Court of Common Pleas v. Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission

OPINION

NIGRO, Justice.

The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (“PHRC”) appeals a Commonwealth Court Order that precludes it from adjudicating a complaint based on lack of jurisdiction. We granted the PHRC’s petition for allowance of appeal to address whether the separation of powers doctrine prohibits the PHRC from deciding a discrimination claim filed by a juvenile probation officer employed by the Court of Common Pleas. We find that the PHRC is prohibited from adjudicating such a claim and affirm the decision of the Commonwealth Court.

Gary Ison was a juvenile probation officer for the…