ORDER OF COURT 

AND NOW, this 21st day of August 2020, having previously declared a 

judicial  emergency  in  the  Fifth  Judicial  District  of  Pennsylvania,  this  Court 

further amends its Emergency Operations Order entered on May 28, 2020, as 

amended,  and  orders  that  the  following  actions  be  taken  in  the  Criminal 

Division, pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. No. 1952(B) (2): 

 

I. 

REMOTE PROCEEDINGS 

A.  During  the  judicial  emergency,  the  following  matters  in  the  Allegheny 
County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, shall presumptively 
be conducted remotely through Advanced Communication Technology: 

1.  Bail Hearings and Motions Court; 
2.  Motions for Continuance and other motions which do not require 

testimony; 
3.  Guilty Pleas; 
4.  Sentencing Hearings; 
5.  ARD Hearings; 
6.  Phoenix Docket and EDP Hearings; 

1 

 

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA 
 
WESTERN DISTRICT 

 

IN RE: AMENDED  
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT 
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 
PLAN  CRIMINAL DIVISION 
 

 

) 
) 
)  No. 23 WM 2020 
) 
) 
) 

     

       

   

7.  Review Hearings for SOC, Domestic Violence Court, Drug Court, 
DUI  Court,  Mental  Health  Court,  PRIDE  Court,  and  Veteran’s 
Court; 

8.  Probation Violation Hearings; 
9.  SOC Formal Arraignments. 

 

B.  Criminal  Division  proceedings  conducted  by  Advanced  Communication 
Technology shall be conducted primarily through Microsoft Teams. Other 
audio or videoconference methods may be employed with the approval 
of the Administrative Judge.  

 
C.  If  a 

judge 

in  a  particular  case  determines  that  extenuating 
circumstances  exist  that  justify  an  in-person  proceeding,  then  one  of 
the types of matters listed  in paragraph  I(A) above may be heard in-
person,  in  whole  or  in  part,  in  the  courtroom.    Extenuating 
circumstances may exist, for example, when an interpreter is required 
or where there is a likelihood that a sentence of imprisonment will be 
imposed after a guilty plea.  The Court shall make efforts to minimize 
the  number  of  people  present  for  these  in-person  matters  including 
allowing particular attorneys or witnesses to appear remotely.   

D. Recognizing the difficulty that defendants representing themselves may 
have using Advanced Communication Technology, such defendants may 
appear  in  person  for  any  matter  at  the  discretion  of  the  judge. 
Defendants  representing  themselves  may  also  appear  in  person  at 
Formal Arraignment or Pretrial Conferences. 

E.  Remote  matters  conducted 

through  Advanced  Communication 
Technology  shall  be  conducted  with  the  same  decorum  as  in-person 
matters.  

F.  Defense Counsel is encouraged to conduct Formal Arraignments without 
appearing  at  the  Formal  Arraignment  Office  pursuant  to  the  attached 
procedure.  

 

 

 

2 

 

G. Absent extenuating circumstances, Pretrial Conferences for represented 
telephone,  or 

conducted  by  email, 

should  be 

defendants 
videoconferencing.   
 
IN-PERSON MATTERS 
 

II. 

A.  Matters not listed in paragraph I(A) of this Order, which would otherwise 
be  conducted  in  person,  may  also  be  conducted  using  Advanced 
Communication Technology after consultation with the parties and if the 
defendant  consents  and  waives  his  or  her  confrontation  clause  rights 
and his or her right to be physically present. This may include matters 
such  as  non-jury  trials  or  pretrial  suppression  motions  in  which 
witnesses will be called. 

