Jefferson County, Pennsylvania (Judicial)

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Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of the 100 largest cities in America by population as well as mayoral, city council, and district attorney election coverage in state capitals outside of the 100 largest cities. This county is outside of that coverage scope and does not receive scheduled updates.

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The people of Jefferson County are served by a Court of Common Pleas, and a Magisterial Court that handles small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic cases and minor criminal matters. The people of Pennsylvania are also served by a Superior Court and a Commonwealth Court.

The United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has jurisdiction in Jefferson County. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.

Courts

Jefferson County, Pennsylvania

Court of Common Pleas

Jefferson County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania

• John H. Foradora

Magisterial Court

Jefferson County Magisterial District, Pennsylvania

• Greg Bazylak
• Douglas R. Chambers
• David B. Inzana

See also

• Pennsylvania counties
• Courts in Pennsylvania

Elections

See also: Pennsylvania judicial elections

Pennsylvania is one of 43 states that hold elections for judicial positions. To learn more about judicial selection in Pennsylvania, click here.

• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2024
• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2023
• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2022
• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2021
• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2020
• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2019
• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2018
• Pennsylvania local trial court judicial elections, 2017
• Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2015
• Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2013
• Pennsylvania judicial elections, 2011

Election rules

Primary election

Though the state holds partisan elections, most candidates cross-file with the major political parties. If a candidate wins both the Republican and Democratic primary, he or she runs unopposed in the general election.

Retention election

All judges except those of the magisterial districts face retention elections following their initial term. After a judge has won an initial partisan election, subsequent terms are attained through retention elections. In retention elections, judges do not compete against another candidate, but voters are given a "yes" or "no" choice whether to keep the justice in office for another term. If the candidate receives more yes votes than no votes, he or she is successfully retained. If not, the candidate is not retained, and there will be a vacancy in that court upon the expiration of that term. This applies to all judges except magisterial district judges, who are always elected in partisan elections.