42 Pa.C.S. Ch. 5

in effect

42 Pa.C.S. § 5 Application of law.

In applying and construing this act, consideration must be given to the need to promote uniformity of the law with respect to its subject matter among states that enact it. § 6. Application of law. This act applies to a civil action commenced or a cause of action asserted in a civil action on or after the effective date of this section. Explanatory Note. Act 72 added section 8320.1 and Subchapter C.1 of Chapter 83 of Title 42. 2024, OCTOBER 29, P.L.1037, NO.114

42 Pa.C.S. § 501 Miscellaneous amendments to Title 42.

* * * (b) Statutory arbitration.--The provisions of 42 Pa.C.S. § 7302(d)(2) (relating to special application) shall be applicable to any nonjudicial arbitration pursuant to: (1) An agreement made prior to the effective date of this act which expressly provides that it shall be interpreted pursuant to the law of this Commonwealth and which expressly provides for statutory arbitration. (2) An agreement heretofore or hereafter made which expressly provides for arbitration pursuant to the former provisions of the act of April 25, 1927 (P.L.381, No.248), relating to statutory arbitration. * * * Explanatory Note. Section 501(a), among other things, added section 7302 of Title 42.

42 Pa.C.S. § 502 General powers of Supreme Court.

The Supreme Court shall have and exercise the powers vested in it by the Constitution of Pennsylvania, including the power generally to minister justice to all persons and to exercise the powers of the court, as fully and amply, to all intents and purposes, as the justices of the Court of King's Bench, Common Pleas and Exchequer, at Westminster, or any of them, could or might do on May 22, 1722. The Supreme Court shall also have and exercise the following powers: (1) All powers necessary or appropriate in aid of its original and appellate jurisdiction which are agreeable to the usages and principles of law. (2) The powers vested in it by statute, including the provisions of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 503 Reassignment of matters.

(a) General rule.--The Supreme Court may by general rule provide for the assignment and reassignment of classes of matters among the several courts of this Commonwealth and the magisterial district judges as the needs of justice shall require and all laws shall be suspended to the extent that they are inconsistent with such general rules. (b) Procedures.-- (1) Rules adopted pursuant to subsection (a) shall be reported to the General Assembly by the Chief Justice at or after the beginning of a regular session thereof, but not later than May 1. (2) Upon receipt, such rules shall be proposed to each house of the General Assembly as a resolution or resolutions, shall be placed on the calendar of each house for the next legislative day following their receipt, and shall be considered by each house within 120 calendar days of continuous session by the General Assembly. (3) Such rules shall take effect if they are approved by a majority vote of the duly elected members of each house during such 120-day period, or may be disapproved by either house during that period by a majority vote of the duly elected membership of each house. The effective date of such rules shall be the date of approval of the last of the two houses to act. (4) Upon the expiration of the 120-day period after the delivery of such rules to the two houses of the General Assembly and the failure to act as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), such rules shall become effective. (5) For the purposes of this subsection, continuity of session shall be considered as broken only by an adjournment of the General Assembly sine die; but in the computation of the 120-day period, there shall be excluded the days on which either house is not in session because of an adjournment of more than ten days to a day certain. (6) Any such rules may, under provisions contained therein, be made operative at a time later than the date on which such rules would otherwise take effect. (Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days) 2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (a). See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law. Cross References. Section 503 is referred to in sections 701, 704, 931, 932, 933, 1105, 1123, 1143, 1302, 1515, 1702, 1722, 3724, 5502 of this title.

42 Pa.C.S. § 504 Seat of court.

The regular sessions of the Supreme Court shall be held in the facility specified in section 3701 (relating to Pennsylvania Judicial Center) and elsewhere as prescribed by general rule.

42 Pa.C.S. § 541 Superior Court.

The Superior Court of Pennsylvania shall consist of 15 judges. (June 11, 1980, P.L.213, No.63, eff. imd.)

42 Pa.C.S. § 542 Powers of Superior Court.

The Superior Court shall have all powers necessary or appropriate in aid of its jurisdiction which are agreeable to the usages and principles of law.