 

B.  All persons participating in an in-person court proceeding, including but 
not limited to, judges and judicial officers, attorneys, court employees, 
court reporters, witnesses, and spectators, are required to wear a mask 
or  face  covering  for  the  entire  proceeding.    The  judge  may  permit  a 
person to temporarily remove a mask or face covering to take testimony 
or  where  the  presence  of  a  mask  would  affect  the  ability  to  judge 
credibility, provided that the requirements set forth in the May 28, 2020 
Emergency Operations Plan Order, this Order, and the attached Criminal 
Division Procedures (as may be subsequently amended and posted on 
the website of the Fifth Judicial District) are followed. In such cases, the 
witness  will  be  required  to  wear  a  face  shield.    The  Court  shall  make 
efforts  to  minimize  the  number  of  people  present  for  all  in-person 
matters including allowing particular attorneys or witnesses to appear 
remotely.   

C.  Attorneys are strongly encouraged to only bring essential witnesses and 
participants to in-person court proceedings. Attorneys should encourage 
their clients to refrain from having non-participants accompany them to 
court proceedings.  

 

 

3 

 

 

 

 

 

D. Sidebar conferences are prohibited until further order of court. 

E.  The  Court  shall  continue  to  evaluate  the  circumstances  regarding  the 
pandemic  in  Allegheny  County  to  determine  an  appropriate  time  to 
resume  jury  trials.    A  separate  order  will  set  forth  additional 
requirements relating to resumption of jury trials. 

III.  CONDUCT OF COURT BUSINESS 

A.  Attorneys are to participate in Case Status Conferences as set forth in the 
attached Case Status Conference Procedures.  Judges or their staff may 
also  conduct  status  conferences  via  telephone  or  videoconferencing. 
Attorneys are required to participate in any such status conferences.  

B.  Absent  extenuating  circumstances  unique  to  a  particular  case,  inmates 
will not be transported to the courthouse for proceedings except for trials, 
hearings  on  matters  which  require  witnesses,  and  cases  where  an 
interpreter is necessary for an incarcerated defendant. 

C.  Attorneys are strongly encouraged to file motions (including motions to 
reduce bail), pleadings, and other documents through PACFile. Attorneys 
and self-represented parties shall add  their email address on the cover 
page of all filings with the Court as part of their contact information.  The 
Bail  Review  Request  Form  may  continue  to  be  utilized  and  emailed  to 
Pretrial 
at 
the 
https://www.alleghenycourts.us/criminal/pretrial_services/bail_services/
brr.aspx. 

Services 

website 

Court’s 

via 

D. All bail and miscellaneous motions for cases at the Court of Common Pleas 
level  that  are  assigned  a  CR  number,  should  be  filed  through  PACFile.  
Miscellaneous motions, however, may also be filed in person and brought 
to the motions counter in room 534 of the courthouse. All bail motions for 
cases at the Magisterial District Court level shall be filed by emailing the 
motion  (with  the  OTN  number  of  the  case  on  the  coversheet)  to 

4 

 

 

 

 

 

 

DCRCriminal@AlleghenyCounty.us.  A  copy  of  any  bail  motion,  at  either 
level,  and/or  a  Bail  Review  Request  form,  which  can  be  found  on  the 
Criminal Division page of Fifth Judicial District website, shall be submitted 
to PTS_Bail_Questions_Bin@alleghenycourts.us.  

E.  All motions to lift detainers should be filed through PACFile and emailed 
to the assigned judge and his/her staff but may be filed in person at the 
Department of Court Records and brought to the appropriate courtroom.  
Email addresses for Criminal Division Judges and staff are located on the 
Fifth Judicial District website. 

F.  Requests or Motions for Continuance should be liberally granted. 

G. Court  appearances  and  hearing  times  shall  be  staggered,  and  the 
Administrative  Judge  may  require  that  the  scheduling  of  cases  be 
centralized.  

H.  When  a  court  reporter  or  other  approved  form  of  recording  court 
proceedings  is  unavailable,  alternative  forms  of  recording  shall  be 
permitted. 

I.  Alternative methods of signing, delivery and service of court documents 
and orders shall be permitted.  Such methods may include, but are not 
limited to: 

1.  The signature of defense counsel on a defendant’s behalf; 

2.  The  signature  of  court  personnel  while  in  the  presence  of  the 
defendant  or  while  on  the  record,  with  the  defendant’s  verbal 
permission; 

3.  The faxed, scanned or electronic signature of a defendant; and 

4.  Other methods determined to be reliable by a judge. 

5 

 

6 

 

J.  Defendants who wish to address warrants for failure to appear may do so 
by phoning (412) 350-1229, Monday through Friday between 9:00 A.M. 
and 3:00 P.M.     

