APPENDIX A 

 

PHASE 2 OPERATIONS 

TRANSITION 

As the Court begins to transition to what may be the “new normal” in operations 
and interaction with the public, We are mindful of our unwavering priority and goal of the 
health and safety of our employees and the public which has guided us throughout this 
pandemic. 

 In accordance with the extension of the judicial emergency through and including 
May 31, 2020 ordered after consultation with state, regional and local medical experts, 
review of the CDC and Pennsylvania Department of Health guidelines, and in compliance 
with the spirit of Governor Wolf and the Secretary of Health’s orders, We promulgate the 
following procedures for the 43rd Judicial District effective immediately*: 

 

A. GENERAL PROVISIONS 

1.  All persons entering any Court facility shall wear face coverings in accordance with 
this  Court’s  Emergency  Administrative  Order  No.  76  and  shall  comply  with  all 
requirements therein including, but not limited to, maintaining physical distancing 
of at least 6 feet at all times.  

2.  Courthouse boxes and forms will remain at the front door and the Sheriff’s staff will 
continue to act as the “gatekeeper” in accordance with the emergency orders and 
these procedures. 

3.  Litigants will only be permitted in the facility 10 minutes or less prior to a scheduled 
proceeding and counsel shall speak with their clients outside of the court facility 
prior to the proceeding. Witnesses will remain outside of the court facility and will 
be called in as needed. Reasonable accommodations for the press and for public 
access to proceedings will be made upon request to Court Administration. 

4.  ACT will continue to be used at all times when possible and practicable.  In person 
appearances  will  continue  to  be  limited  to  the  matters  currently  being  heard 
pursuant to the emergency orders or as ordered by the Presiding Judge. 

5.  Unless otherwise directed by a specific Order of Court, documents/exhibits for use 
in all types of proceedings must be emailed to the presiding Judge/Master/Hearing 
Officer  or  Conciliator  to  an  address  provided  by  the  Presiding  Judge  or  Court 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

     

APPENDIX A 

Administration.    Exhibits  must  be  provided  at  the  time  of  the  proceedings  in  an 
electronic format with a copy to opposing counsel/party.    

6.  CCP Judges will continue on a 2 Judge rotation with staff and commencing May 
8, 2020 all Judges may work in their chambers. Judges in rotation will increase as 
We reopen.  

7.  Cases that have been rescheduled to June 2020 and beyond shall be scheduled 
to ensure that no more than 15 persons are in any given courtroom at any time 
unless social distancing within the courtroom and during ingress and egress can 
be maintained, in the discretion of the Presiding Judge.  All court proceedings shall 
be staggered by time.  While this will inevitably create longer hearing times and 
more “down time” in court, it remains necessary for the health of the public, counsel 
and employees. 

8.  Trial terms are generally cancelled through August 2020.The Prothonotary/Clerk 
of Courts/Orphans Court will continue to receive filings via U.S. mail and email and 
process  same,  creating  motions  lists,  and  immediately  scanning  and  docketing 
each filing to insure electronic means of review and scheduling.  

9.  Court Administration will send all motions/pleadings to all Judges’ chambers on a 

10. Judicial Assistants will continue to create orders for electronic signature and filing 

daily basis. 

by each Judge where possible. 

and filing for each Judge. 

11. Court reporters/recorders will continue  to  provide  orders for electronic signature 

12. Court employees will not attend off-site conferences or trainings unless approved 

by the President Judge or her designee. 

13. Court events/meetings will be held using ACT where possible. 

a.  The Prothonotary will continue to provide litigants with ex parte applications 
and forms in the courthouse lobby and will process same on the first floor. 
Ex parte hearings will be held using GTM where possible. 

b.  Final, modification, and contempt hearings will be scheduled MWF 8:30 am 
and 1:00pm with no more than 5 cases in each session. Two litigants will 
be permitted to enter the courthouse  at a time to speak with counsel. No 
client signatures will be required for agreements. Witnesses will wait outside 
unless called in to testify at hearing. 

. FAMILY 

1.  PFA COURT 

  B

 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

2.  CUSTODY 

a.  The custody office will contact counsel and any pro se litigants a minimum 
of two weeks prior to scheduled conciliation conferences and arrange for 
the conference to be held using ACT. If no contact information is available, 
the case will be continued to a date after June 1st.  

b.  All new complaints and motions/petitions in old cases must contain contact 
information  for  counsel  and  pro  se  litigants  including  phone  number  and 
email.  

c.  A child(ren) will be interviewed only if counsel can assure, as an officer of 
the  Court,  that  the  child(ren)  can  speak  privately  with  the  conciliator  via 
ACT. 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

Custody Department:     
Phone - (570) 517-3022 
Fax – (570) 517-3875 
Email - drivera@monroepacourts.us  

 

