AND  NOW,  this  4th  day  of  October,  2021,  the  Request  Pursuant  to  Pa.R.J.A. 

1952(B)(2)(m)  and  (s),  which  seeks  permission  for  the  President  Judge  of  the 

Philadelphia  Municipal  Court  to  suspend  temporarily  certain  procedural  rules,  is 

GRANTED, IN PART.   

The President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court is authorized to suspend 

rules  that  restrict  the  use  of  advanced  communication  technology  (ACT)  in  court 

proceedings, subject to state and federal constitutional limitations, through November 1, 

2021. 

Judges  shall  be  present  in  the  courthouse,  judicial center, or other  court  facility 

whenever  a  proceeding  is  being  conducted  by  ACT,  except  for  extraordinary 

circumstances,  such  as  when  court  properties  have  been  closed  due  to  inclement 

weather or other emergency under Pa.R.J.A. Nos. 1950-1954, or when a proceeding is 

not being conducted during normal business hours.   

The request of the President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court to suspend 

Rules of Criminal Procedure 600 and 1013 through November 15, 2021, is DEFERRED, 

pending further order of this Court.   Any individual or entity interested in the President 

Judge’s request to suspend Rules 600 and 1013 through November 15, 2021, is allowed 

to file a reply in this Court.  The deadline for such replies is October 12, 2021.   

     

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ORDER 

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA 
EASTERN DISTRICT 
 

IN RE:  FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF 
PENNSYLVANIA 

No. 21 EM 2020 

ER CURIAM 

 

 
 

  P

The Prothonotary is DIRECTED to serve this order on the Defender Association of 

Philadelphia, the District Attorney of Philadelphia, the Office of Attorney General, and the 

American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania.   

[21 EM 2020] - 2