K.  Electronic  monitoring  supervision  by  the  Adult  Probation  Department 
continues to be available at the discretion of the Criminal Division judges. 

IV.  SAFETY PROVISIONS ENFORCEMENT 

A.  In addition to social distancing, masking, and other safety requirements 
set forth in the Emergency Operations Plan Order dated May 28, 2020, 
and this Order,  the attached  Criminal  Division Procedures (as may be 
subsequently amended and posted on the website of the Fifth Judicial 
District)  shall  be  followed  in  the  Criminal  Division  of  the  Allegheny 
County Court of Common Pleas. 

.  Sheriff’s deputies are authorized to deny admission or remove a person 
who is visibly ill or who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19.  Any person 
excluded  or  removed  for  health  concerns  shall  be  provided  with 
information  (telephone  number  or  email  address)  to  enable  them  to 
initiate,  participate 
in,  or  complete  necessary  essential  court 
business/functions during the judicial emergency. 

 

 

  B

 

C.  Sheriff’s deputies shall have the authority to enforce all of the conditions 
in this Order.  Persons who are not compliant with the safety provisions 
of this Order will be required to leave the court facility. 

V. 

 APPLICATION AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS ORDER 

A.   This Order does not apply to summary or statutory appeals or any cases 
scheduled to be heard at Pittsburgh Municipal Court or the Magisterial 
District Courts in the Fifth Judicial District. 
 

7 

 

B.  This Order shall be effective beginning on September 8, 2020 and shall 
replace section VI of the Emergency Operations Plan Order entered on 
May 28, 2020.  All other provisions of the Emergency Operations Plan 
Order entered on May 28, 2020 as amended, shall remain in effect.  The 
orders entered on July 23, 2020, July 24, 2020 and July 25, 2020 are 
vacated and replaced with this Order.  

 
BY THE COURT: 

Kim Berkeley Clark 
President Judge 

P. J. 

 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

 
 
 

   

CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Additional Courtroom Procedures 

Participants Who Cannot Be Heard Clearly While Wearing Masks 

  Paper  masks  will  be  provided  in  each  courtroom  where  the  judge 
determines that a witness, defendant or other participant cannot be heard 
or understood while wearing a cloth or other mask. 
 

  The  judge  may  permit  a  witness  to  temporarily  remove  a  mask  to  take 
testimony where the presence of a mask would adversely affect the ability 
to evaluate credibility.  In such cases, the witness will be required to wear 
a face shield but will put their mask back on whenever approached by an 
attorney. 

  A participant shall not be asked to lower or remove their mask at any time 
while  they  are  within  15  feet  of  another  person  unless  protected  by  a 
plexiglass partition.  

rivate Attorney/Client Communication in Courtroom 

  During  any  hearing  requiring  a  witness,  the  defendant,  defense  counsel, 
prosecutor,  and  affiant  will  each  be  provided  with  paper  and  a  pen  (if 
consistent with safety concerns of the Court, Deputy Sheriff, and attorneys) 
and will be permitted to write confidential notes to each other. The court 
may permit other means of confidential communication including providing 
for brief recesses or allowing the defendant and attorney to briefly exit the 
courtroom to confer consistent with safety concerns. 

arly arrival for court proceedings 

  Attorneys and witnesses arriving more than 30 minutes prior to a scheduled 
court event may be asked by the Court to leave and return later in order 
to  maintain  social  distancing  and  reduce  the  amount  of  people  in  the 
courtroom at any given time.  

igning of Subpoenas 

  Alternative methods of signing should be used to avoid contact between 

court staff and defendants. 

