PRINTER'S NO. 2507
No. 2018 Session of 1995
INTRODUCED BY LaGROTTA, TRELLO, ROBINSON, STEELMAN, M. COHEN AND
ITKIN, SEPTEMBER 25, 1995
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON JUDICIARY, SEPTEMBER 25, 1995
AN ACT
1 Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the
2 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for
3 selection of president judges.
4 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
5 hereby enacts as follows:
6 Section 1. Section 325 of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania
7 Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:
8 § 325. Chief Justice and president judges.
9 (a) General rule.--The Chief Justice of Pennsylvania [and
10 the president judges of all courts with seven or less judges]
11 shall be the judge longest in continuous service on [their] his
12 respective [courts] court. In the event of his resignation from
13 this position the judge next longest in continuous service shall
14 be the Chief Justice of Pennsylvania or the president judge.
15 Should any two or more judges of the same court assume office at
16 the same time, they shall cast lots forthwith for priority of
17 commission, and certify the results to the Governor who shall
18 issue their commissions accordingly.
1 (b) [Courts of eight or more judges.] Selection of president
2 judge.--The president judges of all courts with [eight] two or
3 more judges shall be selected for five-year terms by the members
4 of their respective courts. In the event of a tie vote for the
5 office of president judge, the Supreme Court shall appoint as
6 president judge one of the judges receiving the highest number
7 of votes.
8 (c) Traffic Court of Philadelphia.--Notwithstanding any
9 other provision of this section, the President Judge of the
10 Traffic Court of Philadelphia shall be appointed by the Governor
11 for a five-year term or at the pleasure of the Governor.
12 (d) Resignation and temporary inability.--The Chief Justice
13 of Pennsylvania or a president judge may resign such position
14 and remain a member of the court.
15 (e) Powers of president judge.--Except as otherwise provided
16 or prescribed by this title, by general rule or by order of the
17 governing authority, the president judge of a court shall:
18 (1) Be the executive and administrative head of the
19 court, supervise the judicial business of the court,
20 promulgate all administrative rules and regulations, make all
21 judicial assignments, and assign and reassign among the
22 personnel of the court available chambers and other physical
23 facilities.
24 (2) Exercise the powers of the court under section
25 2301(a)(2) (relating to appointment of personnel).
26 Section 2. This act shall take effect in 60 days.
F20L42SFG/19950H2018B2507 - 2 -