Supreme Court — 7 Justices
Pennsylvania State Reports (1845- ) – PA. – level 5A
ƒ Hears direct appeals in felonious homicide,
right to public office, Probate or Orphans'
Atlantic Reporter (1885-1938) – A. – level 5
Courts matters, contempt cases, and questions Atlantic Reporter 2d (1938- ) – A.2d – levels 3, 5
or constitutionality of a statute. Other appeals
Westlaw: PA-CS (1754- )
are discretionary.
Lexis: PA;PA (1759- )
ƒ May assume plenary jurisdiction over any
matter in any court at any state of the
proceedings if it is a question of immediate
public importance.
Superior Court — 15 Judges
Pennsylvania Superior Court Reports (1895-1997) –
ƒ Exclusive appellate jurisdiction over Court of
PA. SUPER. – level 5A
Common Please except those directly
appealable to Supreme Court.
Atlantic Reporter (1931-1938) – A. – level 5
ƒ Non-governmental equity appeals.
Atlantic Reporter 2d (1938- ) – A.2d – level 3, 5
Westlaw: PA-CS (1895- )
Lexis: PA;SUPER (1895- )
Commonwealth Court — 9 Judges
ƒ Original jurisdiction in civil actions involving the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court Reports (1970commonwealth or any of its officers.
1994) – PA. COMMW. – level 5A
ƒ Appeals from administrative agencies, local
Atlantic Reporter 2d (1938- ) – A.2d – levels 3, 5
government, eminent domain, and nonprofit
Westlaw: PA-CS (1970- )
corporation matters.
Lexis: PA;COMMON (1970- )
Court of Common Pleas — 434 Judges / 60 Districts
ƒ Original jurisdiction in all civil matters. Orphans' Pennsylvania District & County Court Reports, 1st-4th
Court Division handles probate.
(1921- ) – PA. D. & C. – level 5A
ƒ Original jurisdiction in all criminal matters.
Side reports – level 5A
ƒ Exclusive jurisdiction in juvenile.
http://www.palawlibrary.com
Appeals de novo.
Westlaw: PADC-CS (1921- )
Jury trials.
Lexis: PA;PACTYD (1918- )
Philadelphia Municipal Court — 25 Judges
First Judicial District of Philadelphia (1998- )
ƒ Landlord and tenant, assumpsit and trespass
http://fjd.phila.gov/opinions
claims under $10,000.
ƒ Criminal offenses with less than 5-year
http://www.palawlibrary.com
sentence. Preliminary hearings except for
homicide and rape.
Pennsylvania Instant Case Service ($)
800-276-PICS
No jury trials.
Magisterial Judge Courts — 548 Judges
Contact Clerk of Court.
ƒ Civil matters under $8,000.
ƒ Offenses with fine under $500 and/or sentence
up to 90 days.
ƒ Preliminary hearings in most criminal.
ƒ Some motor vehicle cases.
No jury trials.
Philadelphia Traffic Court — 7 Judges
Contact Clerk of Court.
ƒ All summary offenses in the Motor Vehicle
Code.
ƒ Any related city ordinance.
No jury trials.

Annex 13.3.A: Travel costs

S ite p la n - Santa Barbara County Planning and Development