3.  DRO 

a.  Support conferences will resume May 18 via ACT only 
b.  The  processing  of  complaints,  scheduling  of  proceedings,  bookkeeping, 

etc. will commence May 4, with reduced staffing in the courthouse.  

c.  Master’s  hearings  will  begin  June  22  using  ACT.    Documents  for  use  at 
hearing  must  be  emailed/faxed  to  DRO  and  opposing  counsel/party  a 
minimum of 7 days prior to hearing. 

d.  Support rules will commence in June and will be scheduled with no more 

than 2 cases every half hour, staggered every 15 minutes.  

e.  Support  payments  must  be  made  using  any  of  the  methods  listed  at 
www.childsupport.state.pa.us.  Payments will not be accepted in person at 
the Domestic Relations office.  

f.  Filings  will  be  accepted  via    www.childsupport.state.pa.us,  via  email  to     
CS-Monroe@PACSES.com  (must  be  filed  in  PDF  format  -  one  filing  per 
email) and through the US Mail to the following address: 

MONROE COUNTY DOMESTIC RELATIONS SECTION 
610 MONROE STREET STE 110 
STROUDSBURG, PA 18360-2280 
 

g.  Paternity testing will be scheduled on a case by case basis with testing to 

occur no sooner than July 1, 2020. 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

4.  DIVORCE 

a.  Masters hearings may be scheduled using ACT as of May 11.  Documents 
for use at the hearing must be emailed/faxed to the Master and opposing 
counsel/party a minimum of 7 days prior to hearing. 

b.  Pretrial conferences will be held using ACT and documents for use at the 
the  Master  and  opposing 

to 

conference  must  be  emailed/faxed 
counsel/party. 

APPENDIX A 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

Domestic Relations Office:     
Phone (Public / IVR) - (570) 517-3845 
Fax – (570) 517-3867 
Email - CS-Monroe@PACSES.com  
 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

Divorces:     
Phone - (570) 517-3096 
Email - drivera@monroepacourts.us or  
 
 

  odaigle@monroepacourts.us  

CONTACT INFORMATION  

Mortgage Foreclosure:     
Phone – (570) 517-3945 
Email - gschaefer@monroepacourts.us  
 

C.  CIVIL 

1.  MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE 

a.  Conciliations may resume using ACT only. Conciliators will work with Court 

Administration and use the already scheduled dates and times.   

b.  All evictions in foreclosures are stayed through July 11th. 

2.  TAX ASSESSMENT APPEALS 

a.  Mediations may resume using ACT only for a first listing. The mediators will 
work with Court Administration and use the already scheduled dates  and 
times. Should an in person meeting become necessary, the mediator will 
work  with  Court  Administration  to  secure  a  venue  where  the  participants 
can practice social distancing. 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

 

3.  MENTAL HEALTH ACT PROCEEDINGS 

a.  Petitions will continue to be filed electronically. 
b.  Hearings will be held using ACT, including witness testimony. 

Masters’ recommendations will be submitted electronically to the Judge assigned for 
electronic signature and filing or by hand delivery to the Courthouse. 

 

 

 

4.  ALL CIVIL FILINGS 

a.  Pleadings shall be filed through the U.S. Mail or electronically. The Monroe 
County Prothonotary is authorized to accept filings by email, with pleadings 
attached as  PDF  documents,  one  pleading  per email.  Pleadings  shall  be 
signed  and  shall  comply  with  all  local  and  state  rules  and  sent  to 
protcivilfiling@monroecountypa.gov.    Filing  fees  shall  be  payable  to  the 
filing  office  and  sent  by  first  class  mail  within  7  days  of  filing  to  the  filing 
office at 610 Monroe Street, Stroudsburg, PA  18360.   

b.  Court Administration will continue to process new pleadings, including new 

scheduling orders, pursuant to local rule.   

c.  Motions lists will be provided to Court Administration by the Prothonotary’s 

Office and distributed to Judges for processing.  

d.  Bench trials may commence June 8 IF social distancing can be maintained.   

5.  ARBITRATIONS 

a.  Arbitrations may commence June 1 using ACT.  All praecipes for arbitration 
must include a telephone number and email address for attorneys and pro 
se litigants, and Court Administration will assist the arbitrators in scheduling 
and using ACT. 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

All Other Civil (not previously specified above):     
Phone – (570) 517-3096 
Email - drivera@monroepacourts.us  
  odaigle@monroepacourts.us  
 

D. ORPHANS COURT 

1.  Pleadings shall be filed by first class mail or email.  The Clerk of Orphans Court is 
authorized to accept all filings by email. Pleadings shall be signed and shall comply 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

with all local and state rules and sent to orphanscourtfiling@monroecountypa.gov. 
Filing fees shall be payable to the filing office and sent by first class mail within 7 
days of filing to the filing office at 610 Monroe Street, Stroudsburg, PA  18360.  
 

