This guide was originally published on Oct. 23, 2023. It was updated on Sept. 4, 2025, ahead of the Nov. 4 judicial elections.
At a quick glance: Superior Court is made up of 15 judges. Currently, there are 8 Democrats and 6 Republicans that serve on the court, and one vacant seat.
To qualify for a seat on the court, candidates must have state residency for at least one year and reside in the commonwealth throughout their term. They must be at least 21 years of age, but not older than 75. They also have to be a member of the Bar of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and licensed to practice law in the state.
Pa. Superior Court 101
The Superior Court of Pennsylvania is one of the commonwealth’s two intermediate appellate courts. Established in 1895, the court is made up of 15 judges and handles criminal, civil, and family cases that are appealed from lower courts such as the Courts of Common Pleas.
Decisions from Superior Court make news less often than those from the other two appellate courts, but it is the statewide court with which an average Pennsylvanian is likeliest to interact. Cases involving child custody, probation and parole, and business disputes can all end up in front of this court, and while those cases can be reversed by the state Supreme Court, this rarely happens in practice.
The court also has a reputation as one of the busiest appellate benches in the nation. Its judges, who typically hear cases in three-person panels, are elected to 10-year terms in partisan contests and subsequently face nonpartisan retention votes, which usually succeed.
The court currently has eight judges elected as Democrats and six as Republicans, plus one vacancy.
One seat on the court has been open since Judge Daniel McCaffery was elected to the state Supreme Court in 2023.
In the upcoming Nov. 4 election, voters will choose to elect Democrat Brandon Neuman or Republican Maria Battista to fill that vacancy. They will also decide whether Judge Alice Beck Dubow, who was elected as a Democrat, will continue to serve on the bench.
Frequently asked questions about the Pa. Superior Court:
Where can I find the PA Superior Court opinions and docket?
Court opinions and docket sheets are available online. To learn how to search dockets, check out this guide. To learn how to search dockets, check out this guide. The court system also maintains a webpage of cases it deems especially relevant to the public.
Who are the PA Superior Court judges?
President Judge Anne E. Lazarus (elected as a Democrat)
Judge Mary Jane Bowes (elected as a Republican)
President Judge Jack A. Panella (elected as a Democrat)
Judge Judith Ference Olson (elected as a Republican)
Judge Victor P. Stabile (elected as a Republican)
Judge Alice Beck Dubow (elected as a Democrat, up for retention in November 2025)
Judge Deborah A. Kunselman (elected as a Democrat)
Judge Carolyn H. Nichols (elected as a Democrat)
Judge Mary P. Murray (elected as a Republican)
Judge Maria McLaughlin (elected as a Democrat)
Judge Megan McCarthy King (elected as a Republican)
Judge Megan Sullivan (elected as a Republican)
Judge Jill Beck (elected as a Democrat)
Judge Timika Lane (elected as a Democrat)
Superior Court also has three senior judges, President Judge Emeritus Correale F. Stevens, President Judge Emeritus John T. Bender, and President Judge Emerita Kate Ford Elliot. Senior judges are retired judges who have been approved by the state court administrator to continue serving, often in a pro bono capacity.