Justice Debra Todd Formally Installed as First Female Chief Justice in History of Pa Supreme Court

Surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd today made history as she was formally sworn-in as Pennsylvania’s 58th Chief Justice, becoming the first woman installed as chief in the Court’s 300-year history.

Pa. Courts Launch Civics Education Toolkit

As one of the three branches of government, the judiciary reflects the core values of American democracy while acting as one of its essential pillars. Created by the Pa. Supreme Court, the Commission on Judicial Independence is charged with fostering a greater public understanding about the role of the courts and explaining the essential need of an independent judiciary.

As part of their efforts, a comprehensive civics education toolkit was developed as a resource for teachers, students and the public to learn more about the work, role and structure of the state’s courts.

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Debra Todd recognizes the importance of civics education with an official citation.

Pa. Courts supporting Autism Acceptance Month through Support and Inclusion

April is Autism Acceptance Month, a significant annual observance aimed at promoting acceptance, understanding and change in how individuals with autism are perceived and treated.

Previously known as Autism Awareness Month, the name change to Autism Acceptance Month is part of a larger push for more meaningful inclusion and support for individuals with autism rather than just raising awareness about autism.

Pennsylvania Courts have embraced this shift emphasizing the need for true inclusion and support during Autism Acceptance Month and throughout the entire year with its Autism and the Courts initiative – a statewide movement focused on reducing trauma and supporting individuals in the court system with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Pennsylvania Courts Launch New Interactive Magisterial District Court Map

The Pennsylvania Courts, in partnership with the Pennsylvania State Data Center, have developed a new interactive tool that allows the public to visualize the boundaries of all 509 magisterial district courts in Pennsylvania.

Pa. Supreme Court Celebrating 300 Years

To commemorate its 300th anniversary, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hold a special argument session in Old City Hall, Philadelphia, in the Independence National Historical Park on May 18, followed by a two-day symposium on May 19 and 20 at the National Constitution Center.

The symposium will review key aspects of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's jurisprudence, use the Court's tricentennial to explore broader issues in our republican form of government, and expound on the role of today's Supreme Court as the administrator of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System.

Additional information is available here and via Facebook @PennsylvaniaCourts and Twitter @PACourts.

Multilingual Landlord/Tenant Forms Available in 12 Languages

Landlord/tenant forms are available in English and 12 foreign languages most frequently used in Pennsylvania on the Forms for the Public page and on the Bilingual Forms page. The Pennsylvania courts stand committed to translating frequently used court forms into a number of different languages to ensure access for all court users. For more information about language access in the Unified Judicial System, Click here.

Formularios Multilingües de Desahucio Disponibles en 12 Idiomas

Formularios de desahucio están disponibles en inglés y los 12 idiomas extranjeros utilizados con mayor frecuencia en Pennsylvania en la página de Formularios para el Público y la página de Formularios Bilingües. Los tribunales de Pennsylvania están comprometidos a traducir los formularios más frecuentemente utilizados a diferentes idiomas para asegurar acceso a los tribunales para todos los usuarios. Para más información sobre acceso lingüístico en el Unified Judicial System, pulse aquí.