Beaver County, Pennsylvania (Judicial)
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The people of Beaver 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 Beaver County. Appeals from the Western District go to the United States Court of Appeals for the 3rd Circuit.
Courts
Court of Common Pleas
Beaver County Court of Common Pleas, Pennsylvania
- John D. McBride - President Judge
- Dale Fouse
- Harry E. Knafelc
- Deborah A. Kunselman
- C. Gus Kwidis
- Richard Mancini
- James J. Ross
- Kim Tesla
Senior Judges
Magisterial Court
Beaver County Magisterial District, Pennsylvania
- Tim Finn
- Andrew M. Hladio
- Edward C. Howe
- William R. Livingston, II
- C. Douglas Loughner
- Dale F. Nicholson
- Joseph L. Schafer
- Janet M. Swihart[1]
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.[2][3]
See also
Footnotes
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Federal courts:
Third Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Western District of Pennsylvania
State courts:
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania Superior Court • Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court • Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas • Pennsylvania Magisterial Districts
State resources:
Courts in Pennsylvania • Pennsylvania judicial elections • Judicial selection in Pennsylvania
