The Supreme Court is aided by select boards, committees, commissions and councils consisting of more than 180 appointed volunteers — most, but not all, are lawyers and judges.
The panels have a wide range of responsibilities and functions. Some make recommendations to the court for amendments, revisions or simplification of court procedural rules. Others regulate the practice of law, oversee continuing legal education for lawyers and administer funds to assist individuals unable to pay for legal services. Still others advise on keeping the courts free of bias and discrimination and on long-range planning.
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Language Access Coordinators oversee the provision of language access services in their judicial districts in compliance with all applicable laws and the district’s policy. Contact these individuals if you wish to request an interpreter for your case or need assistance obtaining information in your language about court services in that particular district.
Los coordinadores de acceso lingüístico supervisan la provisión de servicios de acceso lingüístico en sus distritos judiciales en conformidad con todas las leyes aplicables y la política del distrito. Comuníquese con estas personas si desea solicitar un intérprete para su caso o si necesita ayuda obteniendo información en su idioma sobre los servicios que ofrece el tribunal en ese distrito en particular.
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Pay court-ordered fines, fees, costs or restitution from the comfort of your own home or office.
The state court system offers an increasingly popular way to safely and securely pay money owed to the Common Pleas and magisterial district courts — PAePay. Using the online feature saves time and adds convenience for citizens and court staff.
Payments may be made using a Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express or ATM card. A non-refundable fee of $2.75 is assessed on each transaction. Those owing money can pay up to $1,000 per transaction.
Attorney fees, appellate court filing fees and parole supervisory costs also can be paid through PAePay.
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Pennsylvania courts recently launched the Android version of PAeDocket – a free app that provides a quick and simple search of court cases or dockets.
Utilizing mobile apps provides a valuable service for the public, including lawyers, law enforcement, consumers, victims and victims’ families.
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The judicial system of Pennsylvania embraces the idea that access to the Courts is a fundamental right of all Pennsylvanians.
Through its long history, the judicial system in Pennsylvania has been, and continues to be, committed to dispensing justice for all Pennsylvanians. Some litigants, for any number of reasons, may find it necessary to represent themselves pro se before the Court.
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Veterans Courts assist veterans charged with crimes who are struggling with addiction, mental illness or co-occurring disorders and come in contact with the criminal justice system.
Utilizing the successful drug court model, participants come before judges on a regular basis, receive support and guidance from veteran mentors, are supervised by specialized probation officers and receive treatment and support from the Veterans Administration to address underlying problems often caused by post-traumatic stress disorders. Pennsylvania's first veterans court opened in Lackawanna County in November 2009. With nearly one million veterans, Pennsylvania has the fifth largest population of veterans in the country.
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The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has adopted a new public access policy that, for the first time, establishes uniform standards for all appellate and trial courts in responding to requests from the public for case records. The policy includes how requests for access are to be handled, establishes a limit on copying fees and delineates what information will be safeguarded.
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Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System has released its 2015 caseload statistics report containing data, charts and tables representing the work of Pennsylvania’s appellate, Common Pleas and limited jurisdiction courts.
“Caseload statistics are the single best way to describe what courts are doing currently and to help plan for what’s to come in the future,” said Chief Justice of Pennsylvania Thomas G. Saylor. “In this age of advanced technology, government agencies are expected to provide reliable and accessible data to the public, and the judiciary is committed to meeting that expectation.”
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