Motions Judge
There are two motions judges each month for each of the three districts (East, Middle and West) made up of one commissioned Judge and a Senior Judge
Motions Panel
A Motions Judge or CLS may refer any motion to a motions panel for decision. The motions panel is comprised of three fully commissioned judges.
Merits Panel
The merits panel decides appeals by way of oral argument or submission on briefs.
The merits panel decides appeals by way of: (1) Argument Panels, which supplement written briefs with oral argument, and (2) Submit Panels, which decide cases on the briefs filed by the parties.
Decisions are either by way of Opinions, which are published in the Atlantic Reporter Third, and may be cited as precedent, or Memorandum Decisions, which are not precedential.
Three judges are assigned by the President Judge. Each panel may have only one senior judge. After the decision is filed, the merits panel may be presented with a motion for panel reconsideration or reargument before an en banc panel (9 judges).
En Banc Panel
The en banc panel is made up of nine commissioned Judges.
The en banc panel is made up of nine commissioned Judges, assigned by the President Judge. Either the President Judge or the most senior Judge on the panel presides. The en banc panels typically sit four times a year, twice in Philadelphia and once each in Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.