GOVERNOR'S OFFICE [46 Pa.B. 3633]
[Saturday, July 9, 2016]Proclamation Constitutional Amendment; Article V, Sections 1, 6(c), 10(d), 12(b) and 15(a) Whereas, Joint Resolution No. 1 of 2013 and Joint Resolution No. 2 of 2015 proposed to amend Article V, Sections 1, 6(c), 10(d), 12(b), and 15(a), of the Constitution of Pennsylvania to read:
§ 1. Unified judicial system. The judicial power of the Commonwealth shall be vested in a unified judicial system consisting of the Supreme Court, the Superior Court, the Commonwealth Court, courts of common pleas, community courts, municipal courts in the City of Philadelphia, such other courts as may be provided by law and justices of the peace. All courts and justices of the peace and their jurisdiction shall be in this unified judicial system.
§ 6. Community courts; Philadelphia Municipal Court. * * * (c) In the City of Philadelphia there shall be a municipal court. The number of judges and the jurisdiction shall be as provided by law. This court shall exist so long as a community court has not been established or in the event one has been discontinued under this section.
§ 10. Judicial administration. * * * (d) The Chief Justice and president judges of all courts with seven or less judges shall be the justice or judge longest in continuous service on their respective courts; and in the event of his resignation from this position the justice or judge next longest in continuous service shall be the Chief Justice or president judge. The president judges of all other courts shall be selected for five-year terms by the members of their respective courts. A Chief Justice or president judge may resign such position and remain a member of the court. In the event of a tie vote for office of president judge in a court which elects its president judge, the Supreme Court shall appoint as president judge one of the judges receiving the highest number of votes.
* * * § 12. Qualifications of justices, judges and justices of the peace. * * * (b) Justices of the peace shall be members of the bar of the Supreme Court or shall complete a course of training and instruction in the duties of their respective offices and pass an examination prior to assuming office. Such courses and examinations shall be as provided by law.
§ 15. Tenure of justices, judges and justices of the peace. (a) The regular term of office of justices and judges shall be ten years and the regular term of office for judges of the municipal court in the City of Philadelphia and of justices of the peace shall be six years. The tenure of any justice or judge shall not be affected by changes in judicial districts or by reduction in the number of judges.
* * * Whereas, Joint Resolution No. 1 of 2013 was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each House of the General Assembly and published pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, in the General Assembly next afterwards chosen, the aforesaid amendment to Article V, Sections 1, 6(c), 10(d), 12(b), and 15(a), of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was proposed in Joint Resolution No. 2 of 2015, which was agreed to by a majority of the members elected to each House of the General Assembly and published pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania; and
Whereas, the aforesaid proposed amendment to Article V, Sections 1, 6(c), 10(d), 12(b), and 15(a), of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was submitted for approval to the qualified electors of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania pursuant to Article XI, Section 1 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania at an election held on April 26, 2016; and
Whereas, the Secretary of the Commonwealth, pursuant to law, has certified to me that the aforesaid proposed amendment to Article V, Sections 1, 6(c), 10(d), 12(b), and 15(a), of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was approved by a majority of those voting thereon on the aforesaid day; and
Whereas, Section 903 of Title 1 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes requires the Governor, upon receiving the aforesaid certification of the Secretary of the Commonwealth, to issue his proclamation indicating whether or not the proposed amendment to Article V, Sections 1, 6(c), 10(d), 12(b), and 15(a), of the Constitution of Pennsylvania has been adopted by a majority of the electors voting thereon.
Now Therefore, I, Tom Wolf, Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, do hereby proclaim that the aforesaid amendment to Article V, Sections 1, 6(c), 10(d), 12(b), and 15(a), of the Constitution of Pennsylvania was adopted by a majority of the electors voting thereon on April 26, 2016.
Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the Commonwealth, at the City of Harrisburg, this twenty-seventh day of June in the year of our Lord two thousand sixteen and of the Commonwealth the two hundred and fortieth.
Governor
Attest:
PEDRO A. CORTÉS,
Secretary of the Commonwealth
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-1155. Filed for public inspection July 8, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]
