Alert from Lamb McErlane PC Chairman & Managing Partner Joel L. Frank.

A constitutional amendment seeking to change how Pennsylvania voters elect their appellate court judges is inching closer to submission to those same voters for a final decision. The state House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday (January 13, 2021) reported to the full House of Representatives legislation that would establish appellate court voting districts within the Pennsylvania Constitution, with the same language having already been approved by the General Assembly last session.

A constitutional amendment must be approved by lawmakers during two consecutive two-year legislative sessions before it can be put to the voters as a ballot question; should voters approve, it would become part of the Pennsylvania Constitution. House Bill 38, like House Bill 196 last session, would divide the state into nine Commonwealth Court districts, fifteen Superior Court districts, and seven Supreme Court districts, with candidates for those judgeships required to reside in the district they seek to represent on the court.

As with legislative districts, the judicial districts would be drawn so as to have populations as equal as possible, with compact and contiguous geographic boundaries, and comporting with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.

As with legislative districts, the judicial districts would be drawn so as to have populations as equal as possible, with compact and contiguous geographic boundaries, and comporting with the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965.

For more information regarding this topic, contact Joel Frank. 610-430-8000. lambmcerlane.com.

Joel L. Frank is Chairman, Managing Partner and Executive Committee Chairman of Lamb McErlane PC. He concentrates his practice in commercial and civil litigation in state and federal courts, election law as well as attorney discipline and judicial discipline and ethical matters. jfrank@lambmcerlane.com.