Panella named to lead court
Peers elect longtime jurist president judge of Superior Court.
HARRISBURG — It's no secret Pennsylvania's elected state court system is dominated by jurists who hail from the state's two biggest cities and their surrounding suburbs.
That's where a lot of voters live.
Once in a while a jurist from outside those areas wins a seat on the Commonwealth, Superior and
Supreme courts.
Now one of those outsiders — Jack Panella — will lead Superior Court.
Panella, 63, of Palmer Township, was selected Thursday by his Superior Court peers to be president judge. It's a five-year term that begins Jan. 7.
“This is important for me coming from the Lehigh Valley,” Panella said in an interview. “By far most of the judges are from the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh [areas].”
If he, the son of laborers without a lot of formal education, can reach the state courts, others can, too, Panella said.
“I'd like to try to bring more appointments to the very good lawyers and other people in the Lehigh Valley,” he said.
Panella served as a Northampton County judge for a dozen years before becoming the county's first jurist to win election to Superior Court. That occurred in November 2003. He won a retention vote to another 10-year term in 2013.
During his 27 years on the bench, Panella has authored two judicial textbooks used as guides across the state. His first book, “The Pennsylvania Sexual Violence Benchbook,” first was published in 2007 and covers criminal legal issues involving those cases. His second book involved legal matters in sexual violence cases and is used by district judges.
Superior Court is the second tier of the state court system. Its 15 judges, plus about five older senior judges, handle appeals of criminal, civil and family legal matters that arise from 67 county courts.
Typically cases are decided by a three-judge panel and written by one judge. About 20 times a year the full court hears a case.
The president judge carries a full case load, picks up administrative duties and serves as a liaison between the other courts and the backroom administration of the system. There's also the extra responsibility of sometimes mediating disputes among jurists before they become public.
“Diplomacy is always good,” Panella said.
In his role, Panella said he will stress unity and consensus. It's OK to disagree, he said, as long the court is not adversarial. “We work best when we work together,” he said.
Panella follows President Judge Susan Peikes Gantman, who completes her five-year term on Jan. 6.
Voters will select two Superior Court judges in the 2019 election.