In re: 42nd Judicial District Declaration of Judicial Emergency (Bradford County)

• Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
• Decided: October 8, 2021
• Docket: 50 MM 2020
• Status: Published

Opinion

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA MIDDLE DISTRICT

IN RE: 42ND JUDICIAL DISTRICT : No. 50 MM 2020 DECLARATION OF JUDICIAL : EMERGENCY (BRADFORD COUNTY) :

ORDER

PER CURIAM

AND NOW, this 8th day of October, 2021, the Petition for Emergency Judicial Order

Pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. No. 1952(B)(2), which seeks permission for the President Judge of

the Court of Common Pleas of Bradford County to suspend temporarily certain procedural

rules, is GRANTED, IN PART.

The President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas of Bradford County 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 Court of Common Pleas of Bradford

County to suspend Rule of Criminal Procedure 600 through December 31, 2021, is

DEFERRED, pending further order of this Court. Any individual or entity interested in the President Judge’s request to suspend Rule 600 through December 31, 2021, is allowed

to file a reply in this Court. The deadline for such replies is October 15, 2021.

The Prothonotary is DIRECTED to serve this order on the Bradford County Office

of the Public Defender, the District Attorney of Bradford County, and the Office of Attorney

General.

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