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Judicial Elections
How Judges Are Chosen in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are first chosen in partisan elections, then keep their seats through yes/no retention elections every 10 years.
Rules as of October 15, 2026 · source Ballotpedia
Are judges elected in Pennsylvania?
- Highest court
- Pennsylvania Supreme Court — 7 justices
- How chosen
- Partisan election
- Voters
- Voters elect justices
- Term
- 10 years
- To serve again
- Yes/no retention vote
- 2026 ballot
- No Pennsylvania Supreme Court seats in 2026
How Pennsylvania chooses its judges
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are first chosen in partisan elections, then keep their seats through yes/no retention elections every 10 years.
- Seats: 7 justices on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
- Term: 10 years.
- To serve again: Yes/no retention vote.
- Age rule: Must be under 75.
- Other courts: All courts use partisan elections followed by retention votes.
Pennsylvania holds its judicial elections in odd-numbered years, so no supreme court seat is on the 2026 ballot.
Compare every state on the judicial selection table.
Is the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No Pennsylvania Supreme Court seat is up in 2026. Seats come up on a staggered schedule, so the next race comes in a later year.
Other judges can still be on your ballot. All courts use partisan elections followed by retention votes. Check your sample ballot for every judicial race where you live.
How to research judges on your Pennsylvania ballot
- Your sample ballot: Pennsylvania’s official election site shows every judicial race on your ballot, including local courts.
- Deadlines and voting options: How to vote in Pennsylvania — registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
- Candidate details: Ballotpedia tracks each candidate’s background, endorsements and spending; local news and the state bar often publish candidate surveys.
Judicial ethics rules bar candidates from promising how they will rule, so a judge’s record and experience usually say more than campaign ads. This site does not endorse or rate candidates.
Federal judges in Pennsylvania
Federal judges are never on a ballot: the President nominates them and the U.S. Senate confirms them for life. Pennsylvania’s two senators vote on every nominee and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state.
Pennsylvania’s senators: David McCormick (Republican) and John Fetterman (Democratic).
Confirmed by recorded vote in 2026
| Judge | Court | Date | Vote | McCormick | Fetterman |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Antonio M. Pozos | District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania | Jul 23, 2026 | 49–44 | Yea | Yea |
District judges for courts in Pennsylvania and circuit judges from the state. Judges confirmed by voice vote leave no roll call; the Senate’s list of confirmed nominations has them. Roll calls from the snapshot refreshed Oct 1, 2026.
Open federal judgeships
The U.S. Courts list no vacant district judgeship in Pennsylvania as of October 15, 2026.
Source: uscourts.gov current judicial vacancies. Every vacancy nationwide is on the judicial elections hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are judges elected in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Supreme Court justices are first chosen in partisan elections, then keep their seats through yes/no retention elections every 10 years. All courts use partisan elections followed by retention votes.
How long is a term on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court?
10 years. At the end of a term, they face yes/no retention votes to stay on the court. Must be under 75.
Is the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on the 2026 ballot?
No Pennsylvania Supreme Court seat is up in 2026. Trial and appellate judges may still be on your local ballot — check your sample ballot.
How do I research judges on my Pennsylvania ballot?
Your sample ballot from https://www.pa.gov/en/services/vote/register-to-vote.html lists every judicial race, including local courts. Ballotpedia, local news and the state bar cover candidates' experience and endorsements.
Who appoints federal judges in Pennsylvania?
The President nominates and the U.S. Senate confirms them; they serve for life. Pennsylvania's senators, David McCormick and John Fetterman, vote on every nomination and are traditionally consulted on district court nominees from the state. The Senate confirmed 1 judge tied to Pennsylvania by recorded vote in 2026.
Related
Judicial Elections in Every State
How all 50 states choose judges, every 2026 supreme court race, and federal confirmations.
How to Vote in Pennsylvania
Registration, early voting, mail ballots and poll hours.
Pennsylvania Senators & Representatives
Your delegation in Congress and when each term ends.
What Can Congress Do?
Can Congress declare war, override a veto, impeach a cabinet member, remove a senator, overrule the Supreme Court, or invoke the 25th Amendment? Question by question, with live vote math.