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)
Filters
States Grapple with Problematic Rule from Federal Voting Cases
The Purcell principle, which holds that federal courts should not change voting rules too close to an election, is increasingly being raised in state litigation.
Advice for Law Students From State Supreme Court Justices
As the school year kicks off, eight justices reflect on what they wish someone had told them when they were in law school.
Florida Supreme Court Allows DeSantis to Undermine Prosecutorial Independence
Lawmakers and other officials in multiple states seek to limit the power of or remove elected prosecutors whose policy choices they disagree with.
State Constitutional Conventions, Explained
The last state to hold a conventional convention was in Rhode Island in 1986.
The Right to Petition in State Constitutions, Explained
Some states protect citizens’ right to make requests of or complaints against the government more broadly than the federal Constitution.
What the SCOTUS Term Means for State Courts
Some of the Court’s most important holdings — including on abortion, gun restrictions, and presidential immunity — have implications for state courts and constitutions.
Montana’s Climate Change Lawsuit May See Sequels Across America
Courts in Montana, Hawaii, and New Mexico have been receptive to claims by youth plaintiffs that failures to protect the environment violate state constitutions.
Status of Partisan Gerrymandering Litigation in State Courts
Utah’s high court sent a closely watched challenge to the state’s congressional maps back to the lower court.