Paula Francisco Ott at a glance
- Current role
- Judge
- Current assignment
- Superior Court of Pennsylvania
- Jurisdiction
- Pennsylvania · State
- Judicial service
- Active
Paula Francisco Ott
Judge · Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Biography
Professional career
- Judge, Superior Court of Pennsylvania, 2010-present
- 2005–2009 – held the role of President Judge of Chester County Court of Common Pleas
- Began her legal career as Assistant District Attorney for Chester County (1975–1978) and later as Assistant County Solicitor (1978–1981)
- Legacy: Pioneering role for women in Pennsylvania judiciary, active in elder justice and guardianship law
- Distinguished judge in Pennsylvania’s judicial system, notable for being the first woman elected to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas and later serving on the Pennsylvania Superior Court
Education
- B.A. in Political Science from the University of Delaware in 1972, followed by her J.D. and Master of Laws from Temple University Beasley School of Law in 1975 and 1981, respectively
Additional information
- In 2022, she was honored by Gawthrop Greenwood with a historic Pennsylvania Railroad club car chair in recognition of her contributions to the legal field and advancing women in the law
- Now a Senior Judge in the Pennsylvania judicial system
- Ott was Co-Chair of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court’s Advisory Council on Elder Justice in the Courts and served on the Elder Law Task Force and Guardianship Monitoring Committee.
- She also chaired the Orphans’ Court Rules Committee for six years
Applicable Court Rules & Procedures
Exhibits
Statewide
For Pennsylvania Common Pleas proceedings, statewide Pa.R.J.A. 1910 prohibits courtroom broadcasting, recording, and photography unless an exception or judicial authorization applies; the rule also recognizes judge-authorized electronic or photographic means for evidence presentation.
the use of electronic or photographic means for the presentation of evidence201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom ↗
Sources
Identity source checked June 30, 2026.
Biography sources checked August 2, 2026.
Superior Court of Pennsylvania current judicial profile
Identity source · HTML · Source checked August 2, 2026
View Superior Court of Pennsylvania current judicial profile ↗201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom
Statewide source · HTML · Source checked July 26, 2026
View 201 Pa. Code Chapter 19, Rule 1910, Broadcasting, Recording and Photography in the Courtroom ↗