What is the Court of Common Pleas?
Pennsylvania’s Judicial System
Think of Pennsylvania’s judicial system as a four-tier pyramid. At the top of the pyramid is the Supreme Court, which makes the final judgment in interpreting Pennsylvania’s laws and Constitution. The second tier of the pyramid includes Pennsylvania’s two intermediate appellate courts: the Superior and Commonwealth Courts. These appellate courts determine if errors were made in cases heard at the Common Pleas level. Common Pleas Courts hear criminal and civil cases, including those involving families and children, such as divorce, property division, alimony, child custody and support, paternity and protection orders. They also hear appeals from Pennsylvania’s courts of limited jurisdiction: Magisterial District Courts and the Philadelphia Municipal Court.
Since January 2022, Judge Wheatley has served as a Judge in the Magisterial District Court. In that role, she handles preliminary arraignments and hearings, sets bail, and issues arrest and search warrants in criminal cases; issues emergency protection from abuse orders; and hears cases involving traffic tickets, minor contract or other civil disputes, landlord-tenant matters and summary criminal offenses for adults and juveniles. Additionally, she administers oaths of office to law enforcement officers and officiates weddings.
The Courts of Common Pleas are the general trial courts of Pennsylvania. They are organized into 60 judicial districts. Most districts follow the geographic boundaries of counties, but seven of the districts are comprised of two counties. Each district has from one to 93 judges and has a president judge and a court administrator. Allegheny County has 43 judges elected to the Court of Common Pleas, who are assigned to four divisions by the President Judge.
Allegheny County
Court of Common Pleas
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Civil Division
The Civil Division handles all cases that involve Personal Injuries, Mass Torts, Professional Liability actions, Contracts, Real Property, Civil administrative appeals, and other matters involving claims for money or possession of real estate.
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Criminal Division
The Criminal Division handles all criminal cases involving adult defendants and includes the Adult Probation, Pretrial Services, and Summary Appeals departments.
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Family Division
The Family Division is comprised of two sections, the Juvenile Section where cases involving dependency, delinquency, termination of parental rights, and other similar matters are heard, and the Adult Section, which addresses child support, custody, divorce, and other issues.
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Orphans' Court
Matters involving decedent’s estates, trusts, wills, guardians of the persons and estates of minors and incapacitated persons, powers of attorney, termination of parental rights and adoptions, civil commitments, marriage licenses, nonprofit associations, and inheritance and estate tax matters are heard in the Orphans’ Court.