Rule 227.2.Court en Banc.

Adopted June 30, 1983 · Last amended April 12, 1999 · Last verified June 30, 2026

In one sentenceRule 227.2 provides that post-trial motions are heard and decided by the trial judge unless that judge orders the matter heard by a court en banc — of which the trial judge is a member and which has no more than three judges.

Full Text of Rule 227.2

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All post-trial motions and other post-trial matters shall be heard and decided by the trial judge unless the trial judge orders that the matter be heard by a court en banc of which the trial judge shall be a member. If the trial judge for any reason cannot hear the matter, another judge shall be designated to act. No more than three judges shall constitute the court en banc.

End

Plain-English Summary

This rule assigns responsibility for deciding post-trial motions. As a default, the trial judge hears and decides all post-trial motions and matters.

A larger panel is optional. The trial judge may order the matter heard by a court en banc, which the trial judge sits on and which may have no more than three judges; if the trial judge cannot hear the matter, another judge is designated.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who decides post-trial motions?

The trial judge, unless the judge orders the matter heard by a court en banc of no more than three judges, of which the trial judge is a member.

Amendment History

The provisions of this Rule 227.2 adopted June 30, 1983, effective July 1, 1983, 13 Pa.B. 2254; amended April 12, 1999, effective July 1, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 2266. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (223268).

Source & verification. Rule text, the Official Note, and the amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 231, the official compilation of rules adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Last verified June 30, 2026. · Official text

Also known as: court en bancwho decides post-trial motions