  

  P

  E

  S

   

 

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Document Transfer 

  All efforts shall be made to transfer as many documents as possible to 
court staff electronically.  When a physical document must be provided 
to  court  staff  in  a  courtroom,  it  shall  be  done,  whenever  possible,  by 
placing the document on a table provided for the exchange rather than 
by a direct hand- to-hand exchange.  
 

 

 

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Formal Arraignment Waiver 

The following steps must be taken by defense counsel to waive appearance at 
Formal Arraignment during the judicial emergency: 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Defense  counsel  must  enter  their  Appearance  on  behalf  of  the 

Defendant. 
 

  After the Praecipe for Appearance has been filed with the Department 
of Court Records, defense counsel may download and complete Waiver 
of  Appearance  at  Formal  Arraignment  form.    This  document  can  be 
found 
Website, 
https://www.alleghenycourts.us/Criminal/Default.aspx 

Judicial 

District 

Fifth 

the 

on 

  Once completed, the Waiver of Appearance at Formal Arraignment form 

must be forwarded to ccformalarraignment@alleghenycourts.us. 

  The  email  must  include  defense  counsel  and  the  defendant’s  phone 

number, email address, and mailing address.  

  The  Formal  Arraignment  Office  will  review  the  waiver  request  and 
determine  if  the  Criminal  Information  has  been  filed  by  the  District 
Attorney’s Office. 

  If  the  Criminal  Information  has  been  filed,  the  Formal  Arraignment 
Office will email the attorney of record the information and all paperwork 
along with the judge assignment and a subpoena for the Defendant to 
appear on the scheduled Pretrial Conference date or Phoenix Court date.  
When required, a Court Reporting Network (CRN) appointment will be 
included  in  the  paperwork;  the  defendant  shall  attend  the  scheduled 
CRN  appointment  and  complete  the  full  drug/alcohol  assessment,  if 
required, prior to the scheduled court date. 

  If the case is eligible for ARD, information will be provided to defense 
counsel  to  contact  the  District  Attorney’s  ARD  unit  and  complete  the 
ARD  interview.    Upon  receipt  of  the  ARD  paperwork  from  defense 
counsel  showing  that  the  defendant  has  been  accepted  into  the  ARD 
program, the Formal Arraignment Office will provide an ARD date and 
subpoena to defense counsel via email. 

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

  If the Criminal Information has not been filed, the Formal Arraignment 
Office will reschedule the Formal Arraignment date and notify defense 
counsel of the new date. 

  Defense Counsel will sign the subpoena on the defendant’s behalf with 
the defendant’s permission or will make arrangements for the defendant 
to sign the subpoena and return it to the Formal Arraignment Office by 
email. 

  Pretrial  Conferences  for  defendants  should  be  conducted  by  email, 
telephone, or videoconferencing, but may be conducted in person.   

  Defense  counsel  may  accept  a  subpoena  on  a  defendant’s  behalf  by 
completing  a  Waiver  of  Appearance  at  Pretrial  Conference.  This 
document  can  be  found  on  the  Fifth  Judicial  District  Website, 
https://www.alleghenycourts.us/Criminal/Default.aspx. 

  Defendants without an attorney must appear in person to schedule their 
cases,  unless  other  arrangements  have  been  made  by  court  staff,  in 
which case the Pretrial Conferences may be conducted by telephone or 
videoconferencing 
 

 

 

 

 

 

  

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

In-Person Proceedings 

Attorneys shall confer with their witnesses and clients prior to the hearing 
date to ensure that they are not exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 and are 
not awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.  Those exhibiting COVID-19 
symptoms or awaiting a test result are not permitted in any court facility.   
Information  on  appropriate  actions  to  take  when  experiencing  COVID-19 
at 
symptoms 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/index.html.   

website 

found 

CDC 

can 

the 

on 

be 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Attorneys  shall  notify  the  Court  of  any  witness  or  client  exhibiting 
symptoms or awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test.  Arrangements shall 
be  made  for  the  person  to  participate  remotely  or  the  matter  shall  be 
postponed. 

