COVID-19 Magisterial District Judges Procedures Update December 11, 2020

Overview

This Administrative Order, issued by the Court of Common Pleas for Blair County (24th Judicial District), establishes new operating procedures for Magisterial District Judge Courts. The order was signed by President Judge Elizabeth Doyle on December 11, 2020.

The restrictions are implemented due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Blair County and are intended to ensure the safety of the public and court employees. These rules apply from December 11, 2020, through January 4, 2021.

Key Restrictions and Procedures

Filing and Payments

• No Walk-ins: There shall be no walk-in case filings or fine payments during the effective period.

Court Hearings and Trials

• Remote Proceedings: Judges are to conduct summary trials, hearings, and conferences via Advanced Communication Technology (ACT) whenever possible.
• Continuances: If remote technology is not feasible, matters should be continued to a later date.
• Approved Technology: ACT devices include, but are not limited to, BlueJeans, Skype, Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and telephone.

Specific Case Types

• Preliminary Hearings: These are restricted and shall only be held for incarcerated defendants, barring extenuating circumstances.
• Emergency Matters: The courts will continue to handle Emergency Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders, search warrants, arrest warrants, and preliminary arraignments via ACT.

In-Person Appearances

• Appointment Only: Any matter requiring an individual to appear in person must be scheduled in advance by appointment. This is at the discretion of the respective Magisterial District Judge.

Judicial Discretion

• Judges retain the discretion to hear or continue other non-emergency matters as they see fit for their specific court's needs.
• All other aspects of the Court's previous administrative orders remain in effect.