For Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini, his upcoming role as president judge is largely about making life on the bench run as smoothly as possible for his eight co-judges.

And, as the 66-year-old judge was the unanimous choice of his peers to lead the court, the rest of bench appears to view the 21-year veteran as suited for the job.

"If I'm doing my job right, they will have no problems," Judge Pellegrini said.

The former Pittsburgh city solicitor likened the 43-year-old court, which is unique to Pennsylvania, to a corporation. If its nine judges are free to decide cases and churn out opinions, then the court is a success.

Judge Pellegrini, whose five-year term may be cut short by mandatory retirement in 2015, succeeds current President Judge Bonnie Brigance Leadbetter. He takes the reins of Pennsylvania's intermediate appeals court for state agencies and governmental issues this week.

Judge Pellegrini said he did not view the post as one of a policy-pusher.

"The court has been efficiently run and my goal is to keep it as efficiently run as before," he said.

Judge Pellegrini is the second-longest tenured judge on the court, close behind Judge Bernard L. McGinley. He pointed to his time with the Pittsburgh city solicitor's office, where he served as solicitor for seven years and managed an office of about 40 people, as instructive for serving as the court's top administrator.

On top of managing the case load, Judge Pellegrini will help the Commonwealth Court accommodate a tight judicial budget, pick cases to be heard before en banc panels, coordinate the internal administrative staff and promote outreach efforts.

While he pointed to the state's ongoing budget crisis as the biggest challenge facing the court, he recognized the situation is largely out of his hands.

He said he would continue to promote judges speaking at universities, law schools and bar associations around the state.

After graduating from Duquesne University School of Law, Judge Pellegrini enlisted in the Army, eventually serving as first lieutenant.

In 1973, he became Pittsburgh's assistant city solicitor. In 1990, he was elected to Commonwealth Court, his first judicial post.

In a review for a 2009 retention election, the Pennsylvania Bar Association called the judge "bright, scholarly and energetic."

In recommending retention, the bar association committee noted Judge Pellegrini's opinions are "well conceived and constructed, reflecting a thorough understanding of the facts and trial court record under review."

"His integrity and personal character are beyond reproach, and he is held in high esteem by his judicial colleagues and the bar," the review said.