THE COURTS
Title 234—RULES OF
CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
[ 234 PA. CODE CHS. 1, 4 AND 5 ]
Order Amending Rules 135, 460, and 547 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure; No. 554 Criminal Procedural Rules Docket
[54 Pa.B. 2738]
[Saturday, May 18, 2024]
Order Per Curiam
And Now, this 2nd day of May, 2024, upon the recommendation of the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee; the proposal having been published for public comment at 50 Pa.B. 5224 (September 26, 2020):
It is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that Rules 135, 460, and 547 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure are amended in the attached form.
This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 103(b), and shall be effective April 1, 2025.
Additions to the rule are shown in bold and are underlined.
Deletions from the rule are shown in bold and brackets.
Annex A
TITLE 234. RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
CHAPTER 1. SCOPE OF RULES, CONSTRUCTION AND DEFINITIONS, LOCAL RULES
PART C. Venue, Location, and Recording of Proceedings Before Issuing Authority Rule 135. Transcript of Proceedings Before Issuing Authority.
[(A)] (a) The issuing authority shall prepare and forward to the court of common pleas a transcript of the proceedings in all summary cases when an appeal is taken and in all court cases when the defendant is held for court.
[(B)] (b) The transcript shall contain the following information, where applicable:
(1) the date and place of hearings;
(2) the names and addresses of the prosecutor, defendant, and witnesses;
(3) the names and office addresses of counsel in the proceeding;
(4) the charge against the defendant as set forth in the prosecutor's complaint;
(5) the date of issuance of any citation, summons, or warrant of arrest and the return of service thereon;
(6) a statement whether the parties and witnesses were sworn and which of these persons testified;
(7) when the defendant was held for court the amount of bail set;
(8) the nature of the bail posted and the name and address of the corporate surety or individual surety;
(9) a notation that the defendant has or has not been fingerprinted;
(10) a specific description of any defect properly raised in accordance with Rule 109;
(11) a notation that the defendant was advised of the right to apply for the assignment of counsel;
(12) the defendant's plea of guilty or not guilty, the decision that was rendered in the case and the date thereof, and the judgment of sentence and place of confinement, if any; and
(13) any other information required by the rules to be in the issuing authority's transcript.
(c) Electronic Transmission.
(1) The president judge by local rule may require the transcript and any associated documents to be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.
(2) The electronically scanned transcript and associated documents shall constitute the original documents for purposes of these rules.
(3) The issuing authority shall retain the physical paper transcript and associated documents as may be required by rule of court or records retention policies.
Comment: The requirement of a docket was deleted from this rule in 1985 because dockets are now routinely maintained under the supervision of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. It is expected that issuing authorities will continue to keep dockets of criminal proceedings. The transcript requirements presuppose an accurate docket to supply the information necessary to prepare a transcript.
The procedures regarding the filing of a transcript after appeal in summary cases are set forth in Rule [460(C) and (D)] 460(c) and (d). For such procedures after the defendant is held for court in a court case, see Rule 547. With regard to other information required by the rules to be in the transcript, see, e.g., Rule 542(G)(1).
The requirement that there be a notation indicating whether the defendant has been fingerprinted as required by the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9112, is to alert the district attorney and the court whether it is necessary to have the defendant fingerprinted after the case is held for court.
[Official Note: Formerly Rule 125 adopted June 30, 1964, effective January 1, 1965; suspended effective May 1, 1970, revised January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; renumbered Rule 26 and subparagraphs (b)(5) and (b)(10) amended September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; subparagraph (b)(10) amended April 8, 1982, effective July 1, 1982; previous subparagraph (b)(7) deleted January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983; amended July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; effective date extended to July 1, 1986; renumbered Rule 135 and amended March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended July 10, 2008, effective February 1, 2009.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court's Order at 30 Pa.B. 1477 (March 18, 2000).
Final Report explaining the July 10, 2008 amendment adding new paragraph (9) requiring a notation of fingerprinting published with the Court's Order at 38 Pa.B. 3975 (July 26, 2008).]
CHAPTER 4. PROCEDURES IN SUMMARY CASES
PART F. Procedures in Summary Cases for Appealing to Court of Common Pleas for Trial De Novo Rule 460. Notice of Appeal; Transmittal of Transcript and Associated Documents.
