FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA 

ADMINISTRATIVE GOVERNING BOARD 
OF THE FIRST JUDICIAL DISTRICT OF PENNSYLVANIA 
 
No. 27 of 2020 
 
In Re: Essential Dependent Juvenile Proceedings  
 
ORDER 
 
AND NOW, this 2nd day April, 2020, in accordance with the General Statewide Judicial 
 
Emergency Orders issued by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on March 18th, 2020 (Nos. 531 and 532 
Judicial Administration Docket) extended by Supplemental Order issued April 1, 2020, directing the 
closure of court facilities in all judicial districts as to non-essential functions, and authorizing in-person 
court proceedings in some emergency matters involving essential functions, and this Court’s Declaration 
of Emergency issued on March 16, 20020 and extended on April 1, 2020, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED 
AND DECREED THAT effective immediately:  
 

(a)  The Philadelphia Family Court building at 1501 Arch Street remains generally closed to the 

b)  General operations are suspended except as set forth in previously issued President Judge 

Administrative Order, Docket No. 15 of 2020, and as provided below:  

1) Shelter Care Hearings and Dependency Adjudicatory Hearings where the child is in 

placement including kinship care, congregate care, or foster care will be conducted pursuant 
to the following:  

public. 

  (

  (

 

 

 
 
 
 

(i)  Shelter Care Hearings and Dependency Adjudicatory Hearings shall be conducted at 

Philadelphia Family Court, 1501 Arch Street, in combination with Advanced 
Communication Technology.  

(ii)  Judges shall hear Dependency Adjudicatory Hearings and Dispositional Hearings where 
the child is in placement pursuant to Pa.R.J.C.P Rule 1404 (a). These hearings will be 
heard daily. 

o  Upon identification by Court Administration, the cases will be administratively 

listed.  Notification will be provided.   

 

(iii) The Court shall continue to conduct shelter care proceedings, pursuant to 42 Pa.C.S. 

§6332. Shelter care hearings will be heard every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  

(2)  With the agreement of all parties, reunification orders will be administratively granted 

 

 

(3)  The Court shall continue to issue orders for protective custody, pursuant to Pa. R.J.C.P. Rule 

(4)  The Court shall continue to be available to issue orders for Authorization for Medical 

Treatment of a Minor, pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. §3201.  

 

 

 
 
 
 

without a hearing.   
 

1210.  
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

BY THE COURT: 
 
 
/s/ Idee C. Fox   
_________________________________________ 
Idee C. Fox, President Judge 
Chair, Administrative Governing Board 
First Judicial District of Pennsylvania 
President Judge, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County