News

2013

List by Year

Chief Justice Castille to Appear on PCN

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille is scheduled to appear at 7 p.m. Monday on PCN-TV to discuss his goals for 2014...

December 17

Manning Elected President of Allegheny County Court

Allegheny County Judge Jeffrey A. Manning will serve a five-year term as president judge of the Common Pleas Court of the Fifth...

December 12

Got a Traffic Ticket? Pay it Online

Pay court-ordered fines, fees, costs or restitution from the comfort of your own home or office. The state court system offers...

December 03

We’re Tweeting. Are You Following?

Follow @PACourts on Twitter for news about the Pennsylvania state court system, court opinions and other information. The stat...

December 03

Cosgrove Named AOPC Chief Legal Counsel

A veteran Luzerne County attorney has been named chief legal counsel for the AOPC’s Legal Department, Court Administrator...

November 20

Delco Judge Jenkins Nominated to Superior Court

Gov. Thomas Corbett has nominated Delaware County Judge Patricia Jenkins to a vacancy on the Superior Court of Pennsylvania. J...

November 20

Allegheny County Drug Court Earns Honors

Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd presented Allegheny County Judge Kevin G. Sasinoski with a certificate of accreditation for the...

November 11

PA Court System Puts Focus on Helping Veterans

Want to help former servicemen and servicewomen who come into contact with the criminal justice system? Pennsylvania’s j...

November 07

Voters Give Their Approval to Appellate Court Jurists

Pennsylvania voters have chosen to retain four appellate court jurists. Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille and J...

November 05

Victims of Attorney Theft Awarded $3.25 Million by Clients’ Security Fund

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille announced that 47 claimants who were allegedly bilked by a Wilkes-Barre attorne...

October 30

Profiles of Two Supreme Court Justices to Air on PCN-TV

Two Supreme Court justices seeking retention will appear this week on special editions of the Pennsylvania Cable Network’s...

October 28

Nation’s Largest Funder of Civil Legal Aid Services Hosts Pittsburgh Forum

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille joined other top court leaders from neighboring Maryland and West Virginia to b...

October 21

Chief Justice Clarifies Misleading Account of Supreme Court Actions

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille has issued a statement refuting claims in a new book that the Supreme Court of...

October 09

Supreme Court Appoints Panella to the Court of Judicial Discipline

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has announced the appointment of Superior Court Judge Jack A. Panella to the Court of Judicial...

September 23

Singapore Visitors Interested in Elder Law Issues

Representatives from Singapore’s Office of Public Guardian traveled halfway around the world to learn more about practices...

September 17

Clerk Ordered to Stop Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

Commonwealth Court President Judge Dan Pellegrini has granted the state Department of Health’s petition seeking to compel...

September 12

Commonwealth Court to Hold Special Session in City of Reading

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania will hold a special session on Sept. 13 in Reading, where a three-judge panel is schedule...

September 09

Chief Justice: $4 Million Distribution Will Help Fund Civil Legal Services to Low Income Pennsylvanians

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille said today that rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania in 2012 are...

September 06

Superior Court to Hold Special Session in Two Luzerne County Locations

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has decided to move three cases previously set for a special session at Dallas High School in Lu...

August 29

National Book Showcases Pennsylvania Courtrooms

Pennsylvania Supreme Court courtrooms in Pittsburgh, Philadelphia and Harrisburg are featured in a new book about state courthou...

August 22

Judge Bender Elected President Judge of Superior Court

The Pennsylvania Superior Court has elected Judge John T. Bender as president of the 15-member intermediate appellate court. P...

August 13

AOPConnected: The Latest Court Updates and News

A Common Pleas Court judge narrowly escaped the deadly bomb blasts at this year’s Boston Marathon. Read his first-person...

August 13

Fourth Report Released on New Media’s Impact on the Judiciary

An increasing number of courts are implementing rules to control the use of new media like Facebook and Twitter in the courtroom...

August 08

Fewer Abused and Neglected Children in Foster Care

The number of abused and neglected children placed in foster care or temporary living arrangements throughout Pennsylvania conti...

