§ 10. Judicial administration.
(c) The Supreme Court shall have the power to prescribe
general rules governing practice, procedure and the conduct of
all courts, justices of the peace and all officers serving
process or enforcing orders, judgments or decrees of any court
or justice of the peace, including the power to provide for
assignment and reassignment of classes of actions or classes of
appeals among the several courts as the needs of justice shall
require, and for admission to the bar and to practice law, and
the administration of all courts and supervision of all officers
of the Judicial Branch, if such rules are consistent with this
Constitution and neither abridge, enlarge nor modify the
substantive rights of any litigant, nor affect the right of the
General Assembly to determine the jurisdiction of any court or
justice of the peace, nor suspend nor alter any statute of
limitation or repose. All laws shall be suspended to the extent
that they are inconsistent with rules prescribed under these
provisions. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the
General Assembly may by statute provide for the manner of
testimony of child victims or child material witnesses in
criminal proceedings, including the use of videotaped
depositions or testimony by closed-circuit television.
(d) The Chief Justice and president judges of all courts
with seven or less judges shall be the justice or judge longest
in continuous service on their respective courts; and in the
event of his resignation from this position the justice or judge
next longest in continuous service shall be the Chief Justice or
president judge. The president judges of all other courts shall
be selected for five-year terms by the members of their
respective courts, except that the president judge of the
traffic court in the City of Philadelphia shall be appointed by
the Governor. A Chief Justice or president judge may resign such
position and remain a member of the court. In the event of a tie
vote for office of president judge in a court which elects its
president judge, the Supreme Court shall appoint as president
judge one of the judges receiving the highest number of votes.
(e) Should any two or more justices or judges of the same
court assume office at the same time, they shall cast lots
forthwith for priority of commission, and certify the results to
the Governor who shall issue their commissions accordingly.
(Nov. 4, 2003, P.L. , J.R.1)
2003 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.1 amended subsec. (c).
Cross References. Section 10 is referred to in sections 11,
16 of the schedule to this article.
(c) The Supreme Court shall have the power to prescribe
general rules governing practice, procedure and the conduct of
all courts, justices of the peace and all officers serving
process or enforcing orders, judgments or decrees of any court
or justice of the peace, including the power to provide for
assignment and reassignment of classes of actions or classes of
appeals among the several courts as the needs of justice shall
require, and for admission to the bar and to practice law, and
the administration of all courts and supervision of all officers
of the Judicial Branch, if such rules are consistent with this
Constitution and neither abridge, enlarge nor modify the
substantive rights of any litigant, nor affect the right of the
General Assembly to determine the jurisdiction of any court or
justice of the peace, nor suspend nor alter any statute of
limitation or repose. All laws shall be suspended to the extent
that they are inconsistent with rules prescribed under these
provisions. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the
General Assembly may by statute provide for the manner of
testimony of child victims or child material witnesses in
criminal proceedings, including the use of videotaped
depositions or testimony by closed-circuit television.
(d) The Chief Justice and president judges of all courts
with seven or less judges shall be the justice or judge longest
in continuous service on their respective courts; and in the
event of his resignation from this position the justice or judge
next longest in continuous service shall be the Chief Justice or
president judge. The president judges of all other courts shall
be selected for five-year terms by the members of their
respective courts, except that the president judge of the
traffic court in the City of Philadelphia shall be appointed by
the Governor. A Chief Justice or president judge may resign such
position and remain a member of the court. In the event of a tie
vote for office of president judge in a court which elects its
president judge, the Supreme Court shall appoint as president
judge one of the judges receiving the highest number of votes.
(e) Should any two or more justices or judges of the same
court assume office at the same time, they shall cast lots
forthwith for priority of commission, and certify the results to
the Governor who shall issue their commissions accordingly.
(Nov. 4, 2003, P.L. , J.R.1)
2003 Amendment. Joint Resolution No.1 amended subsec. (c).
Cross References. Section 10 is referred to in sections 11,
16 of the schedule to this article.
