Now Appearing at Mellow Theater - The Superior Court!

P.J. Cory Stevens

Pennsylvania's busy Superior Court will hold a community session of regular argument court at the Mellow Theater, 501 Vine Street, Scranton on Tuesday, March 13th at 9:30 and Wednesday, March 14th at 10 am.

The Superior Court is a 15-judge appellate court which hears all criminal and most civil case appeals from the trial courts in each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties.

“While our regular courtrooms are in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh, our judges are committed to taking court sessions into various counties, law schools and have even held session in a high school setting,” according to President Judge Correale Stevens. “All our court sessions are open to the public, and the Mellow Theater is a beautiful facility. We will remain available after the cases are heard for a question and answer period about the court and its decision-making, especially if there are students who attend, “ Stevens added.

Hon. Jack Panella

The Superior Court hears about 8,000 appeals a year and decides cases in panels of three judges, assigned randomly by the Court Prothonotary. Each judge must hand down two opinions per day, just to keep up. Most cases are decided on the legal briefs and transcripts, but oral argument is scheduled at various times throughout the year, during which attorneys are peoppered with questions. In addition to hearing appeals, Superior Court judges have other responsibilities, too. They include making certain law enforcement have probable cause before granting permission to wiretap suspected criminals, volunteering to give legal education seminars to lawyers’ groups and speaking to civic organizations as well as various administrative duties.

The three-judge panel hearing cases on Tuesday include President Judge Cory Stevens (our friend in nearby Hazleton), our very own Jack Panella and Tioga County's Sallie Updyke Mundy.

President Judge Stevens is a former member of the Pa House, Luzerne County District Attorney and Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas trial judge. He was chosen by his colleagues to be resident Judge in November, 2010 and regularly volunteers for legal seminars and the Pa Bar Mock Trial program.

Judge Jack Panella is a former Northampton County Court of Common Pleas trial judge who is treated like a long lost son whenever he drops by the courthouse. He's also former President Judge of the Court of Judicial Discipline. He has authored several bench books to aid the judiciary during trials. In 2002 he was selected to visit American troops stationed in Bosnia. He's also a damn good runner.

He's the only judge to ever find me a credible witness. I carry that finding in my wallet, just in case.

Hon Sallie Updyke Mundy

Judge Sallie Updyke Mundy has extensive experience in both civil and criminal law as a former trial attorney and public defender. She volunteers for legal seminars to update lawyers on appellate practice and serves on the Court Technology and Legislation Committees.

On Tuesday, the Court will hear cases involving a termination of parental rights, a third degree murder conviction, landlord-tenant issues, the legality of a police search and a juvenile delinquency case. Case summaries will be provided to all attending so they can follow along with the legal arguments.

Pennsylvania appellate court judges are chosen by the people, and we do our best to decide all cases in a fair, impartial and timely manner,” Stevens concluded.