Section 3716. Citing Judicial Opinions in Filings

(a) A reported opinion of the Commonwealth Court en banc or three-judge panel may be cited as binding precedent.

(b) An unreported panel decision of this Court issued after January 15, 2008, may be cited for its persuasive value, but not as binding precedent.

(c) Any unreported opinion of this Court may be cited and relied upon when it is relevant under the doctrine of law of the case, res judicata or collateral estoppel.

(d) A reported single judge opinion in an election law matter filed after October 1, 2013, may be cited as binding precedent only in an election law matter.

(e) All other single judge opinions of this Court, even if reported, shall be cited only for persuasive value and not as binding precedent.

Official Note

A special election panel is one designated by the president judge to hear election law matters on an expedited basis. Decisions by such panels are made by only the members of the panel without the participation of judges who are not part of the panel. See Internal Operating Procedure § 112(b) (Courts En Banc and Panels; Composition), § 258 (Decision; Election Law Appeals), § 416 (Reporting of Unreported Opinions).

The provisions of this Rule 3716 adopted June 16, 2015, 45 Pa.B. 3975.