Pittsburgh - Former Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ralph J. Cappy has died. He was 65.

Cappy passed away suddenly on Friday evening as he was preparing to leave his Pittsburgh home for a social engagement, and friends later discovered his body at home, Deputy Court Administrator Tom Darr said. He said the cause of death is unknown, but Cappy recently underwent surgery for blocked arteries.

Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille called Cappy "a justice of tremendous integrity and a tireless worker" who was well-respected nationally for his leadership and innovative programs that addressed court-related problems.

Cappy, a Democrat, was an Allegheny County judge before joining the Supreme Court in 1990. He served as chief justice from 2003 until he retired in January 2008.

During Cappy's tenure, the state's highest court upheld the legalization of slot machines. He became the target of criticism when he successfully lobbied the Legislature to raise the pay of state judges. After heavy public pressure, lawmakers repealed government pay raises, but Cappy's court restored the judges' raises.

Cappy's court also moved to require attorneys to get a medical professional to certify the merit of a malpractice complaint. The court also advanced the computerization of state court records and introduced a new family court program designed to more quickly place abused and neglected children in permanent homes.

After leaving the high court, Cappy joined the law firm of Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney.