Pennsylvania judicial elections
Judges in Pennsylvania are elected either in retention elections or partisan elections. This is the only state in the nation that holds its judicial elections solely in odd-numbered years.
Pennsylvania is one of eight states that use partisan elections to initially select judges and then use retention elections to determine whether judges should remain on the bench. To read more about how states use judicial elections to select judges across the country, click here.
| Supreme Court | Superior Court | Commonwealth Court | Court of Common Pleas | Magisterial District Courts | Municipal and Traffic Courts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Partisan elections or Retention election - 10 year terms | Partisan elections or Retention election - 10 year terms | Partisan elections or Retention election - 10 year terms | Partisan elections or Retention election - 10 year terms | Partisan elections - Six-year terms | Partisan elections or Retention election - Six-year terms |
Elections
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections, 2025
- Pennsylvania intermediate appellate court elections, 2025
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections, 2023
- Pennsylvania intermediate appellate court elections, 2023
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections, 2021
- Pennsylvania intermediate appellate court elections, 2021
- Pennsylvania intermediate appellate court elections, 2019
- Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2017
- Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2015
- Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2013
- Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2011
- Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2010
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court elections, 2009
Election rules
Primary election
Though the state holds partisan elections, most local judicial candidates for courts of common pleas cross-file with the major political parties. If a candidate wins both the Republican and Democratic primary, he or she runs unopposed in the general election. Candidates for the state supreme court and for the two intermediate appellate courts may not file in more than one political party.[1]
Retention election
All judges except those of the magisterial districts face retention elections following their initial term. After a judge has won an initial partisan election, subsequent terms are attained through retention elections. In retention elections, judges do not compete against another candidate, but voters are given a "yes" or "no" choice whether to keep the justice in office for another term. If the candidate receives more yes votes than no votes, he or she is successfully retained. If not, the candidate is not retained, and there will be a vacancy in that court upon the expiration of that term. This applies to all judges except magisterial district judges, who are always elected in partisan elections.[2][3]
History
Pennsylvania has a long history of different judicial election methods. Initially, in 1776, judges in Pennsylvania were elected by the voters. In 1790, all judges were appointed by the governor for life long terms. Beginning in 1838, appointments needed confirmation by the senate, and terms were reduced. The state started using partisan elections again in 1850. From 1913 to 1921, appellate judges were elected in nonpartisan elections. Finally in 1968, the current methods were adopted, where judges are elected in partisan elections, and re-elected in retention elections.[4]
See also
External links
- American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Pennsylvania"
- PA lawmaker says dump corrupt judicial elections, "PA lawmaker says dump corrupt judicial elections," January 23, 2013
Footnotes
- ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, "Pennsylvania P.L. 1333," accessed December 29, 2016
- ↑ Pennsylvania Courts, "How Judges Are Elected," accessed July 22, 2015
- ↑ Pennsylvania General Assembly, "Constitution of Pennsylvania, Article V, Section 15," accessed April 30, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "History of Reform Efforts: Pennsylvania," accessed April 30, 2014
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Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
