Title 42, JUDICIARY AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURE

The prothonotary shall have custody of a counterpart of the seal of the court or courts for which he is the prothonotary.

(a) General rule.--There shall be an office of the prothonotary in each county of this Commonwealth, which shall be supervised by the prothonotary of the county who shall, either personally, by deputy or by other duly authorized employees or agents of the office, exercise the pow…

(a) General rule.--The prothonotary may appoint and remove such deputies and other administrative staff of the office of the prothonotary as may be necessary. (b) Solicitor.--The prothonotary may appoint and remove a solicitor, who shall be a member of the bar of this Commonwealt…

All matters or documents required or authorized to be filed in the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas shall be filed in the office of the prothonotary except: (1) Matters or documents specified in section 2756 (relating to matters or documents filed in the office of…

The office of the prothonotary shall have the power and duty to: (1) Administer oaths and affirmations and take acknowledgments pursuant to section 327 (relating to oaths and acknowledgments), but shall not be compelled to do so in any matters not pertaining to the proper busines…

(a) Procedure.--A creditor that files for a judgment by confession under section 2737(3) (relating to powers and duties of the office of the prothonotary) shall comply with the Pennsylvania Rules of Civil Procedure regarding confession of judgment, including any notice provisions…

(a) General rule.--The personnel of the office of the prothonotary shall exercise the powers and perform the duties vested in or imposed upon the office of the clerk of the court of common pleas by: (1) Subchapter C (relating to clerks of the courts) where no separate clerk of th…

(a) General rule.--In each county of this Commonwealth there shall be a clerk of the courts for the court of common pleas who shall be known as the "Clerk of the Courts of (the respective) County." (b) Multicounty judicial districts.--In multicounty judicial districts the clerk o…

(a) General rule.--The clerk of the courts of each county shall be selected, and may be removed, in the manner provided by the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the "Second Class County Code" or the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known as "The County Code…

The clerk of the courts shall have custody of a counterpart of the seal of the court or courts for which he is the clerk of the courts.

(a) General rule.--There shall be an office of the clerk of the courts in each county of this Commonwealth, which shall be supervised by the clerk of the courts of the county who shall, either personally, by deputy, or by other duly authorized employees or agents of the office, e…

(a) General rule.--The clerk of the courts may appoint and remove such deputies and other administrative staff of the office of the clerk of the courts as may be necessary. (b) Solicitor.--The clerk of the courts may appoint and remove a solicitor, who shall be a member of the ba…

(a) General rule.--All applications for relief or other documents relating to the following matters shall be filed in or transferred to the office of the clerk of the courts: (1) Criminal matters including all related motions and filings. (2) Road, liquor, municipal and other mis…

The office of the clerk of the courts shall have the power and duty to: (1) Administer oaths and affirmations and take acknowledgments pursuant to section 327 (relating to oaths and acknowledgments), but shall not be compelled to do so in any matter not pertaining to the proper b…

(a) General rule.--In each county of this Commonwealth there shall be one clerk of the orphans' court division, who shall be known as the "Clerk of the Orphans' Court Division of the Court of Common Pleas of (the respective) County." (b) Multicounty judicial districts.--In multic…

(a) General rule.--The clerk of the orphans' court division of each county shall be selected, and may be removed, in the manner provided by the act of July 28, 1953 (P.L.723, No.230), known as the "Second Class County Code," or the act of August 9, 1955 (P.L.323, No.130), known a…

The clerk of the orphans' court division shall have custody of a counterpart of the seal of the court for which he is the clerk of the orphans' court division.

(a) General rule.--There shall be an office of the clerk of the orphans' court division in each county of this Commonwealth, which shall be supervised by the clerk of the orphans' court division of the county who shall, either personally, by deputy, or by other duly authorized em…

(a) General rule.--The clerk of the orphans' court division, with the consent and approval of the court, may appoint and remove such deputies and other administrative staff of the office as may be necessary. (b) Solicitor.--The clerk of the orphans' court division, with the conse…

All matters to be heard or determined in the orphans' court division of a court of common pleas shall be filed in or transferred to the office of the clerk of the orphans' court division. Cross References. Section 2776 is referred to in section 2736 of this title.

The office of the clerk of the orphans' court division shall have the power and duty to: (1) Administer oaths and affirmations and take acknowledgments pursuant to section 327 (relating to oaths and acknowledgments), but shall not be compelled to do so in any matter not pertainin…

The sheriff, either personally or by deputy, shall serve process and execute orders directed to him pursuant to law.

