The Unified Court System of Pennsylvania is built like a pyramid, starting with Magisterial District Courts, then Courts of Common Pleas, next are the Appellate Courts, the Commonwealth Court and the Superior Court, ending with the State Supreme Court on the top.
PA Courts Webpage — Learn about the Courts
Magisterial District Courts
Lehigh County has 14 Magisterial District Courts, each staffed by an elected Magisterial District Judge, located throughout the county, staffed by an elected Magisterial District Judge. Candidates for Magisterial District Court are permitted to cross-file in a primary election in order to appear on the ballots of both parties. 6-Year Term
More information about Magisterial Courts
More information about cross-filing.
Lehigh County Magisterial District Justices In the ULDC Area —
31st Judicial District
31-2-02 North Whitehall Twp; South Whitehall Twp:
Jacob E. Hammond (election year 2025)
31-3-01 Slatington; Heidelberg Twp; Lowhill Twp; Lynn Twp; Washington Twp; Weisenberg Twp:
Tom Creighton (election year 2023)
31-3-02 Upper Macungie Twp (Also, Alburtis; Lower Macungie Twp.):
Michael Faulkner (election year 2023)
Courts of Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas of Lehigh County, located in Allentown, is one of the 60 Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas. The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas is comprised of ten full time judges and two senior judges providing judicial services to the citizens of Lehigh County. Candidates for Court of Common Pleas are permitted to cross-file in a primary election in order to appear on the ballots of both parties.
10-Year Term, re-election by a yes – no retention ballot.
More information about the Courts of Common Pleas.
Important information about cross-filing.
President Judge J. Brian Johnson, R (Retention vote 2033)
Judge Douglas G. Reichley, R (Retention vote 2031)
Judge Robert L. Steinberg (Retention vote 2027)
Judge James T. Anthony ( Retention vote 2027)
Judge Michele A. Varricchio (Retention vote 2027)
Judge Melissa Pavlack (Retention vote 2027)
Judge Anna-Kristie M. Marks, R (Retention vote 2030)
Judge Thomas M. Caffrey, R (Retention vote 2031)
Judge Thomas A. Capehart, R (Retention vote 2031)
Judge Zachary J. Cohen, D (Retention vote 2031)
Senior Judge Carol K. McGinley (Retired, 2017)
Senior Judge Edward D. Reibman (Retired, 2021)
Senior Judge Kelly L. Banach (Retired, 2020)
Commonwealth Court
The Commonwealth Court is one of two statewide intermediate appellate courts. The Commonwealth Court is primarily responsible for matters involving state and local governments and regulatory agencies. It also acts as a trial court when lawsuits are filed by or against the Commonwealth. The court is made up of nine judges. 10-year term, re-election by a yes – no retention ballot. Mandatory retirement at age 75.
More information about the Commonwealth Court.
President Judge Renée Cohn Jubelirer, R (Retention vote 2031)
Judge Anne E. Covey R (Retention vote 2031)
Judge Patricia A. McCullough, R (Retention vote 2029)
Judge Michael H. Wojcik, D (Retention vote 2026)
Judge Christine Fizzano Cannon, R (Retention vote 2027)
Judge Ellen Ceisler, D (Retention vote 2027)
Stacy Wallace R (Retention vote 2031)
Judge Lori A. Dumas, D (Retention vote 2032)
Judge Matthew S. Wolf D (Retention vote 2033)
Sources: https://www.pacourts.us/courts/commonwealth-court-judges; Ballotpedia
Superior Court
The Superior Court is one of Pennsylvania’s two statewide intermediate appellate courts. The Superior Court is often the final arbiter of criminal and most civil cases from the Court of Common Pleas. The superior court consists of 15 judges who serve 10-year terms, re-election by a yes – no retention ballot. Mandatory retirement at age 75.
More information about the Superior Court.
President Judge Anne E. Lazarus, D (Retention vote 2029)
President Judge Emeritus Jack A. Panella, D (Retention vote 2033)
Judge Mary Jane Bowes, R (Retention vote 2029)
Judge Victor P. Stabile, R (Retention vote 2033)
Judge Alice Beck Dubow, D (Retention vote 2025)
Judge Deborah A. Kunselman, D (Retention vote 2027)
Judge Carolyn H. Nichols, D (Retention vote 2027)
Judge Mary P. Murray, R (Retention vote 2027)
Judge Maria McLaughlin, D (Retention vote 2027)
Judge Judith Ference Olson, R (Retention vote 2029)
Judge Megan McCarthy King, R (Retention vote 2029)
Judge Jill Beck, D (Retention vote 2033)
Judge Timika Lane, D (Retention vote 2033)
President Judge Emeritus Correale F. Stevens (retired)
President Judge Emeritus, John T. Bender, R (retired)
Senior Judge James Gardner Colins (retired)
Sources: https://www.pacourts.us/courts/superior-court/superior-court-judges; Ballotpedia
Pennsylvania Supreme Court
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the state’s court of last resort for appeals and has seven elected judges. Ten year term, re-election by a yes – no retention ballot. Mandatory retirement at age 75.
More information about the PA Supreme Court.
Chief Justice Debra Todd, D (Retention vote 2027)
Justice Christine Donohue, D (Retention vote 2025)
Justice Kevin M. Dougherty, D (Retention vote 2025)
Justice David N. Wecht, D (Retention vote 2025)
Justice Sallie Updyke Mundy, R (Retention vote 2027)
Judge P. Kevin Brobson, R (Retention vote 2032)
Judge Daniel D. McCaffery, D (Retention vote 2033)
Sources: https://www.pacourts.us/courts/supreme-court/supreme-court-justices; Ballotpedia