Dec. 13, 2021
HARRISBURG – Today, the House Judiciary Committee advanced legislation, sponsored by Rep. Frank Ryan (R-Lebanon), which proposes to amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to limit the terms of justices and judges serving on state appellate courts.
House Bill 1880 would amend the Pennsylvania Constitution to limit justices of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court to two terms or a total of 20 years on the bench. Under the bill any justice currently serving who has exceeded the new limit would be permitted to complete their current term.
The bill was amended in committee to apply the same term limits to Commonwealth Court and Superior Court judges. The amendment limits those judges to two terms or 20 years on each court on which they serve.
“As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, I am pleased this important legislation was voted out today and is now on its way to the full House for consideration,” said Ryan. “This amendment would put more power in the hands of the citizens of this Commonwealth by enabling voters to decide whether or not to limit the terms of our judges and justices. No jurist should be able to hold office indefinitely and 20 years is long enough,” he said.
Constitutional amendments must pass in identical form in each of two consecutive legislative sessions before they can be placed before voters in a statewide referendum.
Representative Frank Ryan
101st Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Media Contact: Donna Pinkham
717.260.6452
dpinkham@pahousegop.com
RepFrankRyan.com /
Facebook.com/RepFrankRyan