[(A)] (a) When an appeal is authorized by law in a summary proceeding, including an appeal following a prosecution for violation of a municipal ordinance that provides for imprisonment upon conviction or upon failure to pay a fine, an appeal shall be perfected by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days after the entry of the guilty plea, the conviction, or other final order from which the appeal is taken. The notice of appeal shall be filed with the clerk of courts.
[(B)] (b) The notice of appeal shall contain the following information:
(1) the name and address of the appellant;
(2) the name and address of the issuing authority who accepted the guilty plea or heard the case;
(3) the magisterial district number in which the case was heard;
(4) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation;
(5) the date of the entry of the guilty plea, the conviction, or other final order from which the appeal is taken;
(6) the offense(s) of which convicted or to which a guilty plea was entered, if any;
(7) the sentence imposed, and if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
(8) the type or amount of bail or collateral, if any, furnished to the issuing authority;
(9) the name and address of the attorney, if any, filing the notice of appeal; and
(10) except when the appeal is from a guilty plea or a conviction, the grounds relied upon for appeal.
[(C)] (c) Within [5] five days after filing the notice of appeal, a copy shall be served either personally or by mail by the clerk of courts upon the issuing authority, the affiant, and the appellee or appellee's attorney, if any.
[(D)] (d) The issuing authority shall, within 20 days after receipt of the notice of appeal, file with the clerk of courts:
(1) the transcript of the proceedings;
(2) the original complaint or citation, or a copy thereof if electronically transmitting the transcript and associated documents, if any;
(3) the summons or warrant of arrest, if any; and
(4) the bail bond, if any.
(e) Electronic Transmission.
(1) The president judge by local rule may require the transcript and any associated documents to be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.
(2) The electronically scanned transcript and associated documents shall constitute the original documents for purposes of these rules.
(3) The issuing authority shall retain the physical paper transcript and associated documents as may be required by rule of court or records retention policies.
[(E)] (f) This rule shall provide the exclusive means of appealing from a summary guilty plea or conviction. Courts of common pleas shall not issue writs of certiorari in such cases.
[(F)] (g) This rule shall not apply to appeals from contempt adjudications.
Comment: This rule is derived from former Rule 86(A), (D), (E), (F), (H), and (I).
This rule applies to appeals in all summary proceedings, including appeals from prosecutions for violations of municipal ordinances that provide for the possibility of imprisonment, and default hearings. The narrow holding in City of Easton v. Marra, 326 A.2d 637 (Pa. Super. 1974), is not in conflict, since the record before the court did not indicate that imprisonment was possible under the ordinance there in question.
[This rule was amended in 2000 to make it clear in] Subdivision (a) makes clear that in a summary criminal case [that] the defendant may file an appeal for a trial de novo following the entry of a guilty plea.
Appeals from contempt adjudications are governed by Rule 141.
[The narrow holding in City of Easton v. Marra, 326 A.2d 637 (Pa. Super. 1974), is not in conflict, since the record before the court did not indicate that imprisonment was possible under the ordinance there in question.
See] See Rule 461 for the procedures for executing a sentence of imprisonment when there is a stay.
''Entry,'' as used in this rule, means the date on which the issuing authority enters or records the guilty plea, the conviction, or other order in the magisterial district judge computer system.
When the only issues on appeal arise solely from an issuing authority's determination after a default hearing pursuant to Rule 456, the matter must be heard de novo by the appropriate judge of the court of common pleas and only those issues arising from the default hearing are to be considered. It is not intended to reopen other issues not properly preserved for appeal. A determination after a default hearing would be a final order for purposes of these rules.
[Paragraph (D) was amended in 2003 to align this rule with Rule 401(A), which permits the electronic transmission of parking violation information in lieu of filing a citation. Therefore, in] In electronically transmitted parking violation cases [only], because there is no original citation, the issuing authority would file the summons with the clerk of courts pursuant to [paragraph (D)(3)] subdivision (d)(3).
Rule 462(D) provides for the dismissal of an appeal when the defendant fails to appear for the trial de novo.
[See] See Rule 462(F) regarding the retention of a case at the court of common pleas when a petition to file an appeal nunc pro tunc has been denied.
Certiorari was abolished by the Criminal Rules in 1973 pursuant to Article V Schedule Section 26 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which specifically empowers the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to do so by rule. This Schedule section is still viable, and the substance of this Schedule section has also been included in the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 934. The abolition of certiorari continues with this rule.
For dismissal upon satisfaction or by agreement in summary cases, as defined in Rule 103, that have been appealed to the court of common pleas, see Rule 463.