2.  Where feasible hearings will be held using ACT. 

.  JUVENILE - DELINQUENCY 

1.  DETENTION HEARINGS  

If a Juvenile is detained during the day, an in-person hearing will be held as soon 
as administratively possible that day. The Juvenile’s parents will be notified. If 
they are available, they may appear. No other person may accompany the 
Juvenile except upon a showing of good cause and necessity with the prior 
approval of the Judge. If the Juvenile’s parents or guardians cannot appear in 
person, then they may participate by ACT. Similarly, victims and witnesses shall 
be permitted to testify or participate by ACT.  

a.  If a Juvenile is detained outside courthouse hours, then a Detention 

Hearing will be conducted using ACT for all victims, witnesses, attorneys, 
and other participants. The Juvenile shall participate from the detention 
center. 

b.  If a Juvenile is released to home, then the Juvenile’s parents or guardians 
shall pick the Juvenile up from the Courthouse or the Detention Center, 
whichever applies, or make suitable other arrangements for pick up and 
transportation of the Juvenile. 

2.  JUVENILE CALL 

call. 

a.  Counsel for the Juvenile shall communicate with the Juvenile prior to the 

b.  Counsel  for  the  Juvenile  and  the  attorney  for  the  Commonwealth  shall 

c.  Attorneys only at the call, unless the Juvenile will be making an admission 

discuss cases prior to the call. 

or entering a consent decree.  
d.  Admissions and Consent Decrees: 

i.  Counsel shall advise the Court no later than NOON  two days before 
the call of cases in which the Juvenile will be making an admission 
or entering into the consent decree program.  

  E

 

 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

ii.  Admissions  and  consent  decrees  will  be  taken  in  person.  The 
Juvenile and his or her parents or guardians will be given a specific 
time to appear. No other person may accompany the Juvenile except 
upon  a  showing  of  good  cause  and  necessity  with  the  prior 
approval of the Judge. 

iii.  Closed admissions with immediate disposition are encouraged and 
will be entertained. As with adult guilty pleas, counsel may ask for a 
conference ahead of the call for pre-approval of closed admissions. 
iv.  Victims  shall  be  notified  in  accordance  with  applicable  rules  and 
laws.  Victims,  and  if  applicable  their  parents  or  guardians,  may 
appear  in  court.  However,  they  shall  also  be  given  the  option  of 
participating by ACT. 

e.  Hearings – For cases that will be called for hearing, the Juvenile and his or 
her parents or guardians shall be available by phone. JPO and counsel for 
the Juvenile shall obtain their phone numbers. The Juvenile and his parents 
or  guardians  shall  be  advised  of  the  date  and  time  of  the  adjudication 
hearing via phone. 

 

 

3.  ADJUDICATION HEARINGS  

a.  Adjudication hearings will be conducted in-person at a set date and time. 
The  safety  requirements,  limitations,  and  procedures  for  all  in-person 
proceedings  conducted  during  the  transition,  including  but  limited  to 
wearing  masks,  maintaining  social  distancing,  bringing  in  witnesses  as 
needed, and limitations of the number of persons in courtrooms, shall apply. 
In addition: 

i.  No  person  other  than  parents  or  guardians  may  accompany  the 
Juvenile except upon a showing of good cause and necessity with 
the prior approval of the Judge. 

ii.  Witnesses will be permitted to testify by ACT in accordance with the 
existing COVID-19 Emergency and Court Facility Closure orders, as 
amended  from  time  to  time,  and  the  Rules  of  Juvenile  Court 
Procedure, and after the orders terminate then in conformity with the 
Rules.  

iii.  Victims  shall  be  notified  in  accordance  with  applicable  rules  and 
laws.  Victims,  and  if  applicable  their  parents  or  guardians,  may 
appear  in  court.  However,  they  shall  also  be  given  the  option  of 
participating by ACT. 

4.  DISPOSITION HEARINGS 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

 

5.  PLACEMENT REVIEWS 

APPENDIX A 

a.  Contested Disposition Hearings will be conducted in-person at a set date 
and time in the manner of Adjudication Hearings as set forth above.  

b.  Uncontested Disposition Hearings shall be conducted by ACT in the manner 
that  Placement  and  Probation  Review  Hearings  will  be  conducted  as  set 
forth  below.  Counsel  shall  advise  the  Court  no  later  than  NOON  the  day 
before the scheduled disposition if the disposition will not be contested. 
c.  Social Studies – When a Social Study is ordered, JPO shall, in advance of 
report  and 
the  hearing,  electronically  disseminate 
recommendation, 
the  reports  of  any  other  court-ordered 
evaluations, to the District Attorney and the Juvenile’s attorney of record. If 
another  attorney  will  be  covering,  the  current  attorney  of  record  will  be 
responsible  to  forward  the  reports  to  the  other  attorney.  All  counsel  are 
reminded that juvenile records are confidential, subject to protections and 
limitations on use by both statue and rule, may be used only.  

