The Courts of Common Pleas are Pennsylvania's courts of general trial jurisdiction and are organized into 60 districts; the smallest district has one judge and the largest, in Philadelphia, has 101. These courts, each supervised by a president judge elected by their district peers, hear criminal and civil cases on a range of issues and matters involving children and families, as well as appeals from minor courts (Philadelphia Municipal court).
The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas is organized into three divisions:
- The Trial Division is responsible for most felony criminal and major civil cases;
- The the Family Division is responsible for Domestic Relations Branch matters (divorce, paternity, custody, child support and domestic violence) and Juvenile Branch cases (delinquency, dependency, and adoptions);
- The Orphans' Court Division conducts proceedings involving estates, wills and trusts.
Learn more on the Philadelphia Courts website.
In the 2025 primary, 17 candidates are running for 9 open seats.
Make sure your vote is informed. The Philadelphia Bar Association Judicial Commission makes nonpartisan recommendations on candidates' ability, integrity, and judgment. See those recommendations here.
