I am confused as to the role of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court versus the role of the Court of Judicial Discipline. Which has the ultimate authority to discipline judges?
The question of disciplining judges in Pennsylvania is to some extent in a state of confusion in terms of where the role of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ends and the Court of Judicial Discipline begins. Prior to 1993, the Supreme Court was directly in charge of all judicial discipline. The old Judiciary Inquiry and Review Board could only make recommendations. It was the responsibility of the Supreme Court to discipline.
