News

Focused on educating the public about the work and role of the courts, members of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today gathered in Tioga County for a panel discussion as part the continued recognition of the Court’s 300th anniversary....

December 09

Spearheaded by Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty on behalf of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, a central-region summit was held today in Lewisburg, Pa., on Autism 101, diagnosis and community support to educate and train local courthouse personnel, child welfare professionals and dependency court partners, including juvenile and adult probation and other community providers....

December 08

In Pennsylvania, a drug delivery resulting in death (DDRD) charge is issued to a person who intentionally administers, dispenses, delivers, gives, prescribes, sells or distributes any controlled substance or counterfeit controlled substance, and another person dies as a result of using the substance....

December 02

Pennsylvania’s veteran population ranks fourth in the U.S. with over 800,000 veterans as of 2021. Since 2009, Pennsylvania’s Veterans Treatment Courts have been assisting veterans who are charged with crimes and are struggling with addiction, mental illness or other co-occurring disorders....

November 04

EDITORS NOTE: Radio actualities and an informational graphic regarding this topic are available on the Judiciary’s media r...

November 01

As work continues to bring lasting reform to the judicial system for individuals with autism, Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Kevin Dougherty today announced the launch of a new  data initiative being piloted within the dependency court system to assist children with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD)....

October 17

In 2021, the number of new protection from abuse (PFA) orders filed statewide increased by 12 percent from 2020. A PFA is a civil court order to help protect victims of domestic violence, providing relief from abuse by an intimate partner, family or household member...

October 14

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Max Baer will be honored and remembered on Tuesday, Oct 4, at 10 a.m. during a public memorial service at Duquesne University....

October 02

Following the news of the sudden passing of Pennsylvania Chief Justice Max Baer, Commonwealth Court President Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer released the following statement expressing thoughts and condolences on behalf of the Commonwealth Court....

October 01

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is confirming the sudden passing of Chief Justice Max Baer. Baer died at his home near Pittsburgh. He was 74 years old.

As the justice of longest and continuous service on the Court, Justice Debra Todd now becomes Chief Justice of Pennsylvania....

October 01

Pennsylvania Courts facilitated 36,140 statewide requests for interpreters in 2021 – 88 percent of which were for Spanish-speaking individuals. The infographic highlights key court data including the top 10 counties for language access and interpreter expenses as well as the top 10 languages requested...

September 08

In Pennsylvania, two school zone traffic laws have been cited more than 26,671 times over the past five years (2017-2021). The infographic below highlights key data and demographics about speeding in school zones or illegally passing a school bus....

August 12

Libre’s Law, the anti-cruelty law (Act 10) that strengthened the protection of animals, went into effect in late August of 2017. Since then, over 35,000 animal abuse offenses have been filed statewide –  57 percent of which were for neglect of an animal....

July 08

The Pa. Supreme Court Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts today recognized World Elder Abuse Awareness Day by highlighting the importance of identifying and understanding elder abuse for one of Pa.’s most vulnerable populations....

June 15

The United States and Pennsylvania Constitutions guarantee one of the most fundamental rights of Americans –the right to a trial by jury....

June 10

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania commemorated its 300th anniversary today with the opening of its tricentennial symposium in Philadelphia aimed at highlighting its history and achievements which paved the way for courts nationwide....

May 19

In honor of its 300th anniversary, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has released a new historical booklet taking readers through an illustrated history of the Court....

May 18

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court will remake history tomorrow as they hold a historic oral argument session at the site of early court meetings in Old City Hall, Philadelphia....

May 17

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, the Pennsylvania Courts today released an infographic highlighting data from the state’s mental health courts....

May 13

Focused on making courts accessible for all Pennsylvanians, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced that registration is now open for attorneys and judges seeking credit hours for the Court’s 300th anniversary livestream of its upcoming May argument session and symposium....

May 06

Following a growing number of violent altercations in a local school, Delaware County Magisterial District Judge W. Keith Williams II is heeding a call to help students succeed through a new program called “Men on a Mission.”...

April 14

As the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania prepares to celebrate its 300th anniversary, students across the state are invited to participate in the historic occasion by participating in an essay and coloring contest....

April 13

Distracted driving citations in Pennsylvania continue to trend downward as data shows citations decreased by six percent in 2021, following a significant 47 percent decrease in 2020....

April 12

Following their creation of a new Judicial Ethics Advisory Board earlier this year, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the Board’s inaugural executive director and members....

April 12

In light of the Supreme Court’s recent order modifying the General Primary Election schedule for candidates seeking seats in the Pennsylvania General Assembly and for State Party Committees in the upcoming Primary Election on May 17, 2022, the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania issued a Notice and Order relating to disposition of challenges to nomination petitions of candidates for those seats.  The issuance of the March 25, 2022 Notice and Order will enable the Commonwealth Court to more expeditiously resolve petition challenges and to ensure the timely preparation of ballots....

March 27

In recognition of National Women’s History Month, the Pennsylvania Courts today released an infographic looking at the history of women in the Pennsylvania judiciary, as well as those women currently serving....

March 04

Surrounded by friends, family and colleagues, Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court welcomed its newest judge as Lori Dumas was sworn-in during a ceremonial session by the Honorable Kevin M. Dougherty, Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania....

February 18

In recognition of Pennsylvania’s Highway Safety Law Awareness Week (Feb. 20-26), the Pennsylvania Courts today released an infographic highlighting court data that reflects some of the most common traffic violations statewide. In 2020, alleged traffic offenses decreased by 36 percent from the previous year....

February 18

During a ceremonial session today, Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court welcomed its newest judge as Stacy Wallace was sworn-in by the Honorable P. Kevin Brobson, Justice of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania....

January 14

Committed to ensuring the continued integrity and public trust of Pennsylvania’s judiciary, the Supreme Court has announced the creation of a new judicial ethics advisory board....

January 14

Having taken into account the recent historical caseload and workload trends of each magisterial district, President Judge Maria Musti Cook is considering the proposed plan outlined below that would realign several districts in York County....

January 11

Pennsylvania courts today launched an awareness campaign to educate Pennsylvanians about the signs and risk factors of the many forms human trafficking can take and the resources available for victims of human trafficking....

January 10

Over the last five years since Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive human-trafficking law (Act 105) took effect, 784 human-trafficking offenses were filed....

January 10

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania today announced the election of Judge Renee Cohn Jubelirer as its next president judge....

January 07

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Max Baer today officially welcomed Justice P. Kevin Brobson as a member of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania following his swearing-in ceremony....

January 04