Pennsylvania Act 1994-37 — JUDICIAL CODE (42 PA.C.S.) - AMEND JUDGES AND DISTRICT JUSTICES

Act text

Session of 1994

No. 1994-37

HB 1525

AN ACT

Amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, providing for an age qualification for judges and district justices; and further providing for the selection of judicial officers.

The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:

Section 1. Sections 3101(a) and 3131(a) of Title 42 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes are amended to read:

§ 3101. Qualifications of judicial officers generally.

(a) General rule.--Judges and district justices shall be citizens of this Commonwealth. Judges, except judges of the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court and the Traffic Court of Philadelphia, shall be members of the bar of this Commonwealth. Judges of the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts, for a period of one year preceding their election or appointment and during their continuance in office, shall reside within this Commonwealth. Other judges and district justices, for a period of one year preceding their election or appointment and during their continuance in office, shall reside within their respective districts, except when temporarily assigned to another district pursuant to law. Judges and district justices shall be at least 21 years of age.

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§ 3131. Selection of judicial officers for regular terms.

(a) Judges and district justices generally.--Except as provided in subsection (d) judges and district justices shall be elected for a regular term of office at the municipal election next preceding the commencement of their respective regular terms of office by the electors of this Commonwealth or the respective districts in which they are to serve. A candidate for judge or district justice shall not be placed upon a ballot in any primary or municipal election unless that person will meet the qualifications set forth in section 3101 (relating to qualifications of judicial officers generally) as of the beginning of the term of office for which the candidate runs.

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Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

APPROVED--The 27th day of May, A. D. 1994.

ROBERT P. CASEY