FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT of PENNSYLVANIA

COVID-19 RESPONSE AS OF March 15, 2020:

As of today, March 15th, 2020, the First Judicial District, with the exception of the events specified below, remains open 
and operational. We’ve continued to rely upon the guidance of the Administrative Offices of the Pennsylvania Courts, 
the Philadelphia Health Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention during this time to both limit 
potential exposure and fulfill our responsibility to the citizens of Philadelphia by keeping our services available.

While we understand the actions of our surrounding counties, and their implications upon many of lawyers, witnesses, and 
other parties to cases in the area, as of now, Philadelphia has not been as impacted by such restrictions. The Administrative 
Governing Board has been monitoring the situation and discussing options should a curtailment of operations be 
warranted. This remains a fluid situation and we will advise all members of the Bar and public when changes arise.

As noted above, the following changes to court operations have been made:

1) Supervised Visits at the Court Nursery located at 1500 Arch Street, Family Court Building, have been cancelled for 
Sunday, March 15th and Sunday, March 22nd, 2020. Visits will reconvene on Sunday, March 29th, 2020.

2) Mortgage Conciliation Conferences previously scheduled in Courtroom 676 City Hall on March 19th and March 26th, 
2020 are cancelled and will be rescheduled.

3) Tax Petition Conferences scheduled in Court Room 676 City Hall, on March 17th, 18th, 24th, 25th, and March 31st, 
2020 are cancelled and will be rescheduled.

4) Sheriff Tax Sales have been postponed as follows:

Sale on March 18, 2020 is postponed to April 15, 2020

Sale on March 24, 2020 is postponed to April 21, 2020

Sale on March 26, 2020 is postponed to April 23, 2020

5) We are limiting the number of subpoenaed jurors to fewer than 200 and have instructed those jurors who are unable to 
report to call 215-683-7170 during business hours or email us at jury@courts.phila.gov.  They can also message us 24/7 on 
Twitter: @PhilaCourtsJury or on Facebook: Phila JuryCommission

6) All Sequestration Conferences scheduled for the week of March 16th and the week of March 23rd in conference room 
531 City Hall are cancelled and will be rescheduled to a later date.

7) Case continuance requests will be granted should an attorney, witness, or party to a case be unable to, due to travel 
restrictions or other COVID-19-related precautions, attend court.

At this time, all other Court functions remain operational and Court facilities remain open. But again, we will be certain 
toadvise all members of the Bar and public when changes arise.

Idee C. Fox
President Judge – Court of Common Pleas
Chair of the Administrative Governing Board