Here is the text we could read:
Filed 06/25/2021 Supreme Court Eastern District
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
r
JUN 2 5 2021
Docket No. 21 EM 2020
EASTERN USTRICT
In Re: First Judicial District of Pennsylvania's Request Pursuant to Pa.R.J.A.
1952(B)(2)(m) to Temporarily Suspend or Modify Statewide Court Rules Regarding
Prompt Trials and Utilization of Advanced Communication Technoloy
AND NOW, this a day of June, 2021, Idee C. Fox, President Judge and
.•
Chair of the Administrative Governing Board of the First Judicial District of
Pennsylvania, hereby requests the temporary suspension or modification of statewide
rules, by Order of the Supreme Court pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. 1952(B)(2)(m) as follows:
1. Suspend
a. In that there has been confusion regarding the suspension of Rule of
Criminal Procedure 1013, confirm that said Rule has been suspended
since March 17, 2020 and remains suspended through August 31, 2021;
and confirm the continued suspension of Rule of Criminal Procedure 600
to August 31, 2021 so that the time period between March 17, 2020 and
August 31,` 2021 shall be excluded from the time calculations, and shall
not be attributed to the Commonwealth or to the Defendant.
b. Rule of Criminal Procedure 119A and 908 to allow continued use of
advanced communication technology ACT in preliminary hearings, jury
selection, bench trials, sentencing hearings, parole, probation, and
intermediate punishment revocation hearings, Post Conviction Relief Act
hearings and motion hearings. All judges and staff will preside in the
courtroom and the court facilities. During the pandemic, the First
Judicial District remained operational and has expanded operations. The
use of ACT allows for continued prompt disposition of matters especially
for Defendants incarcerated in Philadelphia and out-of-county facilities.
The Department of Corrections has not yet resumed transportation of
inmates. In addition, transportation of inmates in other counties has not
yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. The use of ACT has been favorably
received by our justice partners in that it has proven efficient and
effective. Municipal Court has conducted preliminary hearings using ACT
and its continued use will allow for further prompt resolution of cases,
and resolution of any inventory. Again, this has been favorable received
by our justice partners.
2. The circumstances necessitating this Request include the following:
a. Resolution of matters in which Defendant is incarcerated and cannot be
transported
b. Avoid delay by in the resolution of matters
c. Enable justice partners to effectively and efficiently resolve cases
d. Allow time for the court to effectively and efficiently continue the FJD's
continued expansion of operations in conjunction with all criminal
justice partners.
3. All of which necessitate the continued utilization of the above measures
which have enabled to First Judicial District to conduct and resume judicial
proceedings consistent with the Supreme Court orders issued from time to
time at Nos. 531 and 532 Judicial Administration Docket, including. Orders
issued on April 28, 2021, May 27, 2021 and June 21, 2021. All ACT
proceedings will be originated and operated from the Courtroom, with judge
and staff present.
4. Notice of this request for the temporary suspension or modification of
statewide rules been or will be:
a. Posted on the court's website;
b. Distributed to the Philadelphia Bar Association for further distribution;
c. Submitted to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts for
publication pursuant to Rule of Judicial Administration No. 1952(C)(5);
and
d. Published in The Legal Intelligencer, the legal publication designated by
the court for publication of legal notices.
5. Interested parties are advised that objections to any emergency judicial
order issued by the Supreme Court should be transmitted to the Supreme
Court Prothonotary.
dIa' Le 1,/
Date:
Honorable Idee C. Fox,
President Judge, Court of Common Pleas
Chair, Administrative Governing Board of the
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania
