Continuing Judicial Education Board of Judges

In December 2016, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court adopted continuing judicial education requirements for judges serving the Supreme, Commonwealth and Superior courts, as well as the Courts of Common Pleas, the Philadelphia Municipal Court and certified senior judges of each. A well-educated judiciary is essential to the fair and impartial administration of justice.

Continuing judicial education had been on-going but there was no formalized process to track attendance or to ensure the jurists’ diverse educational needs were being met.

The formalized education program will help judges and justices stay abreast of changes in law, procedure, behavioral science, technological advancement and legal circumstances unique to Pennsylvania. Jurists are required to earn each year a minimum of three hours of continuing education in judicial ethics and nine hours in judicial practice and related areas.

The Supreme Court order outlining judicial education requirements established a Board of Judges comprised of judges from courts impacted by the new policy, among others, and reflects the diversity of Pennsylvania’s judiciary, including court size and divisional assignment. The Board, whose members are not compensated, will make accreditation decisions, grant waivers and deferrals and hear non-compliance appeals.