Pennsylvania Superior Court: Over 125 Years of Justice

Congratulations to the PA Superior Court, which recently celebrated its 125th anniversary! In 1895 the Legislature of Pennsylvania established the PA Superior Court as an intermediate appellate court. Its jurisdiction was to hear appeals from certain types of decisions of the courts of common pleas in order to help relieve the PA Supreme Court's caseload. Over time, its jurisdiction has expanded. Today, the Pennsylvania Superior Court decides appeals related to family law, criminal matters, issues concerning wills and estates, property disputes, and those involving damages for breach of contract or personal injury.  It also hears applications made by the Attorney General and District Attorneys under the Wiretapping and Electronic Surveillance Control Act.

The Pennsylvania Superior Court is known as a hot court in that the Judges are familiar with the briefs filed in the case (and the issues), before oral argument. The Court received over 7500 filings in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Even after the pandemic, the number of filings has been substantial and is again approaching pre-pandemic numbers.  In 2021 there were over 5800 filings and 3,263 opinions issued. Further, because the majority of appeals to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court or the U.S. Supreme Court are denied, the Pennsylvania Superior Court is often the final arbiter for a litigant in Pennsylvania. For example, the Pennsylvania Superior Court rendered the final decision on the merits in almost 2/3 of all the appeals filed in the Commonwealth in 2021. The Court is a busy one that, thanks to the dedication of its hard-working staff, is able to achieve its mission of serving the Commonwealth and delivering justice for its citizens.

To learn more about the history of the Court and everything it has accomplished, check out the Historical Society of the Superior Court of Pennsylvania's website.