(a) General rule.--Judges and magisterial district judges shall be citizens of this Commonwealth. Judges, except judges of the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court and the Traffic Court of Philadelphia, shall be members of the bar of this Commonwealth. Judges of the Supreme, Superior and…

The following words and phrases when used in this subchapter shall have, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the meanings given to them in this section: "Bail commissioner." An arraignment court magistrate of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. "Board." The board existi…

Magisterial district judges, bail commissioners and judges who are not members of the bar of this Commonwealth shall complete a course of training and instruction in the duties of their respective offices and pass an examination prior to assuming office. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, …

(a) General rule.--Subject to the approval of the Supreme Court, the board shall prescribe and approve the subject matter and the examination for the course of training and instruction required by this subchapter. The staff authorized by Subchapter D of Chapter 21 (relating to mi…

In addition to those required by this subchapter to complete the course of training and instruction and successfully pass an examination prior to assuming office, any interested person may apply to the board to be enrolled in the course of training and instruction and take the ex…

Upon the successful completion of the course of training and instruction and examination, the Administrative Office shall issue to a person elected or appointed as a magisterial district judge, arraignment court magistrate or judge a certificate in the form prescribed by the boar…

In the event that any magisterial district judge or judge fails to file the certificate provided for by section 3115 (relating to certification of successful completion of course of training) in the manner therein provided within nine months after the magisterial district judge's…

The course of training and instruction required by this subchapter shall be provided at the expense of the Commonwealth. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days)

(a) Magisterial district judges.-- (1) Every magisterial district judge shall complete a continuing education program each year equivalent to not less than 32 hours per year in such courses or programs as are approved by the board. One such course must be in the identification an…

The board shall have the power to promulgate, with the approval of the Supreme Court, such rules and regulations as are necessary to carry out its duties under this subchapter. (Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Oct. 9, 2008, P.L.1352, No.98, eff. 60 days)

(a) Judges and magisterial district judges generally.--Except as provided in subsection (d) judges and magisterial district judges shall be elected for a regular term of office at the municipal election next preceding the commencement of their respective regular terms of office b…

(a) General rule.--Except as provided in subsection (b), a vacancy in the office of judge or magisterial district judge shall be filled by appointment by the Governor. The appointment shall be with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the members elected to the Senate, except …

Notwithstanding any provisions of this title to the contrary, a magisterial district judge who resigns from office may not be reappointed to the unexpired term. (July 11, 1996, P.L.607, No.104, eff. 60 days; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days) 2004 Amendment. See secti…

Whenever two or more judges of the Commonwealth Court are to be elected pursuant to section 3131(c) (relating to selection of judicial officers for regular terms) at the same election, each qualified elector shall vote for no more than: (1) one-half of the number of judges to be …

If the electors approve the establishment of a community court at the primary election in a municipal election year, the first judges of the court shall be elected at that municipal election. The nominees for election shall be determined in the same manner as is then provided for…

Whenever the number of judges of a court is increased by statute, unless otherwise expressly provided by statute, the additional judicial positions thereby created shall be deemed to be vacancies occurring on the effective date of the statute, and shall be filled in the manner an…

Each judicial officer shall, before entering on the duties of his office, take and subscribe the following oath or affirmation before a person authorized to administer oaths: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, obey and defend the Constitution of the United Stat…

(a) Judges and magisterial district judges.--The regular term of office of judges and magisterial district judges shall be as follows: (1) Judges of the Philadelphia Municipal Court and the Traffic Court of Philadelphia--Six years. (2) Judges of the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court--…

(a) General rule.--A judge elected under section 3131 (relating to selection of judicial officers for regular terms) or retained under this section may file a declaration of candidacy for retention election with the Secretary of the Commonwealth on or before the first Monday of J…

1983 Repeal. Section 3154 was repealed September 30, 1983, P.L.160, No.39, effective December 1, 1983.

Judges shall devote full time to their judicial duties, and shall not engage in the practice of law, hold office in a political party or political organization, or hold an office or position of profit in the government of the United States, the Commonwealth or any municipal corpo…

A judge shall not engage in any activity prohibited by this subchapter or any other provision of law and shall not violate any canon of ethics prescribed by general rule. A magisterial district judge shall devote the time necessary for the prompt and proper disposition of the bus…

No judicial officer shall be paid or accept for the performance of any judicial duty or for any service connected with his office, any fee, emolument or perquisite other than the salary and expenses provided or prescribed by law.

(a) Collection agent.--No judge or magisterial district judge shall act as agent for a person in the collection of a claim or judgment for money. (b) Arbitrator.--No judge or magisterial district judge shall receive any fee or emolument for performing the duties of an arbitrator.…