Judicial elections occur in odd-numbered years. Justices and judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75 and are retained or re-elected by the voters. Show
APPELLATE COURT JUDGES (State Superior, Commonwealth and Supreme Court) and TRIAL COURT JUDGES (Courts of Common Pleas) all serve ten year terms. MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUSTICES serve six year terms. MDJs run in partisan elections for their first 6-year term and each successive 6-year term. MJDs may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach mandatory retirement age of 75. It is important to note that Candidates for Magisterial District Judge are permitted to cross-file in a primary election in order to appear on the ballots of both parties. MERIT RETENTION — The Merit Retention provision of Pennsylvania’s constitution allows all but magisterial district judges to be retained with a simple “yes” or “no” vote without ballot reference to political affiliation. This provision was designed to remove judges from the pressures of the political arena once they begin their first term of office. LEHIGH COUNTY MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURTS (District 31)What are the responsibilities of the Magisterial District Court?Magisterial District Justices are part of the minor courts, or special courts, on the first level of Pennsylvania’s judiciary. MDJs do not have to be lawyers, but they are required to pass a qualifying exam after completing a rigorous training and education program administered by the Minor Judiciary Education Board. Each court has its own elected judges. Small Claims Court cases are handled in Pennsylvania at the Magisterial District Court. In Magisterial District Court, a party is not required to have an attorney. A plaintiff cannot file a claim for more than $12,000. The plaintiff is required to file a filing fee when filing the complaint. There is also an additional cost for serving the defendant with the claim. If the plaintiff wins, these costs can potentially be recovered from the defendant. Responsible for:
Appeals from the Magisterial District Judge go to the Court of Common Pleas. What is the term length and salary for a Magisterial District Court Judge?Magisterial District Judges serve 6-year terms and can serve an unlimited number of terms until the mandatory retirement age of 75. Yearly salary $91,597. Who is currently serving as a Magisterial District Court Judge in Lehigh County?Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Listing of the 14 Magisterial District Courts What districts, wards or municipalities does each Magisterial District cover?When are current Magisterial District Court Judges up for re-election?Lehigh County has 14 Magisterial District Courts, each staffed by an elected Magisterial District Judge, located throughout the county. Find Your Majisterial District District & Justice 1-01 Linda D. Vega-D, Allentown Wards 8, 10. (Term expires 2027) Sources: Lehigh County League of Women Voters; Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Listing of the 14 Magisterial District Courts LEHIGH COUNTY COURT OF COMMON PLEASWhat are the responsibilities Courts of Common Pleas?The Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, located in Allentown, is one of the 60 Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas. The Lehigh County Court of Common Please is comprised of ten full time judges and two senior judges providing judicial services to the citizens of Lehigh County. Each full time judge is assigned to one or more of the court divisions, which are the Criminal/Juvenile Division, the combined Civil/Motion/Family Court Division and the Orphans’ Court Division.
Provides Judicial Oversight:
Provides Administrative Services to the fourteen offices that comprise the Magisterial District Court System of Lehigh County. What is the term and salary of a Common Pleas Court Judge?Terms are ten years and the merit retention provision of Pennsylvania’s constitution allows judges to be retained with a simple “yes” or “no” vote, without ballot reference to political affiliation. This provision was designed to remove judges from political pressure once they begin their first term of office. Judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75. Yearly salary $183,184. Who is currently serving on the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas?Lehigh County List of Court of Common Pleas Judges What years will judges serving on the Common Pleas Court be up for retention vote?President Judge J. Brian Johnson (Retention vote 2023) Sources: Lehigh County League of Women Voters COMMONWEALTH COURT OF PENNSYLVANIAWhat are the responsibilities of the Commonwealth Court?The Commonwealth Court is one of two statewide intermediate appellate courts. The Commonwealth Court is primarily responsible for matters involving state and local governments and regulatory agencies. It also acts as a trial court when lawsuits are filed by or against the Commonwealth. The court is made up of nine judges. The president judge is chosen by his or her colleagues for a five-year term. Cases are generally heard by panels of three judges in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, although, on occasion, they may choose to hold court in other locations. Cases may also be heard by a single judge or by en banc panels of seven judges. Responsible for:
