News

James Gardner Colins, elected President Judge of Commonwealth Court

January 23, 2002

James Gardner Colins, Judge of the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania, was elected President Judge of the court on January 7, 2002. The President Judge is the administrative head of the court. He will serve a fiveyear term. This marks Judge Colins’ second term as President Judge, having served from September 1, 1994 to September 1, 1999. President Judge Colins also served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Judicial Conduct Board from January 1999 through February 2001. President Judge Colins is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Villanova University School of Law. After graduation from law school, President Judge Colins served as an Assistant District Attorney in Philadelphia. Thereafter, President Judge Colins engaged in the private practice of law until 1980 when he was appointed by Governor Thornburgh to the Philadelphia Municipal Court. In November 1983, President Judge Colins was elected as a judge of the Commonwealth Court and was retained for another ten year term in November 1993.