Select Filing screen

The primary purpose of this screen is to identify the name of the document that you intend to submit to the court. Based on the data entry requirements for initiating a new case versus filing on an existing case, the use of this tab varies based on the action you intend to complete.

Initiating a New Case Action

This screen is used to identify the basic information that establishes the court of record and the type of document being filed. The order in which information must be entered is restricted since the options available to select in some fields are based on your selections in other fields. All fields on this tab denoted with an asterisk (*) are required:

1. 

Click on the Court Type dropdown and select Appellate Court.

2. 

Click on the Court dropdown and select Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

3. 

Click on the District dropdown and select the filing office location that will process the new case based on the originating county of the trial court or agency.

Map of Pennsylvania with counties color coded by Supreme Court district.

4. 

All cases are categorized by docket type through their shared characteristics and the court's jurisdiction over the matters in question. Click on the Docket Type dropdown and select one of the following options:

  • Allocatur - Petitions for permission to appeal a case to the Supreme Court when an appeal for that case was already heard at an intermediate appellate court.

  • Miscellaneous - Any case-initiating petition or motion filed in the Supreme Court, other than a petition for allowance of appeal, dealing with matters that fall outside the Appeal or Capital docket. This includes writs of habeas corpus, mandamus, and quo warranto.

5. 

Click on the Filing Type dropdown and choose the type of document that is initiating the appeal.

6. 

(Optional) Click in the Description field and enter any word or phrase that will help you identify your new filing more easily through your PACFile Dashboard. This text is intended for your use only and is not submitted to the court.

7. 

Click SUBMIT to advance to the Select Cases screen.

The Select Filing screen in the Initiate New Case wizard.

 

 

Filing on an Existing Case

This screen is used to identify the basic information that establishes the type of document being filed on the case.

1. 

Click on the Filing Type dropdown and choose the type of document that will be filed on the identified case. The options available to select in this dropdown are restricted to those that apply to the docket type of the identified case.

2. 

(Optional) Click in the Description field and enter any word or phrase that will help you identify your new filing more easily through your PACFile Dashboard. This text is intended for your use only and is not submitted to the court.

3. 

Click SUBMIT to advance to the Participants tab.

The Select Filing screen in the Case Filing wizard.