August 07

Court Administrator of Pennsylvania Named to National Office

Zygmont Pines, court administrator of Pennsylvania, has been named president of the Conference of State Court Administrators and...

August 02

Stevens Sworn into Office as Supreme Court Justice

Former Superior Court President Judge Correale F. Stevens became the newest member of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court Tuesday...

July 31

Top Website Views Provide Vital Feedback

Visitors to the Unified Judicial System website consistently are viewing the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania’s opinions and...

July 30

Costs for Traffic Violations Add Up

Ever wonder where the money from a traffic ticket goes? A summary of fees and costs associated with moving traffic viola

 ...

July 17

Pennsylvania Judiciary Launches System to Measure Problem-Solving Courts Performance

The Pennsylvania Judiciary is launching a new system across the Commonwealth to track problem-solving court case results that ar

 ...

July 17

Commonwealth Court Voter ID hearing continues today

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania today is continuing its consideration of a challenge to Pennsylvania’s voter/photo

 ...

July 15

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Appoints Keenan to Board of Law Examiners

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has appointed C. Robert Keenan III, Esq., to the Board of Law Examiners. Keenan, of Alleghen

 ...

July 11

Senate Confirms Judge Stevens to Supreme Court

Superior Court President Judge Correale F. Stevens will fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court following his confirmation by the Pe...

July 01

President Judge Stevens’ Supreme Court Nomination Advances

The Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee today unanimously recommended that the full Senate consider the nomination of Superi...

June 27

Clarification for Drivers about Philadelphia Traffic Court

State legislation signed by Gov. Tom Corbett earlier this week transferred the authority of the Philadelphia Traffic Court to th...

June 21

Chief Justice Castille Issues Statement on Signing of Bill Dismantling Philadelphia Traffic Court

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille today issued the following statement on Governor Tom Corbett’s signing of...

June 19

Governor Appoints Stevens to Supreme Court Vacancy

Gov. Thomas Corbett has appointed Superior Court President Judge Correale F. Stevens to the vacancy on the Supreme Court of Penn...

June 14

Online Court Payments Top $100 Million

More than $100 million in traffic fines and other court-ordered fines, costs and restitution has been collected over the last tw

 ...

June 10

A Decade of Fairness: Celebrating 10 Years of Advancing Equal Justice under the Law

A special program and reception were held on June 5 in Pittsburgh, as Duquesne University School of Law and the Pennsylvania Int...

June 05

Medical Malpractice Case Statistics Show Nearly 45 Percent Decline in Number of Case Filings Statewide

Audio clips of the chief justice are available on the UJS website The latest available medical malpractice case information re...

June 04

PA Courts Feed Reaches Twitter Milestone

@PACourts has reached a Twitter milestone of 2,000 followers. Our followers get the latest information about the state courts...

June 03

New Judicial Rules and Policies Standardize Best Practices for Constables

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has adopted new rules that will, for the first time, require uniform policies, procedures and

 ...

May 28

Juvenile Court Youth Community Service Yields $3.9 Million Worth of Volunteer Services in 2012

Audio clips of the chief justice and an infographic are available on the UJS website. In 2012, thousands of youth performed un...

May 22

Chief Justice Appears at Senate Hearing on Legal Services

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille spoke at a state Senate Judiciary Committee hearing studying the need for civil...

May 18

Allegheny County Judge Clark Appointed to Two Committees

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has appointed Allegheny County Judge Kim Berkeley Clark to the Domestic Relations and Juvenile

 ...

May 13

Superior Court to Hold “Mega Seminar” in Luzerne County

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania will hold a “mega seminar” for the Pennsylvania State Police and local police dep

 ...

May 06

Courts, Libraries Join to Promote Greater Understanding of Judicial System

As part of the celebration of Law Week, April 29 – May 3, the Supreme Court has partnered with the Pennsylvania Library As...

May 01

Supreme Court’s Elder Law Task Force Will Tackle Growing Abuses to Older Pennsylvanians

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has formed an Elder Law Task Force, chaired by Justice Debra Todd, to study the growing proble...

April 18

Chief Justice Castille Reminds Lawyers of Need to Provide Public Service

During this 50th anniversary year of the landmark Gideon v. Wainwright decision establishing the right to counsel for the indige...

