An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in selection, retention and removal of judicial officers, further providing for vacancies in office.
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Progress
Where this bill stands in the legislative process.
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Overview
This bill amends Pennsylvania law regarding how judicial vacancies are filled. It requires the Governor to solicit applications for vacancies and publish them online for public review for at least 30 days before making an appointment. The appointment process also includes a public hearing and requires Senate confirmation, with a majority vote for magisterial district judges. The bill clarifies the timeline for appointments and ensures transparency in the selection process.
Key provisions
- Requires the Governor to solicit applications for judicial vacancies for at least 30 days.
- Mandates the publication of applicant materials, including financial disclosures, on a publicly accessible website for at least 30 days.
- Requires a public, broadcasted confirmation hearing for judicial nominees.
- Establishes a timeline for appointments, ending on the first Monday of January following a municipal election more than ten months after the vacancy.
- Specifies the Senate confirmation threshold: two-thirds for Supreme Court, Superior Court, Commonwealth Court, and Courts of Common Pleas; majority for magisterial district judges.
- Requires the Governor to submit a nominee to the Senate for consideration.
- Defines a public comment period during which the Governor refrains from making an appointment.
- Clarifies that the Governor retains personal judgment in appointing judicial officers.
Who is affected
Bill text
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Document of record
- Version
- Pn 1383 Html
- Published
- Not published in the source record
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Sponsors
Official sponsors from legislative records.
6 on record
Primary sponsor
Cosponsors
Anthony Williams
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