Judge Paul P. Panepinto attended Villanova University and received his B.A. in Political Science in 1971, and M.A. in Political Science in 1979. He received his J.D. in 1976 from Widener University School of Law. Judge Panepinto was appointed to the bench of the Court of Common Pleas in June 1990, elected in his own right in 1991, and retained for a ten year term commencing January 2002.

He began his career at Family Court, 1971, progressing from a Probation Officer to an Intake Unit Attorney and then to Juvenile Master before being appointed a Judge. As a young attorney, he worked in the private practice of law.

After serving five years on the Family Court Bench, Judge Panepinto was appointed by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania as Administrative Judge of the Philadelphia Family Court Division where he served from April 1996 to December 2000. During his tenure as Administrative Judge, he started a new Bench Warrant Unit and a Customer Service Center at Family Court, Domestic Relations, which has enabled citizens of Philadelphia to come into the Courthouse without an appointment and quickly receive information and/or resolve problems relating to their Child Support and Domestic Relations cases.

He is a member of both the Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Bar Associations. He was appointed by Governor Thomas Ridge to be a member of the Juvenile Court Judges Commission, 1996 to 2002 and he served as a Trustee for the National Council of Juvenile Court and Family Judges' organization 2002-2007. He served as a Board Member and Secretary of the National Truancy Prevention Association from 2003 to April of 2006 and as President of the Order Sons of Italy Roxborough Lodge 2003-2007. Judge Panepinto was appointed by Governor Edward Rendell of Pennsylvania to serve a four-year term on the Court of Judicial Discipline 2003-2007. This Court has jurisdiction over the conduct of all Pennsylvania Judges.

Judge Panepinto has received numerous awards for his work. Among his most notable awards include Outstanding Alumnus of the Year from Widener University Law School in 1994, as well as the Marvin E. Wolfgang Award of the Juvenile Justice Center of Pennsylvania presented to him in August 1999 for his outstanding contributions for work performed for Children at Risk. Also, Judge Panepinto was instrumental in securing funding for the Model Court in Philadelphia, which has resulted in expediting action in the worst cases of neglected, deprived or abused children, including the ultimate goal, which is to reach adoption sooner. He is also credited with launching the nation's first satellite Truancy Court which has served as a model for other jurisdictions, including Rhode Island, and was recognized by the Rhode Island Governor, Donald L. Carcieri, and Attorney General of the State of Rhode Island, Hon. Patrick Lynch, for his instrumental role and efforts in the establishment of a model for a Truancy Court. In June of 2005, he was nominated and awarded the prestigious Italian recognition of "Cavaliere" by the Consul General of Italy for significant contribution to the Republic of Italy in both personal and professional life.

Judge Panepinto was appointed PA State Chair for the "Do the Write Thing Challenge" by the National Campaign to Stop Violence. He has participated as Co-Chair of Philadelphia's program since 1998.

Judge Panepinto is married to the former Nancy Abbolone and they have two children, Paul and Lynn.

All Current and Past Judges of the Court