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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 16-818

THE COURTS

ERIE COUNTY

Possession and Use of Electronic Devices; Doc. No. 55 of 2016

[46 Pa.B. 2413]
[Saturday, May 14, 2016]

Administrative Order

 And Now, to wit, this 27th day of April, 2016, in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 1910 and Pa.R.Crim.P. 112, it is hereby Ordered, Adjudged and Decreed as follows:

 1. Broadcasting, televising, recording, taking photographs, otherwise electronically duplicating proceedings, or in any way transmitting communications regarding the proceedings is, without specific prior authorization of a Judge of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, prohibited within the courtrooms and hearing rooms of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas and the areas surrounding the entrances and exits to any hearing room or courtroom. This prohibition includes live blogging, tweeting and/or posting quotations via social media.

 2. Guests and media present within the courtrooms or other hearing rooms of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas may possess cell phones, smart phones, tablets, and other communicative electronic devices. All such devices must be silenced and non-vibrating and remain silent and nondisruptive in the aforementioned areas. Unless specifically authorized by the presiding judge, guests and media may not utilize such devices within the courtroom or in the area immediately surrounding the entrances and exits to the courtroom.

 3. This Order does not preclude:

 a. the use of electronic devices by counsel and/or their agents and employees in the presentation of their case as otherwise authorized by law;

 b. the use of electronic devices in non-legal proceedings such as ceremonial proceedings, mock trials or other similar proceedings;

 c. the use of cameras or other equipment utilized by court personnel or the Erie County Sheriff's Department for the purpose of insuring courtroom security;

 4. This Order shall not in any way be construed to restrict the authority of any judge of the Erie County Court of Common Pleas from authorizing broadcasting and electronic recording in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 1910 and/or Pa.R.Crim.P. 112.

 5. Any person found in violation of the provisions of this order regarding the use of electronic devices will be subject to removal from the courtroom/hearing room, potential confiscation of such device and/or applicable penalties for contempt of court (including fines or summary incarceration).

By the Court

JOHN J. TRUCILLA, 
President Judge

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-818. Filed for public inspection May 13, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]


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