resulting 

together 

the 

a.  All placement reviews (as well as re-dispositions and placement moves for 
Juveniles  in  placement)  will  be  conducted  by  ACT.  All  parties,  parents, 
attorneys, and others will participate remotely. 

i.  GTM -- Placement Review Hearings will be held by GTM meetings. 
GTM invitations will be sent to the District Attorney, CYS, JPO, Court 
Admin/Court  Reporter,  the  placement  facility,  and  the  Juvenile’s 
attorney of record. If there has been a change in representation or if 
another attorney will be covering the hearing, the attorney of record 
will  be  responsible  for  forwarding  the  invitation  on  to  the  new 
attorney/attorney  who  will  be  covering.  JPO  and  the  Juvenile’s 
attorney 
Juvenile’s 
the 
parents/guardians and obtain phone numbers for them. 

invitation 

forward 

shall 

the 

to 

ii.  Parents/Guardians.  

1.  In instances when there is only one juvenile at a facility who 
reviewed  during  a  single  GTM  session, 
will  be 
the 
parents/guardians  may  participate  by  GTM. 
parents/guardians do not have devices that will permit them 
to use GTM, they may participate by phone. 

If 

2.  In instances when there is more than one juvenile at a facility 
who will be reviewed during a single GTM session, then each 
juvenile  will  be  reviewed  individually/privately  during  the 
session. To ensure privacy, parents/guardians will participate 
by  phone  rather  than  GTM.  Each  parent/guardian  will  be 
called separately as their child is being reviewed.  

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

b.  Court Reports – JPO will disseminate court reports and court summaries 
electronically  to  the  attorneys  of  record  in  advance  of  hearings.  Again,  if 
another  attorney  will  be  covering,  the  current  attorney  of  record  will  be 
responsible  to  forward  the  reports  to  the  other  attorney.  All  counsel  are 
reminded that juvenile records are confidential, subject to protections and 
limitations on use by both statue and rule, may be used only. 

c.  If a Juvenile is released to home, then the Juvenile’s parents or guardians 
shall pick the Juvenile up from the placement facility or make suitable other 
arrangements for pick up and transportation of the Juvenile. 

6.  PROBATION REVIEWS AND RELEASES 

a.  Uncontested requests for release from probation will be decided by the JPO 
motion  procedure,  which  may  be  initiated  by  JPO  or  any  party,  without 
hearing. 

b.  All  Probation  Review  Hearings  will  be  conducted  by  ACT.  All  parties, 

parents, attorneys, and others will participate remotely.  

i.  For  six  month  reviews  on  scheduled  review  days  when  multiple 
Juveniles will be reviewed, a combination of GTM and phone will be 
used. Each Juvenile will be reviewed individually/privately during the 
session.  To  ensure  privacy, 
juvenile  and  his  or  her 
parents/guardians will participate by phone rather than GTM. Each 
juvenile will be called separately as his or her case is called. To the 
full extent possible, separate times or time frames/ranges will be set 
for each Juvenile.  

the 

ii.  For individual reviews  scheduled by the Court or on motion of any 
party, GTM will be used. If the parents/guardians do not have devices 
that will permit them to use GTM, they may participate by phone. 
iii.  For GTM hearings, an invitation will be sent to the District Attorney, 
JPO,  and  the  Juvenile’s  attorney  of  record.  If  there  has  been  a 
change in representation or if another attorney will be covering the 
hearing, the attorney of record will be responsible for forwarding the 
invitation on to the new attorney/attorney who will be covering. JPO 
and the Juvenile’s attorney shall forward the invitation to the Juvenile 
and  parents/guardians  and  for  all  reviews  shall  obtain  phone 
numbers for them. 

 

 

 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

7.  PRE AND POST-ADJUDICATION MOTIONS 

a.  All motions will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 
b.  All  post-adjudication  motions  and  post-disposition  motions  shall  be 
conducted  by  GTM  in the manner of  Disposition  Review  Hearings  as  set 
forth above. 

c.  Unless  specifically  directed  by  the  presiding  judge,  all  pre-adjudication 
motions will be heard by GTM in the manner of Disposition Review Hearings 
as set forth above. 
 