Taking  the  testimony  of  witnesses  through  Microsoft  Teams  is  strongly 
encouraged.    However,  when  a  witness  must  testify  in  person  in  a 
courtroom,  attorneys  will  be  responsible  for  management  of  their 
witnesses.  

Witnesses may be required to wait in designated areas of the Courthouse, 
outside  the  Courthouse  or  elsewhere  so  that  social  distancing  may  be 
maintained and  to reduce the amount of people in the courtroom at any 
time. 

Witnesses who wait in the hallways may not congregate and must socially 
distance.   

Attorneys  shall  inform  the  Court  of  the  status  and  location  of  their 
witnesses prior to the start of a proceeding so that the attorneys may be 
given  adequate  time  to  notify  and  call  each  witness  to  testify.    Upon 
conclusion  of  the  testimony,  the  witness  shall  be  excused  from  the 
courtroom  and  shall  leave  the  court  facility  unless  the  judge  or  judicial 
officer determines that there is a reason that the witness must remain in 
the court facility. 

The  taking  of  photographs  or  the  recording  of  any  proceeding  is  strictly 
prohibited.  Anyone violating this provision shall forfeit their cellular phone 
or device and shall be subject to contempt proceedings or other sanctions.  
Notwithstanding, with the permission of the presiding judge, an attorney 
may  use  a  cellular  telephone  to  summon  a  witness  waiting  in  another 
location or for such other purpose authorized by the judge. When a judge 
is on the bench, the attorney shall first request permission from the judge.  

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

ARD Procedures 

After  the  defendant  completes  the  ARD  interview  and  accepts  the  ARD 
offer, the defendant will receive a subpoena from the Court Arraignment 
Office with the hearing date and time noted.  

ARD  Court  staff  will  email  defense  counsel  (or  the  defendant,  if  not 
represented) the ARD Packet with instructions to complete it and return it 
at least 7 days prior to the ARD hearing date. 

ARD Court staff will email an invitation for the Microsoft Teams ARD Hearing 
to both the Defendant and Defense Counsel the week of the ARD hearing. 

The ARD Hearing and Admission into the ARD program will take place as 
scheduled through Microsoft Teams. 

Upon  the  conclusion  of  the  ARD  Hearing  on  Microsoft  Teams,  the  ARD 
Officer and defendants will remain on the Teams call so that the ARD Officer 
may review the ARD rules with the defendants. 

ARD Probation either will complete the intake interview at the conclusion 
of the ARD TEAMS hearing or will contact the defendant approximately one 
week  after  the  hearing.    If  a  defendant  has  not  had  an  intake  interview 
within 14 days of the ARD hearing, please contact the ARD office at 412-
350-4632.  

 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Phoenix Court Procedures 

 

 

 

 

  

On all Phoenix cases a full discovery packet, sentencing guidelines and offer 
are presented to the Defendant at the time of Formal Arraignment. 

 

The  Phoenix  Hearing  will  be  conducted  remotely  through  Advanced 
Communication  Technology  primarily  through  Microsoft  Teams  unless 
extenuating circumstances exist that justify an in-person proceeding.   

The  Remote  Plea  Packet  should  be  completed  and  sent  to  the  assigned 
courtroom staff two (2) business days before the assigned court date.  The 
protocol during the Plea Hearing via remote access will also be followed.   

If the Phoenix Offer is rejected, a Rejection of Phoenix Offer and Election 
to Proceed to Trial form must be completed and filed with the Court. 

A trial date will then be set by the Court and the Case Status Conference 
protocol must be then followed. 

