidates will be on
YOUR Ballot. 
 



Candidate responses to our Voters' Guide survey will be updated at this site during election season, so check back often.