Pennsylvania Statutes Title 42 Pa.C.S.A. Judiciary and Judicial Procedure § 3101. Qualifications of judicial officers generally

(a) General rule.--Judges and magisterial district judges shall be citizens of this Commonwealth. Judges, except judges of the Pittsburgh Magistrates Court and the Traffic Court of Philadelphia, shall be members of the bar of this Commonwealth. Judges of the Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Courts, for a period of one year preceding their election or appointment and during their continuance in office, shall reside within this Commonwealth. Other judges and magisterial district judges, for a period of one year preceding their election or appointment and during their continuance in office, shall reside within their respective districts, except when temporarily assigned to another district pursuant to law. Judges and magisterial district judges shall be at least 21 years of age.

(b) Mental health review officers.--Mental health review officers shall be members of the bar of this Commonwealth without restriction as to county of residence and where possible should be familiar with the field of mental health. Judges of the Philadelphia Municipal Court may be appointed mental health review officers.