MISSION

The Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania was created in 1970 as a result of the Constitutional Convention of 1967-68. It is one of two intermediate appellate courts in Pennsylvania. Its jurisdiction is unique in that it primarily deals with “public law” or “administrative law”. The Commonwealth Court is also unique among appellate courts in the United States in that approximately 10% of its cases are brought in the court’s original jurisdiction, i.e., the court acts as a trial court in such cases.

The Commonwealth Court Historical Society was created in 2007 as a nonprofit, nonstock corporation which, according to its bylaws, has as its purpose the education of the public about the history of the Commonwealth Court and the preservation of the Court’s heritage and contribution to Pennsylvania jurisprudence since 1970.

Membership is open to any individual who is interested in advancing the purposes of the Historical Society. Application for Membership.

The President Judge of the Commonwealth Court serves as the President of the Historical Society. The Court’s Chief Clerk serves as the Historical Society’s Secretary, and the Court’s Prothonotary serves as an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors. The Vice President and Treasurer are both chosen by the 17-member Board of Directors.

Much of the work of the Historical Society is done by various committees, including the website committee, the membership committee, the archives committee, the scholarship committee and the speakers committee.

 

The work of the Historical Society could not be done without the support and cooperation of the Judges of the Commonwealth Court.

 

 

Last updated 12/7/19