Subject Matter Jurisdiction

Question 1

Trial Court of General Jurisdiction

Answer 1

Court of Common Pleas: unltd original jurisdiction of all actions and proceeding; 49 Pa. Cons. Stat 931(a),

Exclusive except as otherwise provided

Question 2

Court of General Appellate Jurisdiction

Answer 2

Superior Court

Question 3

Original Jurisdiction of Superior Courts

Answer 3

Concurrent original jurisdiction w/ Supreme Court over Habeas Corpus cases,

Power to consider first time mandamus petitions or ancillary matters over its appellate cases

Question 4

Commonwealth Court: Original Jurisdiction

Answer 4

exclusive original jurisdiction over 1) civil actions against Commonwealth; 2) consted nominations & elections; 3) as otherwise conferred by statute.

Concurrent orig. juris over cases brought by PA or by its officers;

Original ancillary jurisdiction over mandamus actions to matters within appeallate jurisdiction

Question 5

Commonwealth Court: Appellate Jurisdiction

Answer 5

Exclusive appellate jurisidiction over cases from Courts of Common please involving:

1) commonwealth or its officer is a party;
2) regulatory offenses,
3) appeals from agency decisions,
4) brought by agency/local govt,
5) non-profit corporate matters,
6) eminent domain proceedings,
7) immunity waiver matters