Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s highest court is the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. The court has five justices and one chief justice, who is the longest-serving member of the court. (Source: Pennsylvania Constitution)
Judicial Selection
Justices on the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania are selected to a 10-year term through a partisan election, where multiple candidates may vie for the seat. Justices may seek additional 10-year terms through standing in an unopposed yes/no retention vote. When a seat opens in the middle of a justice’s term, the governor appoints a candidate to fill the vacancy. The governor’s selection must be confirmed by a two-thirds vote of the state senate. The appointed justice holds office until the next municipal election more than 10 months after the vacancy opened, unless the remainder of the seat’s term runs out before then. The elected justice serves a 10-year term. There are no term limits. The mandatory retirement age is 75.
State Constitution
Pennsylvania has had five state constitutions adopted between 1776 and 1968. As of January 1, 2024, it had 36 amendments. (Source: John Dinan, 2024)
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State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in May
Issues on the dockets include voting restrictions, gun regulations, and free speech rights.
State Courts Diverge In Latest Wave of Abortion Litigation
Decisions in Arizona, Florida, Nevada, and Pennsylvania highlight stark contrasts in how courts approach reproductive rights.
State ERAs Take Center Stage
Nevada became the second state in as many months to issue a major abortion ruling based on the state constitution’s equal rights amendment.
What Does Pennsylvania’s Amendment Barring Race Discrimination Actually Do?
Federal constraints leave a narrow — but important — role for a 2021 state constitutional amendment addressing racial equality.
State Equal Rights Amendments Can Protect Reproductive Rights Post-Dobbs
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that a Medicaid ban on abortion is sex discrimination under the state’s ERA.
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Ruling Overturns Decades-Old Precedent in Abortion Ruling
The high court issued a resounding win for abortion clinics challenging a ban on using Medicaid funding for the procedure.
Will the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Recognize a Right to Abortion?
Two justices say there is a constitutional right to abortion, but it’s not clear the full court will consider the question.
Unpacking the Legal Challenges to Trump’s Ballot Eligibility
The vast majority of cases aiming to remove Trump from the ballot have been dismissed, but without deciding whether he’s eligible to hold the presidency.