Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts

Nation's Oldest Appellate Court: Rooted in history dating back to 1684, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania was formally established in 1722—predating the United States Supreme Court by 67 years.

Court Structure: Pennsylvania’s court system manages millions of cases annually across 67 counties.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania: The highest judicial authority in the state. Composed of seven elected justices, it oversees administrative operations for the entire state judiciary and serves as the ultimate arbiter on constitutional questions and significant legal appeals.

Intermediate Appellate Courts:

• Superior Court: Handles criminal and civil appeals originating from trial courts, as well as matters involving children and families.
• Commonwealth Court: A court unique to Pennsylvania that handles civil actions involving state and local government agencies and administrative regulatory appeals.

Commitment to Service & Modernization

• Administrative Operations: Supported by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), the judiciary provides centralized technology, court management, legal research, and educational services to court staff statewide.
• Public Access & Transparency: Through automated statewide docketing and case management systems, citizens, legal professionals, and law enforcement agencies have real-time access to public court records.
• Problem-Solving Courts: Specialized dockets—including Drug, Mental Health, Veterans, and DUI courts—offer restorative justice and community rehabilitation programs tailored to address the root causes of non-violent offenses.