Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
| Supreme Court of Pennsylvania | |
|---|---|
| Established | May 22, 1722 (1684 as Provincial Court) |
| Jurisdiction | Pennsylvania |
| Location | |
| Composition method | partisan election with "Yes/No" retention election at end-of-term |
| Authorised by | Constitution of Pennsylvania |
| Appeals from | Superior Court of Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania |
| Judge term length | 10 years |
| Number of positions | 7 |
| Website | Pennsylvania Supreme Court website |
| Chief Justice | |
| Currently | Debra Todd |
| Since | October 1, 2022 |
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania is the highest court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It began in 1684 as the Provincial Court, and casual references to it as the "Supreme Court" of Pennsylvania were made official in 1722 upon its reorganization as an entity separate from the control of the colonial governor. It claims to be the oldest appellate court in the United States, a claim that is disputed by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania maintains a discretionary docket, meaning that the Court may choose which cases it accepts, with the exception of mandatory death penalty appeals, and certain appeals from the original jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Court. This discretion allows the Court to wield powerful influence on the formation and interpretation of Pennsylvania law.