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IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LYCOMING COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
IN RE:
29th JUDICIAL DISTRCT OPBRATIONS
DURING STATEWIDE JTIDICIAL
EMERGENCY
MD-20-00006
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ADMINISTRATIVB ORDER ,
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ADMINISTRATIVEORDER
Pursuant to the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's declaration of a statewide
judicial emergency to safeguard the health and safety of court personnel, .ou.t ,.e.r"t)and
members of the public due to the circumstances surrounding the COVID-l9 virus, on
March 16,2020, the President Judge of the 29th Judicial District of Pennsylvania declared
a judicial emergency through April 14, 2020, and immediately instituted measures to
protect court personnel, court users, and members of the public.
AND NOW, this 27th day of March 2020, the President Judge of the 29th Judicial
District is hereby extending the closure of the Courts of the 29th Judicial District to
the public as to non-essential functions through April 14,2020, and memorializing the
following safety measures that have been implemented in the District through
April 14, 2020 (unless a different date is indicated below):
l. The Courthouse and all Magisterial District Courts of the 29th Judicial
District are closed to the public as to non-essential functions through
April 14,2020.
2. court employees will not be attending off-site conferences or trainings.
3. Court events and meetings will be rescheduled or held via teleconference.
4. Inmates will not be transported from the Lycoming County Prison or Pre-release
Center for court proceedings. Incarcerated defendants will participate in court
proceedings by video conference.
5. Jury selection currently scheduled for March 30-April 3,2020, is cancelled. All
jury trials scheduled for the trial term April through May have been continued.
6. Pursuant to the Supreme Court Order dated March 18,2020, all time calculations
and deadlines relevant to court cases or other judicial business are suspended
through April 3, 2020; and legal papers or pleadings required to be filed between
March 19,2020, and April 3,2020, shall be deemed to have been timely filed if
they are filed by April 6, 2020.
7. The operation of Rule of Criminal Procedure 600 shall be suspended in the 29th
Judicial District through April 14,2020, pursuant to the Supreme Court's Order
and the President Judge's declaration ofjudicial emergency both dated March 16,
2020.
8. Pursuant to the Supreme Court's Order dated March 18, 2020, the Lycoming
County Court of Common Pleas will continue to perform the following
essential functions during the court closure:
a. Emergency bail review and habeas corpus hearings;
b. Gagnon 1 (probation/parole violation) hearings;
c. Bench warrant hearings pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal
Procedure 150;
d. Juveniiedelinquencydetention;
e. Juvenile emergency shelter and detention hearings;
i Temporary protection from abuse hearings;
g. Emergency petitions for child custody or pursuant to any provision ofthe
Juvenile Act;
h. Emergency petitions for guardianship;
i. Civil mental health reviews (50 P.S. g 7302);
j. Emergency equity civil matters (injunctions and stays); and
k. Any pleading or motion relating to public health concems and involving
immediate and irreparable harm.
9. Additionally, preliminary hearings, arraignments, guilty pleas, and sentencings./or
incarcerated defendants wlll be held via video conference.
10. To the extent possible, the Lycoming County Court of Common Pleas will
conduct as many essential function proceedings as possible utilizing telephone or
video conference in order to limit person-to-person contact.
11. To the extent non-essential matters can be handled via telephone or video
conference, those matters will proceed as scheduled.
12. The Govemor of Pennsylvania's issuance of a "stay at home" order with respect to
Lycoming County will have no effect on existing child custody orders and the
travel necessary to effectuate them.
13. The filing of documents with regard to all non-essential functions (any matters
not llsted above) are strongly encouraged to be made via U.S. mail to the office of
the Lycoming County Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts or Lycoming County Register
and Recorder. If filing via U.S. mail is not possible, documents may be filed via
the "filing drop box" located in the lobby of the Courthouse. The document and
filing fee (check or money order only) must be in a closed envelope addressed to
the appropriate filing ofhce and a self-addressed, prepaid envelope must be
enclosed for the retum of a receipt for payment of filing fees and time-stamped
copy of the document. If proper payment is not included, the document will be
retumed to the sender unfiled.
14. The filing of documents with regard to essential functions (those matters listed
above) may be made via U.S. mail or via the.,filing drop box,' located in the
lobby of the courthouse. The document and firing fee (check or money order
only) must be in a closed envelope addressed to the appropriate filing office and a
self-addressed, prepaid envelope must be enclosed for the retum of a receipt for
payment of filing fees and time-stamped copy of the document. If proper payment
is not included, the document will be retumed to the sender unfiled. Additionally,
15. The offices of the Lycoming county prothonotary/clerk of Courts and Register
and Recorder will distribute copies of court orders/filings to local attomeys via
email to the email address listed on the Lycoming Law Association web page.
Otherwise, distribution will be made via U.S. mail.
16. Pursuant to the Supreme Court's Order dated March lg, 2020, the Lycoming
county Magisterial District courts will continue to perform the following
essential functions during the court closure:
a. Preliminary arraignments (bail setting) for bailable cases;
b. Criminal case filings and subsequent processing;
c. Preliminary hearings for incarcerated persons only;
d. Issuance ofsearch warrants; and
e. Emergency protection from abuse petitions.
17. To the extent possible, the Magisterial District courts will conduct as many of the
essential function proceedings as possible utilizing telephone or video conference
in order to limit person-to-person contact.
18. All non-essential function proceedings in the Magisterial District courts will be
continued to a date after April 14,2020.
19. No in-person payments will be accepted in the Magisterial District Courts.
Payments must be made online at
httrrs://uisoortal.nacourts.us/PavOnline.asnx or via U.S. mail.
20. The Magisterial District Courts will accept filings made via U.S. mail only.
21.Individuals on supervision will not report to the Adult probation and Juvenile
Probation offices. Adult and Juvenile Probation will supervise these individuals
in the field or via advanced communication technology. Those individuals under
supervision who have questions should contact their assigned probation officer.
22. The Domestic Relations office will take measures to limit the number of
individuals reporting to its office. Those with questions should contact the
Domestic Relations Office for additional information.
23. The Govemor of Pennsylvania's issuance of a..stay at home,, order with respect to
Lycoming county will have no effect on the courts' continuation of the essential
functions described in this order.
24. Events are very fluid and are continually subject to change as additional
information becomes available. Questions or concems should be directed to the
Office of the District Court Administrator at 570-327 -2330 or to the applicable
Magisterial District Court.
*6
President Judge
cc: u(lancy L. Butts, President Judge
Adrianne J. Stahl, District Court Administrator
Board of Commissioners
Matthew A. McDermott, Director of Administration
Stephanie Tribble, Director of the Domestic Relations Office
Edward McCoy, Chief Adult Probation Officer
Edward Robbins, Chief Juvenile Probation Officer
Tom Heap, Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts
Dave Huffman, Register and Recorder
Ryan C. Gardner, District Attomey
Nicole Spring, Chief Public Defender
Mark Lusk, Sheriff
MDJ Aaron S. Biichle
MDJ Christian D. Frey
MDJ Jon E. Kemp
MDJ Jerry C. Lepley
MDJ William C. Solomon
MDJ Gary A. Whiteman
Lycoming Law Association
No(h Penn Legal Services
Wise Options
CYS
MHID