42 Pa.C.S. § 543 Seat of court.

The regular sessions of the Superior Court shall be held at the cities of Harrisburg, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh and elsewhere as prescribed by general rule or rule of court.

42 Pa.C.S. § 544 Additional judges.

(a) Constitution.--In order to increase the number of Superior Court judges so that the court shall hereafter be composed of 15 judges, pursuant to sections 3 and 13 of Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, the appointment of eight additional judges to the court is hereby provided for. These additional judges shall possess the qualifications otherwise required by law for judges of the Superior Court and shall be initially appointed as provided in this section. (b) Initial appointments.--The Governor, with the advice and consent of two-thirds of the members elected to the Senate, shall appoint eight additional judges for initial terms as follows: (1) Two judges shall be appointed for terms ending the first Monday of January next following the third municipal election more than ten months after the additional judges are selected. These appointees shall be of different political parties. (2) Two judges shall be appointed for terms ending the first Monday of January next following the second municipal election more than ten months after the additional judges are selected. These appointees shall be of different political parties. (3) Four judges shall be appointed for terms ending the first Monday of January next following the first municipal election more than ten months after the additional judges are selected. Of these appointees, no more than two shall be of the same political party. (c) Vacancies.--Vacancies caused by the death, retirement, resignation or removal of a judge appointed under this section shall be filled in the manner and for the term prescribed by section 13 of Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania. (d) Retention declarations.--No judge appointed pursuant to this section shall, prior to the expiration of his appointive term, file a declaration of candidacy for retention, as provided in section 15 of Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania. (e) Elections.--Elections for judges of the court shall be held at the times and in the manner prescribed by section 13 of Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania and, to the extent not inconsistent therewith, pursuant to the election laws of this Commonwealth applicable to the election of judges of the Superior Court. (f) Terms of judges.--Except as provided in this section for the initial appointive terms for additional judges of the Superior Court, the terms of office of judges of the Superior Court shall be as otherwise provided by law. (June 11, 1980, P.L.213, No.63, eff. imd.) 1980 Amendment. Act 63 added section 544.

42 Pa.C.S. § 561 Commonwealth Court.

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania shall consist of nine judges. (Oct. 5, 1980, P.L.693, No.142, eff. 60 days)

42 Pa.C.S. § 562 Powers of Commonwealth Court.

The Commonwealth Court shall have power to issue, under its judicial seal, every lawful writ and process necessary or suitable for the exercise of its jurisdiction and for the enforcement of any order which it may make, including such writs and process to or to be served or enforced by system and related personnel as the courts of common pleas are authorized by law or usage to issue. The court shall also have all powers of a court of record possessed by the courts of common pleas and all powers necessary or appropriate in aid of its appellate jurisdiction which are agreeable to the usages and principles of law.

42 Pa.C.S. § 563 Seat of court.

(a) Regular sessions.--The regular sessions of the Commonwealth Court shall be held at the seat of government and elsewhere as provided in subsection (b). Each judge shall be provided with suitable chambers and other facilities at the seat of government. The intention of this provision is to render the court and the judges thereof as available, except as provided in subsection (b) or as otherwise provided in this title, at the seat of government for the conduct of routine and emergency judicial business as would be the case if the jurisdiction of the court were exercised by the Court of Common Pleas of Dauphin County. (b) Other sessions.--Within the limits of available appropriations, special sessions of the court may be held from time to time for the convenience of parties or witnesses, or both, in the interest of justice, in such judicial districts of this Commonwealth as make available without cost to the Commonwealth suitable courtroom and related physical facilities. The court shall also sit in the cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

42 Pa.C.S. § 564 Evidentiary hearings.

In any matter which requires the taking of testimony, the President Judge of the Commonwealth Court may assign a judge of the court, or another judge temporarily assigned to the court pursuant to section 4121 (relating to assignment of judges), to sit and receive the evidence, and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by rule or order of court.

Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://www.palegis.us/statutes/consolidated/view-statute?txtType=HTM&ttl=42Fetched: 10/16/2026