FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA 

PHILADELPHIA COURT OF COMMON PLEAS 

TRIAL DIVISION 

ADMINISTRATIVE DOCKET 

No. 24 of 2021 

In re: Expansion of Court Operations 

ORDER  

 

 

AND NOW, this 2nd day of July 2021, consistent with the terms of the June 21, 2021, 

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Order, No. 553 Judicial Administration Docket, and in accordance 

with the health and safety guidelines, protocols, and recommendations by the Centers for Disease 

Control, Pennsylvania Department of Health, the City of Philadelphia Department of Health, and 

the First Judicial District, effective July 6, 2021, it is ORDERED AND DECREED: 

The Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice and City Hall will be open 

with normal safety and security protocols. Mask wearing will be optional for all employees and 

visitors who are fully vaccinated in all FJD facilities effective Monday, June 28th, 2021. 

Employees and visitors who are not fully vaccinated are still required to wear masks in all FJD 

facilities and work areas. All social distancing requirements in all public and work areas 

including elevators have been lifted effective Monday, June 28th, 2021, however, social 

distancing requirements may still be required in courtrooms.  Mask wearing is still encouraged 

for all persons while inside FJD facilities for your own comfort and safety.   

Court proceedings will expand as follows: 

Civil Trial Division      

1. Civil Jury Trials – All civil jury trials shall continue to proceed in person subject to the 

Court’s protocols published on the Court’s website and entitled, “Resumption of In-Person Jury 

Trials During the COVID-19 Judicial Emergency.” Such protocols are updated as appropriate, 

and counsel must review the most current published protocols prior to commencing a jury trial.  

2. Civil Non-Jury Trials – Consistent with the availability of judicial resources including 

courtrooms not already in use for in-person civil jury trials, civil non-jury trials shall proceed in-

person as of September 1, 2021. Prior to September 1, 2021, civil non-jury trials shall continue 

via Advanced Communication Technology, unless otherwise ordered. 

3. Arbitration Proceedings – Arbitration proceedings shall proceed in person as of September 

1, 2021. Prior to September 1, 2021, arbitration proceedings shall continue via Advanced 

Communication Technology, unless otherwise ordered. 

4. Case Management and Pre-trial Conferences – Civil case management and pre-trial 

conferences shall proceed in person as of September 1, 2021. Prior to September 1, 2021, civil 

case management and pre-trial conferences shall proceed via Advanced Communication 

Technology unless otherwise ordered. 

5. Discovery Court – Civil discovery court shall proceed via Advanced Communication 

6. Hearings on motions, petitions, and Rules to Show Cause – All hearings on motions, 

petitions, and Rules to Show Cause shall proceed via Advanced Communication Technology 

7. Settlement Conferences - All settlement conferences – including settlement conferences by a 

trial judge or by a judge pro tem – shall proceed via Advanced Communication Technology 

8. Office of Judicial Records and Complex Litigation Center – Effective July 6, 2021, The 

Office of Judicial Records and the Complex Litigation Center shall be open to the public, 

without appointment, under normal business hours. 

Commerce Program 

1. In Person Proceedings- The Commerce Program will resume In-person operations.  When 

necessary and appropriate to ensure access and due process, remote and hybrid proceedings will 

be available at the sole discretion of each individual Commerce Judge and upon consideration of 

any parties or counsel. 

2. The matrix below further details the Commerce program proceedings.  

Technology. 

unless otherwise ordered. 

unless otherwise ordered. 

  C

  

Discovery Hearings  

In-person or Zoom 

Courtroom TBD 

n-person or Zoom 

ity Hall 531  

  I

  

Case Management 

Conferences  

Injunctions and other 

Hearings  

In-person or Zoom 

Courtroom TBD 

Status Conferences  

In-person or Zoom 

Courtroom TBD 

Settlement Conferences  

In-person or Zoom 

Off-Site 

Sequestration Conferences  

Virtual or telephonic  

Off-Site  

Pre-Trial Conferences  

In-person or Zoom  

Courtroom TBD 

Non-Jury Trials  

In-person or Zoom 

Courtroom TBD 

Jury Trials  

In-person 
 

Courtroom TBD 

ll Advanced Communication Technology for Civil proceedings will be via Zoom. 

Criminal Trial Division  

                  

1. Courthouse Admittance- The Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice will be 

open to the public as of July 6, 2021.  Prior approval will no longer be required.   

. Defendants in Custody- Only those inmates who test negative for COVID-19 at the prison 

will be transported to the Stout Center.  The number of inmates transported from the prison to the 

Stout Center will increase every two weeks in increments of 30, taking into consideration safety 

and health concerns and guidance.  On July 6, 2021, the transport number will increase from 90 

to 120 and continue to increase to its pre-pandemic transport number by then end of the month.    

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. Criminal Jury Trials- All criminal jury trials shall continue to proceed in person subject to 

the Court’s protocols published on the Court’s website and entitled, “Resumption of In-Person 

Jury Trials. During, the COVID-19 Judicial Emergency.” Such protocols are updated as 

appropriate, and counsel must review the most current published protocols prior to commencing 

4. All Other Criminal Proceedings- Consistent with the availability of judicial resources 

including courtrooms not already in use for in-person criminal jury trials, proceedings shall be 

held in person or as directed in further Notices to the Bar. The continued use of Advanced 

Communication Technology and other video proceedings shall continue until further Order of 

5. Adult Probation and Parole and Pre-Trial Services- To allow for proper notification of 

scheduled office visits to all of those under supervision, effective, Monday, August 2, 2021, 714 

Market Street will officially be open to the Public for in-person contact with clients.     

Advance notifications via telephone and letters shall be implemented to ensure proper reporting 

s/ Lisette Shirdan-Harris 

  /

  BY THE COURT:  

  

 

 

 

      _____________________________________ 

   HONORABLE LISETTE SHIRDAN-HARRIS 
   ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE 
   TRIAL DIVISION 

Other means of contact through phone reporting and Zoom contact will continue to be a part of 

the official contact. Field visits have resumed and will continue to expand. 

The Trial Division’s Court Protocols and Guidelines for the Expansion of Court Operations can 

be found on the First Judicial District’s Website at www.courts.phila.gov/covid-19 and may be 

amended periodically. 

a jury trial.  

Court. 

notice.  

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