News

Drawing determines court seniority

News Article

December 03, 2015

Following a random drawing, the order of seniority for newly elected state Supreme Court justices will be Christine Donohue, Kevin Dougherty and David Wecht.

When two or more judges of the same court are elected at the same time the Pennsylvania Rules of Court provide a process to determine the seniority.

The office of chief justice of Pennsylvania is decided by seniority on the seven-member high court.

Elected to the Supreme Court in November were Superior Court judges Wecht and Donohue of Allegheny County, and Philadelphia Common Pleas Court Judge Dougherty.

All three will begin their new terms on the high court bench at the start of the next judicial year, Monday, Jan. 4.