Corbett nominates Delco Common Pleas Court judge to Pa. Superior Court

A Pennsylvania jurist with 20 years worth of judicial service under her belt

has been tapped to sit on the state’s Superior Court.

Gov. Tom Corbett on Thursday announced that he has nominated Patricia H. Jenkins, currently a Common Pleas Court judge in Delaware County, to serve on the appellate body.

State Senate confirmation would be needed for the nomination to move forward.

“I am honored to nominate such an outstanding judge to the Superior Court,” Corbett said in a statement. “Jenkins’ extensive legal and judicial record gives me great confidence that she will continue to serve Pennsylvania with honor and distinction.”

Superior Court, which is one of two intermediate state appellate courts under the Supreme Court, handles appeals from most civil and criminal cases coming out of the state’s Common Pleas Courts, or trial division.

Before becoming a judge, Jenkins worked as a partner at the Media, Pa. law firm of Kassab Archbold Jackson & O’Brien, according to the governor’s office.

She also previously served as the solicitor for the Delaware County Department of Human Services, where she represented the suburban Philadelphia county in hundreds of hearings each year in various aspects of state and federal litigation.

Jenkins also teaches paralegal studies at both Widener and Villanova Universities, where her focus is on litigation and property law, her biography states.

“I thank Governor Corbett for his nomination and look forward, upon confirmation, to the opportunity to serve Pennsylvania as judge for the Superior Court of Pennsylvania,” Jenkins said in a statement released by Corbett’s office.

Jenkins received her juris doctorate from Penn State’s Dickinson School of Law.

She obtained a Masters of law degree in taxation from Villanova University School of Law, according to her bio.

Jenkins is a member of the Delaware County, Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations.

She also belongs to the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges.

Jenkins became a trial judge in February 1993.

Former Superior Court President Judge Correale Stevens has since moved on to the state Supreme Court, which had a vacancy due to the resignation of former Justice Joan Orie Melvin, who left the bench when she was being tried on campaign corruption charges.

Earlier this month, Harrisburg-area attorney Vic Stabile won an open seat on the Superior Court during judicial elections.

Superior Court holds sessions throughout the year in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Pittsburgh.