8.  ADDITIONAL HEARING PROCEDURES AND PROTOCOLS  

a.  Limited Additional In-Person Hearings – Based on the unique needs or facts 
of  a  particular  Juvenile  or  case,  the  presiding  judge  may  in  his  or  her 
discretion  direct  that  any  type  of  hearing  be  conducted  in-person  or  in-
person  in  combination  with  ACT.  In  such  circumstances,  all  safety 
requirements,  limitations,  and  procedures  for  in-person  proceedings 
conducted  during  the  transition,  plus  any  other  conditions  the  presiding 
judge adds, shall apply. 

b.  Exhibits:  

i.  For in-person hearings, exhibits shall be exchanged and admitted in 
the normal fashion in accordance with applicable Rules of Court 
ii.  For remote hearings, attorneys shall exchange exhibits prior to the 
hearings. If either party  wants to seek admission of an exhibit, the 
exhibit must be sent to the presiding judge’s administrative assistant 
at the address set forth below, in advance of the hearing, through an 
e-mail  marked  “high  priority”  with  a  subject  line  stating: 
“EXHIBITS  for  Juvenile  Hearing  –  [Insert  DATE  AND  TIME  OF 
HEARING]” 

1.  For  Judge  Mark,  or  any  Hearing  Officer,  to  Katy  Case  at: 

kcase@monroepacourts.us  

2.  For 

Judge  Williamson, 
PHerb@monroepacourts.us  

to 

Pam 

Herb 

at: 

c.  CYS Participation – For in-person hearings, one representative of CYS may 
appear and participate. CYS personnel shall similarly be invited to hearings 
conducted by GTM or other forms of ACT. 

 

9.  ADMINISTRATIVE 

a.  Non-emergency home passes will not be issued. Emergency requests will 

be decided on a case-by-case basis. 

i.  JPO placement visits will be conducted using ACT 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

b.  All  Intake,  Social  Study,  Sign-Up  Conferences,  and  Probation  Check-In 
Meetings shall be conducted by ACT unless another method is specifically 
approved  by  the  Chief  Probation  Officer.  Juveniles  and  their  parents  or 
guardians shall provide valid e-mail addresses and phone numbers.    
c.  Where a juvenile is ordered to placement but a bed date is not immediately 
available, and the juvenile is not in detention, the juvenile will be given a 
date  and  time  to  report  to  the  Courthouse  to  await  transport  by  the 
placement  facility  or  the  Sheriff’s  Department.   The  juvenile  and  parents 
shall  wait  for  the  transportation  team  outside  of  the  building.   When  the 
transportation team arrives they, or the JPO office, will contact the juvenile 
and/or  the  juvenile’s  parents  via  phone  and  instruct  them  to  meet  the 
transportation team in front of the Courthouse on Monroe Street.   

d.  If a juvenile is not physically present for disposition and the disposition does 
not involve placement, they will be given a specific date and time to report 
to Probation to comply with DNA and fingerprinting requirements (Probation 
will  provide 
time  of 
disposition).  Probation will prepare paperwork prior to the juvenile’s arrival 
to limit the time spent in the Probation Office.   

the  Court  with  dates  and 

times  at 

the 

i.  PPE  will  be  worn  by  any  Probation  Officer  taking  fingerprints  and 
DNA.  Appointments will be staggered such that only one person is 
in the office for Act 185 registration.  

CONTACT INFORMATION  

Juvenile Probation:     
Phone - (570) 517-3095 
Email - astrouse@monroepacourts.us or  
 

  bsikora@monroepacourts.us  

 

 

 

 

.  JUVENILE - DEPENDENCY 

1.  EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CUSTODY (EPC) 

EPC will be taken and approved by the Court in accordance with the Juvenile Act 
and  Rules  of  Juvenile  Court  Procedure.  The  Court’s  established  on-call  EPC 
approval procedures will continue to be followed.  

 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

  F

 

   

APPENDIX A 

2.  HEARINGS 

a.  ALL  hearings,  whether  before  the  Court  or  the  Hearing  Officer,  will  be 

conducted remotely using GTM meetings.  

b.  GTM invitations will be sent to designated CYS personnel, the CYS solicitor, 
the  Child’s  GAL  (and  where  applicable  the  Child’s  attorney),  designated 
personnel  in  the  Public  Defender’s  Office,  any  other  parent/guardian 
attorney(s), and Court Administration/the assigned court reporter.  

c.  As  soon  after 

invitation 

the  GTM 

(or  call/log-in 

the  hearing  and  GTM  meeting  are  scheduled  as 
administratively possible, CYS shall: (a)  provide the date and time of the 
hearing  and 
to 
parents/guardians  and  foster  parents;  (b)  confirm  that  the  GAL/child 
attorney  and  parent  attorney  received  the  date  and  time  and  call/log-in 
information; (b) provide parents/guardians with contact information for their 
attorney, and vice versa; and (c) provide the GAL/child attorney with contact 
information for the foster parents and the children, and vice versa. CYS, the 
attorneys, and the GAL shall be responsible to provide the date, time, and 
including 
call/log-in 
caseworkers. 