 

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Case Status Conferences (CSC) 

ll attorneys will be required to engage in an audio and/or video case status 
conference with opposing counsel in every case at least one week prior to the 
next  scheduled  court  date  during  which  the  following  matters  must  be 
addressed: 

  Whether  any  plea  offers  have  been  made;  all  plea  negotiations  must 

occur before the CSC deadline; 
 

  If a plea offer has been made and the defendant intends to reject the 
plea offer and proceed to trial, the rejection of the offer shall be placed 
on  the  record.    The  court,  in  its  discretion,  may  notify  the  defendant 
that, once the plea is rejected and the case is scheduled for trial, the 
Court will no longer accept a negotiated plea; 

  If  a  plea  offer  will  not  be  made,  a  determination  will  be  made  as  to 
whether  the  case  is  ready  to  proceed  to  jury  or  nonjury  trial.    If  the 
parties are not prepared to proceed, a postponement request must be 
via 
submitted 
https://www.alleghenycourts.us/criminal/MotionForContinuance.aspx 
at least four (4) business days before the next court date. Postponement 
requests submitted in this fashion will be granted or denied by the end 
of the next business day after submission. 
 

electronically 

After the CSC is complete, but in no event later than 4 business days before 
the next court listing, the Prosecutor shall submit an email to the minute clerk 
and  the  designated  court  staff  for  each  courtroom,  with  a  copy  to  defense 
counsel, which shall include the following: 
 

  Defendant’s name, 
  Date of proceeding, 
  Attorneys’ names and email addresses (prosecution and defense), 
  Defendant’s  contact  information,  including  their  email  address  if  the 

proceeding is to take place remotely, 

  Whether the case will resolve by plea, nonjury or jury trial or whether a 

postponement request will be submitted and by whom; 

  Whether any motions are pending and, if so, whether any such motion 

requires a hearing with or without witnesses; 

  Whether  the  defendant  and  witnesses  and  victims  necessary  for  the 

scheduled proceeding have been contacted. 

  A

 

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CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

ounsel shall not send multiple CSC emails on the same case as such emails 
burden the court staff, overwhelm their email accounts and create confusion.  
  
When a matter is scheduled as a remote plea or hearing, all paperwork shall 
be emailed to court staff 48 hours prior to the scheduled plea or hearing date, 
or, in the case of a defendant who is incarcerated, 24 hours prior to the plea 
or hearing date including: 

  Plea Packet 
  Sentencing Guidelines 
  Restitution Form 
  Other forms required for SORNA or Domestic Violence cases 

f a case will be proceeding to trial, the parties are encouraged to stipulate to 
any evidence or testimony, where possible, to avoid the need for witnesses to 
be  called  to  testify.  If  stipulations  may  be  furthered  by  a  party  making  a 
potential  witness  available  via  conference  call  with  all  counsel,  counsel  are 
encouraged  to  utilize  this  method  or  other  similar  opportunities  to  further 
discussions  regarding  possible  stipulations.  Where  stipulations  cannot  be 
reached  regarding  the  testimony  of  a  witness,  the  parties  should  discuss 
whether any witnesses might be permitted to testify via video. 

n a matter which is to proceed remotely, exhibits should be exchanged via 
email  between the  parties at least 24  hours prior to  the  proceeding, with  a 
copy to court staff. If a  party  believes that circumstances exist  that a  prior 
exchange of a particular exhibit should not occur, the issue should be brought 
to the Court’s attention though the Case Status Conference process.    

hen  a  defense  attorney  has  been  unable  to  contact  the  defendant,  the 
Prosecutor shall not bring in any witnesses but shall have them available by 
phone  in  the  event  that  a  previously  “unreachable”  defendant  appears  and 
determines to enter a guilty plea. 

f the defendant then fails to appear on their scheduled court date, a warrant 
shall be issued.  

f  the  defendant  does  appear  on  their  scheduled  date,  the  courtroom  staff 
should  direct  the  defendant  to  the  location  previously  supplied  by  defense 
counsel  so  that  the  defendant  can  make  contact  with  defense  counsel.  The 
case may proceed in a manner that does not require witnesses such as a plea, 
or  a  stipulated  non-jury  trial,  or  other  method  agreed  upon  by  the  parties.  

