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Pennsylvania

Overview

  • Pennsylvania's court system is funded by both county and state.  The state pays the salaries of the all jurists, the administrative office employees and state-level court administrators.   It also provides annual grants to help defray counties' costs for administration, jury service, and in several other areas.
  • Pennsylvania’s appropriation increased from $370.3 million in FY11 to $394.0 million in FY12.  The courts will be able to maintain the same number of judges and staff and to maintain spending on operating costs.
  • To reduce spending, Pennsylvania has delayed filling judicial vacancies and has eliminated some positions.
  • Efficiencies and cost savings resulting from their technology initiatives benefit the local courts.  These savings benefit the counties; they do not provide savings to the state.  
  • The Pennsylvania courts have centralized functions and reallocated staff in their limited jurisdiction (MDJ) courts.  Again, the counties, not the state, are seeing the financial benefits.
  • The Supreme Court plans to expand "right-sizing" the number of minor court judges to consider whether seats can be consolidated. Following that, the Court will begin to look at the "right-sizing" of trial court judges.

Reports and Articles

Gavel to Gavel

  • Database. Search the Gavel to Gavel legislation database based on state, year, legislation category, or any combination.