their  witnesses, 

the  hearing 

information) 

formation 

for 

to 

d.  Participants  shall  use  the  GTM  video  option  whenever  possible,  but  the 
audio only option may be used if no video compatible device is available. In 
addition, parents/guardians may participate by “regular phone” if that is the 
only means of participation available to them.  

e.  CYS shall take all reasonable steps necessary to ensure that parents have 
access to a phone or other device that will enable them to participate in the 
hearing.  
f.  Exhibits: 

i.  Attorneys shall exchange exhibits electronically prior to the hearing. 
Attorneys  and  GALs  shall  exchange  with  each  other  the  e-mail 
addresses at which they agree to receive exhibits. 

ii.  If a party wants to seek admission of an exhibit during the hearing, 
 
the exhibit must be sent to the presiding judge’s administrative 
assistant,  or the hearing  officer when  applicable,  at  the  addresses 
set forth below, in advance of the hearing, through an e-mail marked 
“high  priority”  with  a  subject  line  stating:  “EXHIBITS  for 
Dependency Hearing – [Insert DATE AND TIME OF HEARING]” 

1.  For Judge Mark, to Katy Case at:   

kcase@monroepacourts.us  

2.  For Judge Williamson, to Pam Herb at:  

PHerb@monroepacourts.us 
 

 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

3.  For  Judge  C.  Daniel  Higgins,  to  Claire  Zimmerman  at: 

CZimmerman@monroepacourts.us  

4.  For Hearing Officer Weitzmann:  

tww@weitzmannlaw.com  

g.  GALs/child  attorneys  shall  speak  with  children  prior  to  the  hearing. 
Communications  shall  be  by  phone  or  other  form  of  ACT.  GALs/child 
attorneys shall confirm that the foster parents and children are aware of the 
date and time of the hearing and the GTM call/log-in information, and shall 
arrange for participation of the children, as appropriate. 

h.  Parent attorneys shall speak with parents/guardians prior to the hearing and 
shall confirm that the parents/guardians are aware of the date and time of 
the hearing and the GTM call/log-in information. Attorneys shall also obtain 
phone numbers for parents. 

i.  The  Court  will  make  every  effort to  schedule  hearings  so  as  to  allow  the 

parties and attorneys sufficient time to meet the above requirements. 

NOTE: If for legitimate reasons the GAL has not been able to speak with the children or 
the parent attorney has not been able to speak with the parents/guardians, then time will 
be allotted for such communications immediately prior to the hearing. However, it is the 
expectation  that  absent  exceptional  circumstances,  communication  will  have  occurred 
prior to the hearing. 
 

  *

j.  Reviews  –  During  the  transition,  only  Six-Month  permanency  and 
placement  reviews  will  be  scheduled.  Three  Month  Reviews  will  not  be 
scheduled.  

k.  Judicial Discretion for In-Person Hearings – Based on the unique needs or 
facts of a particular child, family, or case, the presiding judge may in his or 
her discretion direct that any type of hearing be conducted in-person or in-
person  in  combination  with  ACT.  If  an  in-person  hearing  is  ordered,  the 
safety  requirements, 
in-person 
proceedings  conducted  during  the  transition,  including  but  limited  to 
in 
wearing  masks,  maintaining  social/physical  distancing,  bringing 
witnesses  as  needed,  and  limitations  of  the  number  of  persons  in 
courtrooms, shall apply. In addition: 

limitations,  and  procedures 

for  all 

i.  Children and foster parents shall not appear except upon a showing 
of good cause and necessity with the prior approval of the Judge 
or Hearing Officer. 

ii.  Children, foster parents, and witnesses may testify or participate by 
ACT  in  accordance  with  the  existing  COVID-19  Emergency  and 
Court Facility Closure orders, as amended from time to time, and the 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

 

APPENDIX A 

Rules  of  Juvenile  Court  Procedure,  and  after  the  orders  terminate 
then in conformity with the Rules.  

iii.  The Judge of Hearing Officer may, in his or her discretion, set up an 
additional GTM meeting for the purpose of allowing the child to speak 
via ACT from a private setting to the Judge or Hearing Officer, with 
the GAL and other attorneys of record the only other participants. 

iv.  Only essential CYS personnel shall appear.  

3.  MOTIONS 

 

4.  VISITATION 

 

 

a.  All motions will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. 
b.  Move  requests  will  be  decided  based  on  the  Court’s  established  motion 

procedure for placement moves. 

c.  As  indicated,  Three-Month  reviews  will  not  be  scheduled  as  of  course. 

However, any party may file a motion for an early review.   

The current moratorium on in-person visits and conferences with children, together 
with  the  corresponding  requirement  that  virtual  visits  and  communication  with 
children through ACT be permitted, shall remain until further order of Court. 