  C

  I

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Otherwise, a short defense postponement may be granted with a definite date 
for trial.   

rosecutors shall make every effort to contact their witnesses well in advance 
of  the  scheduled  court  date  and  shall  comply  with  the  requirements  of  the 
Case Status Conferences or status conferences held by judges and their staff.   

hen  a  Prosecutor  has  been  unable  to  contact  a  witness  or  victim,  the 
prosecutor  shall  include  on  any  postponement  request,  the  efforts  made  to 
contact the witness or victim.   

f a Commonwealth postponement is not granted, defense counsel shall not 
bring in any witnesses but shall have the defendant available by phone in the 
event the Commonwealth witness or victim does appear for the proceeding on 
the specified date. 

n the event the Commonwealth witnesses do not  appear  on  the scheduled 
court date, the case may be nolle prossed, dismissed or, at the discretion of 
the judge, a postponement maybe granted on that date.  

f the Commonwealth witness or victim does appear on the scheduled court 
date, the case may proceed in a manner that does not require witnesses such 
as  a  plea,  stipulated  non-jury  trial,  or  other  method  agreed  upon  by  the 
parties.  Otherwise,  a  short  Commonwealth  postponement  shall  be  granted 
with a definite date for trial.   

All defendants without counsel will be required to engage in a CSC with the 
assigned prosecutor consistent with the above procedures. Prior to the CSC, 
the assigned prosecutor will notify the Office of the Public Defender that the 
defendant  is  unrepresented  so  that  the  defendant  can  be  provided  counsel 
from  the  Office  of  the  Public  Defender  or  the  Office  of  Conflict  Counsel  to 
explain the following:  

  The right to counsel for future court proceedings; 
  The right to have counsel appointed if the defendant is unable to afford 

an attorney; and  

  If the defendant elects to proceed pro se, the fact that counsel will serve 

as a third-party witness to ensure the CSC is fairly conducted.  

  P

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Designated Staff to Receive CSC Emails for Each Courtroom 

 

JUDGE 

ADDITIONAL 
STAFF 

EMAIL 

MINUTE CLERK 

EMAIL 

Bruce R. Beemer 

Diana Colosimo 

DColosimo@alleghenycourts.us 

Janine McVay 

McVayJ@alleghenycourts.us 

Alexander P. Bicket 

Carley Donnelly 

CDonnelly@alleghenycourts.us 

Kathy Burford 

KBurford@alleghenycourts.us 

Kelly E.  Bigley 

Teri Michaels 

TMichaels@alleghenycourts.us 

John D'Abruzzo 

JD'Abruzzo@alleghenycourts.us 

Edward J. Borkowski 

Pamela Farrell 

Pam.Farrell@alleghenycourts.us 

John Halloran  
John Matter - ARD 

John.Halloran@alleghenycourts.us  
JMatter@alleghenycourts.us 

David R. Cashman 

Wendy Hayes 

Wendy.Hayes@alleghenycourts.us  Derek Smith 

DJSmith@alleghenycourts.us 

John J. Driscoll 

Mary Angela Ogg 

MOgg@alleghenycourts.us 

Lindsay Williamson 

LWilliamson@alleghenycourts.us 

Susan F. Evashavik 
DiLucente 

Mary Lou Conroy  mlconroy@alleghenycourts.us 

Dan Cregan 

DCregan@alleghenycourts.us 

Thomas E.  Flaherty 

Sarah Deasy 

SDeasy@alleghenycourts.us 

Karen Cirrincione 

Karen.Cirrincione@alleghenycourts.us 

Judy Sarna  
(Law Clerk) 

