Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Historical Commission
Est. 2023
A.2d: Of the citation formats you are likely to encounter in Pennsylvania Supreme Court opinions, the Atlantic Reporter is the most common. A typical citation might look like 482 A.2d 849, 851 (Pa. 1999), indicating that the quoted text is found on page 851 of an opinion beginning in the 482 Volume of the Atlantic Reporter Second Series on Page 849 issued by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1999.
​
ab initio (ab i-nish-ee-oh) adv. [Latin] From the beginning - Black's Law Dictionary, Tenth Ed.
​
allocatur: commonly known as certiorari in other jurisdictions, the discretionary allowance of appeal by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. .
​​​
amicus curiae: "friend of the court" who provides information to help a court make its decision
​
arguendo: a hypothetical argument made without concession that the facts are applicable to the case
​
Assignment of Errors: Alleged mistakes made by the lower court​
​
Defendant in Error: On appeal the successful party in the court below would be the Defendant in Error. In today's appellate courts, the Defendant in Error would be either an Appellee or Respondent.
Ejectment: The ejection of an owner or occupier from a property or a legal action to recover property wrongfully taken.
​​ex relatione: From latin meaning on behalf of.
King's Bench: Based on English common law, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has the power to consider any case pending, and sometimes, not pending in a lower court to address issues of immediate public importance.
Mandamus: a writ issued by a court towards a lower court or government official to perform a particular act
Nisi Prius: A civil trial court in which, unlike in an appellate court, issues are tried before a jury. - Black's Law Dictionary, Tenth Ed.​
Paper-book: In today's parlance, a paper-book would be the brief filed by the parties framing the law and arguing why the lower court erred
​
Petitioner in Error: On appeal the successful party seeking relief would be the Petitioner in Error. In today's appellate courts, the Petitioner in Error would be either an Appellant or Petitioner
​
prima facie: appearing to be true on first examination, but subject to further review
recognizance: a monetary bond or obligation used as promise to the court to perform some function or appear when called
scire facias: a writ requiring someone to appear a show cause why a dormant judgment should not be enforced