5.  TRANSITION PROCEDURES FOR TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS 

(TPR) HEARINGS 

by GTM.  

a.  Pre-Hearing Conferences – ALL pre-hearing conferences will be conducted 

b.  TPR Hearings – TPR Hearings shall be conducted in-person at a set date 
and  time.  The  safety  requirements,  limitations,  and  procedures  for  all  in-
person  proceedings  conducted  during  the  transition,  including  but  not 
limited to wearing masks, maintaining social/physical distancing, bringing in 
witnesses  as  needed,  and  limitations  of  the  number  of  persons  in 
courtrooms, shall apply. In addition: 

i.  Children shall not appear except upon a showing of good cause and 
necessity  with  the  prior  approval  of  the  presiding  Judge.  The 
parties are encouraged to discuss and agree to the use of ACT for 
the testimony or statements of children. 

1.  If  a  child  does  appear  in-person  with  the  approval  or  at  the 
direction  of  Judge,  the  child  shall  testify  or  speak  with  the 
Court at the beginning of the hearing and then will be excused. 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

Thereafter, the child may listen to or observe the remainder of 
the proceeding by ACT. 

2.  The  Judge  may  in  his  or  her discretion  set  a  separate  date 
and time to take the testimony of or otherwise hear from the 
child at a proceeding at which only the Judge, the GAL, and 
the attorneys of record are present. 

3.  If the child does not appear but wishes to listen to or observe 
the hearing, arrangements for use of ACT for that purpose will 
be made. The GAL or child attorney shall advise the Court of 
such request at least three days prior to the hearing.    

c.  Only essential CYS personnel shall appear.  

 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

G.  CRIMINAL 

1. Formal  arraignments  will  be  waived  at  the  preliminary  hearing  on  a  form  to  be 
provided  at  the  MDJ  office.  A  date  of  arraignment  (8  weeks  from  the  date  of 
preliminary hearing) for purposes of the timelines under the criminal rules and for 
the filing of the criminal information will be contained in the waiver, together with a 
date for appearance for ARD,  Guilty Plea or with the month the case is generally 
set for trial, whichever applies. 

2. ARD and Plea hearings will be conducted in person for those not in custody in a 
manner to comply with social distancing requirements. Sign up information will be 
given in writing at the time of the ARD/Plea hearing to counsel or to the Defendant 
by the Probation Department.  

3. Pre-trial conferences will no longer be automatically scheduled, but will instead be 
scheduled,  if  necessary,  by  each  assigned  judge  upon  motion  of  either  party. 
Conferences may be held using ACT or in person and on the record, but without 
the defendant’s presence.  

4. Any party whose case has been generally listed for trial and who wishes to move 
their case forward with a plea or other disposition, shall file a motion for same to be 
scheduled by the individual judge.  

5. A minimum of 30 days prior to the  trial term for which a case is listed, any party 
requesting trial shall file a motion which shall include the number of days necessary 
and any other special requirements for consideration by the Court and a certification 
that all pretrial criminal rules requirements have been met and  that the opposing 
party has been notified and concurs or does not concur in the listing.  If the opposing 
party  concurs, the  assigned  Judge  will  schedule  a  date  certain  for  trial  and  may 
upon  request  of  either  party  or  on  the  Judge’s  own  motion  schedule  a  pretrial 
conference. If the opposing party does not concur, the Judge will schedule a pretrial 
conference and, if a trial is ordered, a date certain for the trial.  

6.  Non-emergency motions for trial term continuances must be filed at least 30 days 

prior to the term for which the case is listed.   

7.  Any cases generally listed for a monthly trial term that have not been disposed of    
or for which counsel have not filed a motion as described in paragraph 5 above will 
be listed for trial at a date and time determined by the Court. 

8.  Jury  trials  may  be  held  commencing  September  2020  in  accordance  with  the        
parameters set by this Court and Jury Management. Cases currently listed on Final 
Call dates through the remainder of 2020 will be continued to dates selected by the 
assigned judge for disposition or trial in accordance with the procedures contained 
in this document. No further final call days will be scheduled.  

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

9.  Defendants in custody will appear in person only for trials. ALL hearings involving 
incarcerated Defendants will be conducted using ACT unless specifically ordered 
by the presiding judge.  

10. Grand Jury proceedings are cancelled and the Grand Jury dismissed.  
11. Adult  probation  officers  will  have  no  in  person  contact  with  Defendants  unless 
specifically  authorized  by  the  Chief  Probation  Officer.    This  includes,  but  is  not 
limited to, sign-up, PSI interviews and reporting.  All group sign-ups will be modified 
to comply with the terms of this document. 

