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The Pennsylvania court system is structured like a pyramid with the Supreme Court at the top.

7 Justices

15 Judges

9 Judges

462 Judges

502 Judges

Magisterial District Courts

27 Judges

Philadelphia Municipal Court

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Learn About the Judicial System

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Click on a section of the pyramid to learn more about a particular court.
Updated as of November 2016.

Supreme Court

overview

Dating to 1684, the Supreme Court is the highest court in the Commonwealth and the oldest appellate court in the nation. The Supreme Court’s administrative powers and jurisdictional responsibilities are vested with the seven-member court by the Pennsylvania State Constitution and a collection of statutes known as the Judicial Code. Administratively, the courts within the Unified Judicial System are largely responsible for organizing their own staff and dockets; however, the Supreme Court has several committees and boards responsible for writing and enforcing rules for judges, attorneys, and litigants to ensure an efficient and fair judicial review.

Annually, the seven justices receive over 3,000 requests for appellate review.

Most often,
but not exclusively,
the Court reviews:

Requests for discretionary appeals from the Commonwealth Court and Superior Court
Direct Appeals from a lower court’s decision, including when a sentence of death is issued
Requests to intervene in a lower court’s proceedings
Requests to deliver a body from illegal detention

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Learn About the Judicial System

Supreme Court

overview

Most often,
but not exclusively,
the Court reviews:

Superior Court

overview

responsible for

Commonwealth Court

overview

responsible for

Common Pleas Court

overview

responsible for

Minor Court

overview

responsible for