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Bill

HB 713

An Act amending Title 42 (Judiciary and Judicial Procedure) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in particular rights and immunities, further providing for declaration of policy, for definitions and for scope of subchapter.

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Missy Cerrato and 11 co-sponsors

Pennsylvania bill modifies judicial immunity standards by revising policy declarations, definitions, and application scope in state judiciary law.

Referred to Judiciary
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HB 713

Legislative bill overview

HB 713 amends Pennsylvania's judicial immunity laws by modifying the declaration of policy, definitions, and scope of application within Title 42. The bill appears designed to reshape how judicial immunity protections are defined and applied in the state's legal system, though the specific substantive changes are not detailed in the bill summary provided.

Why this is important

Judicial immunity determines when judges can be held personally liable for their actions—a fundamental issue affecting access to justice for citizens who believe they've been wronged by judicial misconduct. Changes to immunity standards can either strengthen accountability mechanisms or provide greater protection to judicial officers, significantly impacting litigation outcomes and public confidence in the courts.

Potential points of contention

  • Scope of immunity changes: Expanding or narrowing when judges are protected from lawsuits could either enable more accountability or expose judges to frivolous litigation
  • Definition modifications: Changes to how "judicial function" or related terms are defined could broadly affect which judicial actions are covered by immunity protections
  • Retroactive application: Whether amended rules apply to existing cases or only prospectively may create fairness concerns and legal complications

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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