Here is the text we could read:
IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
WESTERN DISTRICT
IN RE: TEMPORARY AMENDMENT
TO FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
PLAN
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) No. 23 WM 2020
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ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this 20th day of November 2020, this Court recognizes, that
due to the rising number of positive COVID tests in Allegheny County, further
efforts must be made reduce the amount of people present in court facilities
while keeping the courts open to the public. Accordingly, the Court
temporarily amends its Emergency Operations Order entered on August 31,
2020 and it is hereby ORDERED that the following measures be taken
pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. No. 1952(B)(2) effective Tuesday November 24, 2020
through Friday December 4, 2020:
Court of Common Pleas
During this period of time, all matters, shall be conducted remotely via
Advanced Communication Technology and no
in-person hearings or
proceedings shall occur in any division of the Court of Common Pleas other
than as set forth below. All proceedings that can be conducted remotely shall
proceed as scheduled. Persons summoned to appear for jury selection from
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Tuesday, November 24, 2020 through Friday, December 4, 2020 shall not be
required to appear.
Postponements
• All proceedings scheduled between November 24, 2020 and December
4, 2020 that cannot be conducted using Advanced Communication
Technology shall be postponed to a date certain after December 4, 2020
pursuant to the procedures for each division.
• Parties with Civil Division jury trials scheduled within this time
period should contact Civil Division Calendar Control to reschedule the
jury trial. The Calendar Control Department can be contacted by
emailing Denise.seibel@alleghenycourts.us or, by calling 412-350-
5417.
• Parties with an in-person arbitration hearing scheduled during this
period may request that their hearing be rescheduled to another date to
proceed remotely using Advanced Communication Technology. Parties
requesting a remote ACT arbitration hearing shall do so utilizing the
forms, instructions and protocols found on the Court’s website
at https://www.alleghenycourts.us/civil/arbitration.aspx.
In-Person Hearings
ICC Hearings for incarcerated individuals shall proceed as scheduled in
the Family Division, with as many participants appearing by Advanced
Communication Technology as possible, including witnesses and
attorneys.
All Court of Common Pleas facilities shall remain open to the public and open
for case filings including, but not limited to:
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• The Criminal Division Miscellaneous Motions Counter, Room 534 for
acceptance of filings;
• The Formal Arraignment section, Room 519, for those defendants with
a scheduled formal arraignment who have not waived their presence;
• The Civil Division Housing Court Help Desk for assistance to landlords
and tenants.
Magisterial District Courts
The operations in the Magisterial District Courts are temporarily modified as
follows:
Postponements
• All Summary Non-Traffic/Traffic proceedings scheduled between
November 24, 2020 and December 31, 2020, shall be postponed to a
date certain after January 1, 2021.
• All Civil and Landlord-Tenant proceedings scheduled between November
24, 2020 and December 4, 2020 shall be postponed to a date certain
after December 4, 2020.
• Preliminary hearings for individuals on bail scheduled between
November 24, 2020 and December 4, 2020, shall be postponed to a
date certain after December 4, 2020.
There will be no in-person hearings in the Magisterial District Courts
In-Person Hearings
except:
Preliminary Hearings for incarcerated individuals shall proceed as
scheduled, with as many participants appearing by Advanced
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Communication Technology as possible, including witnesses and
attorneys.
Emergency PFA Petitioners may appear in person to present their
petitions per the August 31, 2020 Emergency Operations Order.
Preliminary Arraignments will proceed per the August 31, 2020
Emergency Operations Order.
The Magisterial District Courts shall remain open to the public and open for
case filings, payments and case processing.
Pittsburgh Municipal Court
The operations in Pittsburgh Municipal Court are temporarily modified as
follows:
Postponements
Non-Traffic summary proceedings scheduled between November 24,
2020 and December 31, 2020, shall be postponed to a date certain
after January 1, 2021.
Preliminary hearings for individuals on bail scheduled between
November 24, 2020 and December 4, 2021, shall be postponed to a
date certain after January 1, 2021.
In-Person Hearings
There will be no in-person hearings at Pittsburgh Municipal Court except:
Traffic summary proceedings will take place in person as scheduled
at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Preliminary Hearings for incarcerated individuals shall proceed as
scheduled, with as many participants appearing by Advanced
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Communication Technology as possible, including witnesses and
attorneys.
Emergency PFA Petitioners may appear in person to present their
petition per the August 31, 2020 Emergency Operations Order.
Preliminary Arraignments will proceed per the August 31, 2020
Emergency Operations Order.
Pittsburgh Municipal Court shall remain open to the public and open for case
filings, payments and case processing.
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All other provisions of the Emergency Operations Plan Order entered on
August 31, 2020 shall remain in effect. All Court facilities shall remain open
to the public and open for case filings and other business except as described
above. Further Order of Court will be issued on or before December 4, 2020.
BY THE COURT:
Kim Berkeley Clark
President Judge
, P. J.
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