Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that established a constitutional amendment to elect appellate court judges by regional district instead of at-large.

Highlights:

• Requires the justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court to be elected from newly-created judicial districts (Sec. 1).

• Requires each judicial district to be composed of contiguous territory as nearly equal in population (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any county, city, town, borough, township, or ward from being divided in forming judicial districts unless absolutely necessary (Sec. 1). 

• Requires appellate judicial districts be realigned based on each census, beginning in 2021 (Sec. 1).

• Requires these amendments to be put on the ballot after passage by the General Assembly (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that established a constitutional amendment to elect appellate court judges by regional district instead of at-large.

Highlights:

• Requires the justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Superior Court and Commonwealth Court to be elected from newly-created judicial districts (Sec. 1).

• Requires each judicial district to be composed of contiguous territory as nearly equal in population (Sec. 1).

• Prohibits any county, city, town, borough, township, or ward from being divided in forming judicial districts unless absolutely necessary (Sec. 1). 

• Requires appellate judicial districts be realigned based on each census, beginning in 2021 (Sec. 1).

• Requires these amendments to be put on the ballot after passage by the General Assembly (Sec. 3).

Full Bill Text