The Pennsylvania Court System€¦ · • The Court also must oversee: – Cases involving the...
Transcript of The Pennsylvania Court System€¦ · • The Court also must oversee: – Cases involving the...
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The Pennsylvania Court System
What are the major courts of the state of Pennsylvania?
What role to the PA courts play in our everyday life?
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What is the job of the state courts?
• The state courts provide two (2) important jobs: – Settle disputes
• Between citizens • Between citizens and the
state government
– Act as a check on the conduct of all state governments
• Judicial Review
• In PA = The Unified Justice System of Pennsylvania
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What is the history of the courts in Pennsylvania?
• In 1682, William Penn created a court system under the control of the PA governor – Very unpopular
• In 1722, the Penn system of courts was abolished by the state legislature – The beginning of the state
court system we have today
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What is the highest court in the state of Pennsylvania?
• The highest court in the state is the Pennsylvania Supreme Court – Founded in 1722
• One of the oldest state courts in the United States
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Who sits on the PA Supreme Court?
• The PA Supreme Court has seven (7) justices – Ten (10) year term – Elected to the court
• Leadership = Chief Justice
• Justices may retire from the Court at the age of 70 – Mandatory retirement for all
judges in 78
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An inside look at the PA Supreme Court chamber at the State Capital Building from the back of the courtroom.
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The PA Supreme Court sits by seniority, much like the US Supreme Court with the Chief Justice in the center
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One of the many murals on the walls of PA Supreme Court’s courtroom. This one depicts the early courts of the state.
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What kinds of cases does the PA Supreme Court hear?
• Under the PA Constitution, the PA Supreme Court can hear: – Cases of statewide importance – Cases that require clarification of state law
• The Court also must oversee: – Cases involving the death penalty – Appeals from the state’s Commonwealth
Court
• On average, the court receives about 2,500 appeals each year
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Is there anyone who assists the PA Supreme Court?
• The PA Supreme Court is assisted by the Supreme Court Committee – Unpaid lawyer who
advise the Court
• Oversee every aspect of the court’s agenda and research – Make sure the Court is
unbiased in its decisions
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What courts exist directly under the PA Supreme Court?
• Two (2) courts: – PA Superior Court
– PA Commonwealth Court
• Both courts operate as “filters” for the Supreme Court – Ease the workload
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What is the PA Superior Court?
• The PA Superior Court handles reviews appeals from PA’s county courts – Established in 1895
• Filter out important cases for the PA Supreme Court
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How does the PA Superior Court operate?
• The Court is made up of fifteen (15) justices (10-year terms) – Panels of three (3)
• Can issue petitions for review to the PA Supreme Court – Often verdicts are FINAL
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What is the PA Commonwealth Court?
• The PA Commonwealth Court oversees cases involving the state government, regulatory agencies, and lawsuits – Banking regulations – Insurance
– Taxation
– Elections
– Labor Disputes
– Worker Compensation
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How does the PA Commonwealth Court operate?
• The Court is made up of nine (9) justices (10-year term) – Panels of three (3)
• Like the Superior Court, it can also petition the Supreme Court – Often verdicts here are
FINAL
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What are the PA Court of Common Pleas?
• The PA Court of Common Pleas are the everyday county courts of Pennsylvania – Adoption – Divorce – Criminal Cases – Guardianship – Estates – MANY MANY MORE
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How do the Court of Common Pleas operate?
• The Court is run by a Judge of Common Pleas – Elected to a ten (10)
year term
• Each county has its own Judge of Common Pleas to oversee cases.
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What are the PA Minor Courts?
• The Minor Courts are the courts of the individual townships in a county – Traffic Courts – Small Claims – Landowner Disputes
• There are over 500 of these courts in the state – Judges are elected – Legal degrees is optional