AND  NOW,  this  11th  day  of  June  2020,  this  Court  having  declared  a 

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

clarifies  and  modifies  its  previous  Amended  Emergency  Operations  Order 

entered  on  May  28,  2020  as  set  forth  below.    All  other  provisions  of  the 

Amended Fifth Judicial District Emergency Operations Plan entered on May 28, 

2020 remain in effect.      

ublic Access to court Facilities 

  All court facilities, including the courtrooms in all Divisions of the Court 

of  Common  Pleas,  the  Magisterial  District  Courts  and  the  City  of 

Pittsburgh  Municipal  Court,  will  be  open  to  the  public  for  matters  as 

specified in the Amended Emergency Operations Order entered on May 

28, 2020.  

 

the court facility. 

  Persons  must  wear  masks  to  enter  and  remain  in  any  court  facility.  

Persons who are not compliant with this order, will be required to leave 

   

   

  

  P

   ORDER OF COURT 

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA 
 
WESTERN DISTRICT 

No.  23 WM 2020 

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IN RE: CLARIFICATION AND  
MODIFICATION OF THE AMENDED 
FIFTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT 
EMERGENCY OPERATIONS 
PLAN  ENTERED ON MAY 28, 2020 
 

 

  Persons who enter any court facility shall comply with CDC and Health 

Department  recommendations  for  social  distancing  as  well  as  any 

signage  posted  in  court  facilities  or  instructions  from  a  judge,  judicial 

officer,  Sheriff’s  deputy,  police  officer,  constable,  building  security 

guard, or court employee. 

  The public and the news media shall be permitted into court facilities to 

observe  court  proceedings  that  are  ordinarily  open  to  the  public,  but 

only in  a manner  that is  consistent with public safety.  Cameras  shall 

not  be  used  in  any  court  facility,  unless  specifically  authorized  by  the 

President Judge, Administrative Judge of a Division, or the District Court 

Administrator. 

 

  Sheriff’s  deputies,  police,  constables,  and  building  security  guards 

assigned to court facility assigned to any court facility 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. 

 

  Only  persons  with  essential  court  business  are  guaranteed  admission 

into  any  court  facility  or  courtroom,  subject  to  restrictions  above. 

Friends, family members, spectators, and other members of the public 

may be required to wait outside the facility as necessary to ensure public 

safety.   

 

 

 

  

BY THE COURT: 
 

Kim Berkeley Clark 
President Judge 
 

, P.J. 

  Sheriff’s  deputies,  police  officers,  constables,  and  building  security 

guards  shall  have  the  authority  to  enforce  all  sections  of  this  order.  

Persons who are not compliant with this order, will be required to leave 

the court facility. 

rotection from Abuse 

  All Temporary Protection from Abuse matters will be addressed at the 

Family Law Center, 440 Ross Street, Room 3030, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. 

Temporary Protection from Abuse Hearings shall be conducted generally 

through  videoconference.  If  a  hearing  cannot  be  conducted  through 

videoconference, the hearing shall be held by audio or teleconference. 

  Effective  Tuesday,  June  16,  2020,  Temporary  Protection  from  Abuse 

Petitions will be prepared and processed between the hours of 8:00 A.M. 

and 11:00 A.M.  

 

 

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