12. If a defendant is not physically present for sentencing and the sentence does  not 
involve  incarceration,  they  will  be  given  a  specific  date  and  time  to  report  to 
Probation  to  comply  with  DNA  and  fingerprinting  requirements  (Probation  will 
provide the Court with dates and times at the time of sentencing).  Probation will 
prepare  paperwork  prior  to  the  defendant’s  arrival  to  limit  the  time  spent  in  the 
Probation office. PPE will be worn by any Probation Officer taking fingerprints and 
DNA. Appointments will be staggered such that only one person is in the office for 
Act 185 registration.   

13. ACT will be used in all areas of Probation including Court appearances, if feasible, 

in accordance with the terms of this document. 

14. Offenders  will  be  directed  to  make  payments  toward  fines,  costs  and  restitution 

online at: https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ePay/Default.aspx . 

 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION  

Adult Probation:     
Phone - (570) 517-3098 
Email - rangradi@monroepacourts.us or 
 
 

  grose@monroepacourts.us  

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

   

 

 

APPENDIX A 

H.  MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURTS 

1.  Public Access 

a.  The Magisterial District Courts within the 43rd Judicial District shall be open 
generally  to  conduct  all  court  business  effective  June  1,  2020.    ALL  IN-
PERSON ACCESS IS STRICTLY LIMITED until June 15, 2020. 

b.  All  payments  for  fines  and  costs  shall  be  made  by  mail  or  online  at 
ARE 

www.ujsportal.pacourts.us.NO 
IN-PERSON 
PERMITTED absent extenuating circumstances. 

PAYMENTS 

c.  All  MDJ  office  telephones  remain  forwarded  to  Court  Administration  until 

8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 26, 2020. 

2.  Preliminary Arraignments 

a.  All  preliminary  arraignments  shall  be  conducted  using  Advanced 
Communication  Technology  (ACT)  between  the  Magisterial  District  Court 
and the Monroe County Central Booking Department located at the Monroe 
County  Correctional  Facility.  No  in-person  preliminary  arraignments  shall 
be held at any Magisterial District court until further notice. 

3.  Scheduling Events 

a.  All proceedings of incarcerated defendants shall be held using Advanced 

Communication Technology (ACT). 

b.  No  hearings/proceedings  in  any  case  type  shall  be  scheduled  or 
rescheduled to a date prior to June 15, 2020, giving priority to rescheduling 
of criminal cases. 

c.  No  more  than  5  cases  total,  of  any  case  type,  shall  be  scheduled  or 
rescheduled in an hour and shall be scheduled in a staggered fashion. 
d.  No person other than the litigants and counsel for any scheduled events are 
permitted to enter the Magisterial District Court. The MDJ Court will insure 
that litigants and counsel are called into the building one case at a time. 
e.  The appearance of witnesses and affiants on the first listing of a preliminary 
hearing  is waived.  Should an evidentiary  hearing  be necessary,  the  MDJ 
shall schedule same for a date and time certain. 

f.  All DUIs previously scheduled from March 19th through May 31st shall be 
rescheduled  at  Magisterial  District  Court  43-3-02  located  at  1211  N  5th 
Street, Stroudsburg, Pa. and will be heard by a Senior Magisterial District 
Judge  on  dates  to  be  determined,  pursuant  to  this  Court’s  authority 
delineated  above  and  Pennsylvania  Rule  of  Judicial  Administration 
605(B)(6). 

i.  Criminal cases resulting in a waiver or where all charges are bound 
over to the Court of Common Pleas shall have a Waiver of Formal 

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX A 

Arraignment form completed by the defendant and counsel on a form 
provided to the MDJ court by Court Administration.  The completed 
form shall be scanned and submitted with the docket entries and a 
copy provided to Court Administration. 

4.  Correspondence 

a.  At this time, all correspondence necessary for cases filed at the MDJ courts 
can be mailed using the US Mail or faxed to the individual court office at the 
applicable  address  /  fax  number  as  listed  on  the  Monroe  County  Court’s 
website (www.monroepacourts.us).  

i.  Correspondence includes but is not limited to entries of appearance, 

pleas in summary cases, etc. 

5.  New Civil Case Filings 

a.  All new civil case filings can be mailed using the US Mail to the specific MDJ 
court directly  or filed  in  person  commencing  June  1,  2020  at  the  specific 
MDJ court.  

6.  Contact Information 

a.  Individual  MDJ  Court  contact 

information  can  be 

found  at: 

www.monroepacourts.us 

i.  Please note that the MDJ Court telephones are being forwarded to 

Court Administration until May 26, 2020. 

 

 

 

     

*Please not that these procedures may be modified on a regular basis as the safety parameters and 
pandemic evolve. Not all processes will be ready for implementation on May 1st and will be on a rolling 
basis as noted specifically herein. 

APPENDIX BAPPENDIX BAPPENDIX BAPPENDIX BAPPENDIX CAPPENDIX CAPPENDIX CAPPENDIX CAPPENDIX C