Beth A.  Lazzara 

jsarna@alleghenycourts.us 

Tim Palmer 

TPalmer@alleghenycourts.us 

Jeffrey A. Manning 

Sandy Leasure 

Michele Kearney 

MKearney@alleghenycourts.us 

Sandy.Leasure@alleghenycourts.u
s 

Anthony M. Mariani 

Christen Hobaugh  CHobaugh@alleghenycourts.us 

Christa Buchewicz 

CBuchewicz@alleghenycourts.us 

Lester G. Nauhaus 

Lucille Trobaugh 

LTrohaugh@alleghenycourts.us 

Sandy Evans 

Sandy.Evans@alleghenycourts.us 

Jill E. Rangos 

Shana Kemerer 

SKemerer@alleghenycourts.us 

Laura Gettings 

LGettings@alleghenycourts.us 

Kevin G. Sasinoski 

Stephanie Ewing 

SEwing@alleghenycourts.us 

Candice Kelly 

CKelly@alleghenycourts.us 

Randall B. Todd 

Gwyn Behr 

GBehr@alleghenycourts.us 

Elizabeth Collins 

ECollins@alleghenycourts.us 

Mark V. Tranquilli  

Mary Angela Ogg 

MOgg@alleghenycourts.us 

Lindsay Williamson 

LWilliamson@alleghenycourts.us 

John A. Zottola 

Marie Zottola 

MZottola@alleghenycourts.us 

Toni Snelsire 

TSnelsire@alleghenycourts.us 

11 
 

Revision August 20, 2020 
 

CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Remote Pleas 

hen a matter is scheduled as a remote plea or hearing, all paperwork shall 
be emailed to court staff 48 hours prior to the scheduled plea or hearing date, 
or, in the case of a defendant who is incarcerated, 24 hours prior to the plea 
or hearing date. 

If the case will be a plea, the following paperwork should be included: 

  Request for Remote Hearing * 
  Instructions for Scheduling a Remote Plea * 
  Guilty Plea Colloquy * 
  Waiver of Rights and Consent to Plea/Sentencing by Video Conference*  
  Adult Probation Intake Form * 
  General Rules and Condition of Probation Acknowledgement Form * 
  Sentencing Guidelines 
  Restitution Form 

*Denotes items the are included in the Plea Packet. 

f the case is a Domestic Violence case, include also:  

  Order of Relinquishment 

f the case is a SORNA case, include also:  

  Specific Special Conditions of Probation 
  General Rules and Condition of Probation Acknowledgement Form 
  Sexual Offender Registration/Notification Act (SORNA) Colloquy 

 

The SORNA Packet includes these 3 forms as well as all of the forms in the 
Plea Packet denoted by * above.  

 

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    I

 

    I

 

   

12 
 

Revision August 20, 2020 
 

13 
 

Revision August 20, 2020 
 

CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Miscellaneous Motions 

pdated instructions and forms for filing Miscellaneous Motions in Motions 

Court can be found at: 

https://www.alleghenycourts.us/criminal/MiscellaneousMotions.aspx. 

 

  U

 

  Request for Remote Hearing 
  Instructions for Scheduling a Remote Plea 
  Guilty Plea Colloquy 
  Waiver of Rights and Consent to Plea/Sentencing by Video Conference 
  Adult Probation Intake Form 
  General Rules and Condition of Probation Acknowledgement Form 

ARD Packet – includes: 

  Instructions for Scheduling a Remote ARD Hearing 
  Explanation of ARD Proceeding 
  Waiver of Rights and Consent to Entry into ARD by Video Conference 
  PAePay Instructions 
  General Rules for ARD Probationers 

SORNA Plea Packet – includes: 

  Request for Remote Hearing 
  Instructions for Scheduling a Remote Plea 
  Guilty Plea Colloquy 
  Waiver of Rights and Consent to Plea/Sentencing by Video Conference 
  Charge Specific Special Conditions of Probation 
  Adult Probation Intake Form 
  General Rules and Condition of Probation Acknowledgement Form 
  Sexual Offender Registration/Notification Act (SORNA) Colloquy 

 

Order of Relinquishment (for Domestic Violence Cases) 

Nolo Contendere Colloquy 

Guilty Plea Colloquy 

Waiver of Rights and Consent to Plea/Sentencing by Video Conference 

Waiver of Rights and Consent to Non-Jury by Video Conference 

14 
 

Revision August 20, 2020 
 

CRIMINAL DIVISION PROCEDURES 

Criminal Division Forms 

Criminal Division forms may be found at 
https://www.alleghenycourts.us/Criminal/Default.aspx 

aiver of Appearance at Formal Arraignment  

Waiver of Appearance at Pretrial Conference 

Plea Packet – includes: 

  W