History
Before 1700, the Pennsylvania judicial system originated as a disparate collection of local, part-time courts inherited from the reign of the Duke of York and established by William Penn. At this time, no courts could be called the court of final appeal; all final appeals were taken to England for veto power. Several attempts were made to unify the colony's judicial system and establish a court of final appeal, but failed.
Colonial Courthouse, Chester County
1722
The colony makes significant progress toward becoming a unified judicial system with the Judiciary Act of 1722. The act establishes the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and the Courts of Common Pleas in Philadelphia, Bucks and Chester counties.