| Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Established | May 22, 1722 (1684 as Provincial Court) |
| Jurisdiction | Pennsylvania |
| Location | |
| Composition method | partisan election with "Yes/No" retention election at end-of-term |
| Authorised by | Constitution of Pennsylvania |
| Appeals from | Superior Court of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania |
| Judge term length | 10 years |
| Number of positions | 7 |
| Website | Pennsylvania Supreme Court website |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Debra Todd |
| Since | October 1, 2022 |
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It also claims to be the oldest appellate court in the United States,[1] a claim that is disputed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.[2] The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania began in 1684 as the Provincial Court, and casual references to it as the "Supreme Court" of Pennsylvania were made official in 1722 upon its reorganization as an entity separate from the control of the colonial governor.[3][4]
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania maintains a discretionary docket, meaning that the Court may choose which cases it accepts, with the exception of mandatory death penalty appeals, and certain appeals from the original jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Court.[5] This discretion allows the Court to wield powerful influence on the formation and interpretation of Pennsylvania law.
- ^ "Supreme Court – Courts – Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania". www.pacourts.us. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ sjc (July 17, 2013). "About the Supreme Judicial Court". Court System. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ "About the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania – SCOPA Review". Retrieved July 7, 2017.
- ^ Rowe, G. S. (1994). Embattled bench: The Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the forging of a democratic society, 1684–1809. Newark: University of Delaware Press.
- ^ See generally, Pa.R.A.P. 1112