April 11

Evers Selected Interim Court Administrator for the First Judicial District

Joseph Evers, a 40-year veteran of the Philadelphia court system, has been named interim court administrator of Pennsylvania's...

April 10

Chief Justice Castille Issues Final Progress Report on Juvenile Justice Recommendations

NOTE: Audio actualities from Chief Justice Castille are available Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille today prese...

April 08

Input Sought on Proposed Rewrite of 40-year-old Orphans’ Court Rules

A substantial overhaul of the current Orphans’ Court Procedural Rules, which have remained relatively intact for nearly fo

 ...

April 03

Superior Court to Hold Special Session at Penn Law

Superior Court President Judge Correale F. Stevens will chair a three-judge argument court panel on campus at the University of...

March 26

Justice Orie Melvin Resigns

In a letter to Gov. Tom Corbett, Justice Joan Orie Melvin today resigned her seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, effective M


...

March 25

Chief Justice Castille Addresses PA Press Club

Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Ronald D. Castille was today’s featured speaker at the Pennsylvania Press Club where he talk...

March 25

Superior Court to Hold Special Session in Beaver County

The Pennsylvania Superior Court will hold a special session in the Beaver County Courthouse on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 2 an...

March 22

Supreme Court Appoints Lewis to Pennsylvania Disciplinary Board

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Tracey McCants Lewis, Esq., to the Pennsylva...

March 22

Supreme Court Appoints Libhart Director of IOLTA

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has appointed Stephanie S. Libhart as executive director of the IOLTA (Interest on Lawyers Trust...

March 13

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Appoints Judge Clark to Juvenile Court Rules Committee

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has appointed Allegheny County Judge Kim Berkeley Clark to the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules

 ...

March 07

703 Lawyer Hopefuls Took PA Bar Exam

Hundreds of aspiring lawyers took the February 2013 Pennsylvania Bar Exam. Prospective attorneys took the exam over a two-day

 ...

March 05

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Reappoints Superior Court Judge Anne Lazarus to JCB

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has reappointed Superior Court Judge Anne E. Lazarus to the Judicial Conduct Board. Judge La

 ...

March 04

Supreme Court Establishing Blueprint for Magisterial District Judge Boundaries

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has begun issuing orders that reshape magisterial district court boundaries statewide to adapt...

February 26

Superior Court to Hold Special Session in Bethlehem

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania will hold a special session of its argument court in Lipkin Theatre of Northampton Community...

February 19

PA Courts Collect Near-Record $469 Million in 2012

Magisterial district and Common Pleas criminal courts throughout Pennsylvania collected and disbursed to the state, counties, mu...

February 18

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Announces Appointment To Criminal Procedural Rules Committee

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today announced the appointment of Simquita R. Bridges, Esq., to the Criminal Procedural Rules

 ...

February 18

Aliano Appointed to Continuing Legal Education Board

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has appointed Anthony Charles Aliano, Esq., to the Continuing Legal Education Board. Aliano,...

February 10

New Court Website Feature Provides Detailed Look at Child Dependency Cases

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today unveiled an interactive website feature that, for the first time, will give the public a...

February 09

Yoon to Become Superior Court Chief of Staff Attorney

Philadelphia attorney Philip Yoon will become Superior Court Chief Staff Attorney on March 25, President Judge Correale F. Stevens

 ...

February 05

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Accredits Sixth Drug Court to Recognize Quality and Accountability

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has accredited Lackawanna County’s adult drug court. The designation is part of an effort...

February 04

Supreme Court Suspends Philadelphia Traffic Court Judges

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania today indefinitely suspended three judges who presided over Philadelphia Traffic Court cases,...

January 31

Statement of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin in Light of Indictments Related to Philadelphia Traffic Court

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice J. Michael Eakin issued the following statement today in light of federal...

January 30

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Expands Public Access to Financial and Case Records

The website (www.pacourts.us) now contains expenditure and compensation information. In addition, electronic docket sheets for mor

 ...

January 24

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Piloting Diversion Program for Veterans

Military veterans facing incarceration for minor criminal charges would have the option of supervised treatment under a pilot pr...

January 24