What is the term length and salary for a Commonwealth Court Judge?Commonwealth Court terms are ten years and the merit retention provision of Pennsylvania’s constitution allows judges to be retained with a simple “yes” or “no” vote, without ballot reference to political affiliation. This provision was designed to remove judges from political pressure once they begin their first term of office. Judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75. Yearly salary $199,114. President Judge of the Commonwealth Court salary $205,253. Who is currently serving on the Commonwealth Court?PA Courts List of Commonwealth Court Judges What years will judges serving on the Commonwealth Court be up for retention vote?Renée Cohn Jubelirer, R (Retention vote 2031) Sources: Ballotpedia This source also has biographical and election information on individual judges. SUPERIOR COURTWhat are the responsibilities of the Superior Court?The Superior Court is one of Pennsylvania’s two statewide intermediate appellate courts. The Superior Court is often the final arbiter of criminal and most civil cases from the Court of Common Pleas. The superior court consists of 15 judges. The president judge is chosen by his or her colleagues for a five-year term. Cases are usually heard by panels of three judges sitting in Philadelphia, Harrisburg or Pittsburgh, but may also be heard en banc by nine judges. The Superior Court often travels to locations throughout Pennsylvania to hear cases. Responsible for:
What is the term length and salary for a Superior Court Judge?Superior Court Justices serve 10-year terms. After the initial 10-year term, the merit retention provision of Pennsylvania’s constitution allows judges to be retained with a simple “yes” or “no” vote, without ballot reference to political affiliation. This provision was designed to remove judges from political pressure once they begin their first term of office. Judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75. Yearly salary is $199,114. President Judge of the Superior Court salary $205,253. Who is currently serving on the Superior Court?PA Courts List of Superior Court Judges What years will judges serving on the Superior Court be up for retention vote?President Judge Jack A. Panella, D (Retention vote 2023) Sources: Ballotpedia This source also has biographical and election information on individual judges. PENNSYLVANIA SUPREME COURTWhat are the responsibilities of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court?The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort and has seven elected judges. The Supreme Court’s administrative powers and jurisdictional responsibilities are vested with the seven-member court by the Pennsylvania State Constitution and a collection of statutes known as the Judicial Code. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court hears discretionary appeals from the Pennsylvania Superior Court and the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court, and it hears certain direct appeals from the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. The Supreme Court has jurisdiction over direct appeals in felonious homicide, right to public office, Probate or Orphans’ Courts matters, contempt cases an questions of constitutionality of a statute. Other appeals are discretionary. The court can assume jurisdiction over any case in the Pennsylvania court system at any state of the proceedings, if it is a question of immediate public importance. Administratively, all the courts within the Unified Judicial System are largely responsible for organizing their own staff and dockets; however, the Supreme Court has several committees and boards responsible for writing and enforcing rules for judges, attorneys, and litigants to ensure an efficient and fair judicial review. The Supreme Court has Juristiction Over Cases Involving:
Annually, the seven justices receive over 3,000 requests for appellate review. What is the term length and salary for a Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judge?Terms are ten years and the merit retention provision of Pennsylvania’s constitution allows judges to be retained with a simple “yes” or “no” vote, without ballot reference to political affiliation. This provision was designed to remove judges from political pressure once they begin their first term of office. Judges may serve an unlimited number of terms until they reach the mandatory retirement age of 75. Vacancies are filled by appointment. Appointed judges are allowed to run in the next general election more than 10 months after the vacancy; however, by Pennsylvania tradition, most interim judges do not stand for election. Yearly salary $211,02, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court salary $217,168. Who is currently serving on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court?List of Pennsylvania Supreme Court Judges What years will judges serving on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court be up for retention vote?Justice Christine Donohue, D (Retention vote 2025) Source: Ballotpedia This source also has biographical and election information on individual judges. Examples of important cases affecting all PennsylvaniansPA Supreme Court Ruling on Environmental Rights Amendment in 2017 Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court issued a split decision on challenge to environmental regulations for natural gas drilling in 2019 How do I find my pa dockets?Search and view individual court case information (including docket sheets)—for free—please go to the UJS web portal. Search, view and print Unified Judicial System (UJS) contract summaries, detailed expenditure data, monthly salary and annual compensation reports.
How do I look up court cases in PA?You can look up Pennsylvania court cases through the web portal provided and maintained by the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. This portal provides interested members of the public with access to information on cases and court calendars for all the courts in the state.
How many judges are in Lehigh County?There are ten full time judges and two senior judges providing judicial services to the citizens of Lehigh County.
How much does a marriage license cost in Lehigh County PA?Cost and form of payment
The cost of the marriage license application is $100.00, which includes two certified copies, due at the time of the in-person appointment.
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