News

Superior Court to Hold Special Session in Washington County

News Article

April 16, 2015

— The Superior Court of Pennsylvania will hold a special session on Tuesday, April 28, 2015, in Washington County. The session will start at 10:30 a.m. in the Washington County Courthouse, Courtroom #1.

The court normally hears arguments on appeals in Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, but occasionally visits other locations around the Commonwealth for special sessions like this one. The aim is to better acquaint Pennsylvanians with the process by which matters before the state courts are considered and resolved.

The Superior Court was created in 1895 to assist the state Supreme Court in disposing of a burgeoning number of appeals in the growing Commonwealth. As such, the Superior Court exercises general jurisdiction statewide over all appeals from decisions of the state trial courts with the exception of death penalty appeals (heard by the Supreme Court) and cases brought against the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and its political subdivisions, such as school districts and municipalities (heard by the Commonwealth Court). 

The Superior Court is one of the busiest appellate courts in the nation, docketing more than 130,000 entries per year and deciding more than 8,000 individual cases involving civil, criminal, domestic relations and orphans’ court claims. 

In providing a window on the work of the court, this special session offers an exceptional opportunity for members of the public in Washington and neighboring counties to observe the service of the judiciary to all Pennsylvanians.

Serving on this special session panel will be Judges Jack Panella, Jaqueline Shogan, and Paula Ott. The three judges maintain chambers in Northampton, Allegheny, and Chester Counties, respectively. More information about the judges and the Superior Court is available at www.pacourts.us.

 

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Media contact: Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.,

Prothonotary, Superior Court of Pennsylvania

412-565-7592