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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 22-228

THE COURTS

Title 255—LOCAL COURT RULES

GREENE COUNTY

Designation of a Central Location for Holding Certain Preliminary Hearings in Court Cases; C.A. No. 1 of 2022

[52 Pa.B. 968]
[Saturday, February 12, 2022]

Administrative Order

Designation of a Central Location for Holding Certain Preliminary Hearings in Court Cases

 And Now, this 27th day of January, 2022, due to the relatively large geographic area of the 13th Judicial District and for the fair and efficient administration of justice, it is the opinion of this Court that the administration of justice may be more expeditiously accomplished by the establishment of a new central place, within the Judicial District, for conducting certain preliminary hearings in court cases in which the Authorities of the various Magisterial Districts shall have jurisdiction.

 Wherefore, it is the Order of this Court that, effective April 1, 2022, and continuing until further Order of Court, a Courtroom on the 1st floor of the Greene County Courthouse, located at 10 East High Street, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, is hereby designated as the place for conducting certain preliminary hearings within the 13th Judicial District of Pennsylvania; the same shall be known as the ''Central Court of Greene County'' (Central Court).

 Pending further Order of the Court, only a certain category of cases shall be heard by the Central Court of Greene County. This Court may, from time to time, enter Orders expanding the parameters of the Central Court consistent with the administration of justice.

 Pending further Order of the Court, any criminal complaint that includes a charge of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Controlled Substances, and is initiated by summons pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be heard in Central Court by the District Judge presiding over Central Court. All criminal complaints that include Driving Under the Influence shall be filed in the District Court with appropriate jurisdiction. Upon the filing of the criminal complaint as described above, the issuing authority shall then schedule the matter for a preliminary hearing in the Central Court. The issuing authority shall schedule the preliminary hearing at the next available Central Court date with at least forty-five (45) days notice.

 The Central Court shall convene for the holding of preliminary hearings at 9:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, unless such day shall be a legal holiday, in which event the regular session of Central Court for that month shall convene at 9:00 a.m. on the Thursday immediately following such holiday. Special sessions of said Central Court may be scheduled for other days (of the month) as the need arises.

 This Court shall provide for the assignment of Magisterial District Judges to preside at said Central Court, and also shall establish from time to time such procedures for the Central Court as the needs of justice and the efficient administration thereof may require.

 The Magisterial District Justices, when assigned to preside at Central Court, shall exercise all powers given to Magisterial District Judges by the laws of this Commonwealth and the Rules of Criminal Procedure promulgated by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

 District Court Administration, acting through the Central Court Manager, shall exercise administrative control over the operation of Central Court, and shall supervise and administer the operation of the same.

 The Central Court shall have a new designation as Court 13-3-00. Criminal Complaints initiated by an arrest (with or without a warrant) shall continue to be heard by the issuing authority in the Court in which the complaint has been filed. Pending further order of the Court, criminal complaints that are initiated by summons that do not include a charge of Driving Under the Influence shall continue to be heard at the District Court of the issuing authority.

 This Order shall be adopted by the local rule. This rule will be designated ''G131-ESTABLISHMENT OF CENTRAL COURT.''

 Further, the District Court Administrator shall file the original of this order with the Prothonotary.

So Ordered and Decreed

By the Court

LOUIS DAYICH, 
President Judge

Local Rule G131. Establishment of Central Court.

 Due to the relatively large geographic area of the 13th Judicial District and for the fair and efficient administration of justice, it is the opinion of this Court that the administration of justice may be more expeditiously accomplished by the establishment of a new central place, within the Judicial District, for conducting certain preliminary hearings in court cases in which the Authorities of the various Magisterial Districts shall have jurisdiction.

 1. Wherefore, it is the Order of this Court that, effective April 1, 2022, and continuing until further Order of Court, a Courtroom on the 1st floor of the Greene County Courthouse, located at 10 East High Street, Waynesburg, Pennsylvania, is hereby designated as the place for conducting certain preliminary hearings within the 13th Judicial District of Pennsylvania; the same shall be known as the ''Central Court of Greene County'' (Central Court).

 2. Pending further Order of the Court, only a certain category of cases shall be heard by the Central Court of Greene County. This Court may, from time to time, enter Orders expanding the parameters of the Central Court consistent with the administration of justice.

 3. Pending further Order of the Court, any criminal complaint that includes a charge of Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol and/or Controlled Substances, and is initiated by summons pursuant to the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, shall be heard in Central Court by the District Judge presiding over Central Court. All criminal complaints that include Driving Under the Influence shall be filed in the District Court with appropriate jurisdiction. Upon the filing of the criminal complaint as described above, the issuing authority shall then schedule the matter for a preliminary hearing in the Central Court. The issuing authority shall schedule the preliminary hearing at the next available Central Court date with at least forty-five (45) days notice.

 4. The Central Court shall convene for the holding of preliminary hearings at 9:00 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, unless such day shall be a legal holiday, in which event the regular session of Central Court for that month shall convene at 9:00 a.m. on the Thursday immediately following such holiday. Special sessions of said Central Court may be scheduled for other days (of the month) as the need arises.

 5. This Court shall provide for the assignment of Magisterial District Judges to preside at said Central Court, and also shall establish from time to time such procedures for the Central Court as the needs of justice and the efficient administration thereof may require.

 6. The Magisterial District Justices, when assigned to preside at Central Court, shall exercise all powers given to Magisterial District Judges by the laws of this Commonwealth and the Rules of Criminal Procedure promulgated by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

 7. District Court Administration, acting through the Central Court Manager, shall exercise administrative control over the operation of Central Court, and shall supervise and administer the operation of the same.

 8. The Central Court shall have a new designation as Court 13-3-00. Criminal Complaints initiated by an arrest (with or without a warrant) shall continue to be heard by the issuing authority in the Court in which the complaint has been filed. Pending further order of the Court, criminal complaints that are initiated by summons that do not include a charge of Driving Under the Influence shall continue to be heard at the District Court of the issuing authority.

 9. This local rule shall become effective thirty (30) days from its publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 22-228. Filed for public inspection February 11, 2022, 9:00 a.m.]


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