[Official Note: Former Rule 86 adopted July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; revised September 23, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; the January 1, 1986 effective dates extended to July 1, 1986; amended February 2, 1989, effective March 1, 1989; amended March 22, 1993, effective January 1, 1994; amended October 28, 1994, effective as to cases instituted on or after January 1, 1995; amended February 27, 1995, effective July 1, 1995; amended October 1, 1997, effective October 1, 1998; amended May 14, 1999, effective July 1, 1999; amended March 3, 2000, effective July 1, 2000; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and paragraphs (A), (D), (E), (F), (H), and (I) replaced by Rule 460. New Rule 460 adopted March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended February 6, 2003, effective July 1, 2003; Comment revised February 28, 2003, effective July 1, 2003; Comment revised December 29, 2017, effective April 1, 2018; Comment revised January 27, 2021, effective June 1, 2021.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Former Rule 86:
Final Report explaining the March 22, 1993 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 23 Pa.B. 1699 (April 10, 1993).
Final Report explaining the October 28, 1994 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 24 Pa.B. 5843 (November 26, 1994).
Final Report explaining the February 27, 1995 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 25 Pa.B. 935 (March 18, 1995).
Final Report explaining the October 1, 1997 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 27 Pa.B. 5408 (October 18, 1997.)
Final Report explaining the March 3, 2000 amendments concerning appeals from guilty pleas published with the Court's Order 30 Pa.B. 1509 (March 18, 2000).
New Rule 460:
Final Report explaining the reorganization and renumbering of the rules and the provisions of Rule 460 published at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
Final Report explaining the February 6, 2003 changes concerning electronically transmitted parking citations published at 33 Pa.B. 969 (February 22, 2003).
Final Report explaining the February 28, 2003 Comment revision cross-referencing Rule 461 published with the Court's Order at 33 Pa.B. 1324 (March 15, 2003).
Final Report explaining the December 29, 2017 Comment revision cross-referencing Rule 462(F) published with the Court's Order at 48 Pa.B. 226 (January 12, 2018).
Final Report explaining the January 27, 2021 Comment revisions regarding dismissal by agreement of summary cases in the common pleas court pursuant to Rule 458 published with the Court's Order at 51 Pa.B. 688 (February 6, 2021).]
CHAPTER 5. PRETRIAL PROCEDURES IN
COURT CASES
PART D. Proceedings in Court Cases Before Issuing Authorities Rule 547. [Return] Transmittal of Transcript and [Original Papers] Associated Documents.
[(A)] (a) When a defendant is held for court, or after the issuing authority receives notice that the case will be presented to the indicting grand jury and closes out the case, the issuing authority shall prepare a transcript of the proceedings. The transcript shall contain all the information required by these rules to be recorded on the transcript. It shall be signed by the issuing authority, and have affixed to it the issuing authority's seal of office.
[(B)] (b) The issuing authority shall transmit the transcript to the clerk of the proper court within [5] five days after holding the defendant for court or after closing out the case upon receipt of the notice that the case will be presented to the indicting grand jury.
[(C)] (c) In addition to this transcript the issuing authority also shall transmit the following [items] documents:
(1) the original complaint or a copy thereof if electronically transmitting the transcript and associated documents;
(2) the summons or the warrant of arrest and its return;
(3) all affidavits filed in the proceeding;
(4) the appearance or bail bond for the defendant, if any, or a copy of the order committing the defendant to custody;
(5) a request for the court of common pleas to issue a bench warrant as required in Rule 543(D)(3)(b);
(6) notice informing the court of common pleas that the defendant has failed to comply with the fingerprint order as required in Rule 543(D)(3)(b)(ii); and
(7) a copy of the notice that the case will be presented to the indicting grand jury.
(d) Electronic Transmission.
(1) The president judge by local rule may require the transcript and any associated documents to be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents.
(2) The electronically scanned transcript and associated documents shall constitute the original documents for purposes of these rules.
(3) The issuing authority shall retain the physical paper transcript and associated documents as may be required by rule of court or records retention policies.
Comment: [See] See Rule 135 for the general contents of the transcript. There are a number of other rules that require certain things to be recorded on the transcript to make a record of the proceedings before the issuing authority. See, e.g., Rules 542(G)(1) and 543.
When the case is held for court pursuant to Rule 543(D)(3), the issuing authority must include with the transcript transmittal a request for the court of common pleas to issue a bench warrant.
When the case is held for court pursuant to Rule 543(D)(3)(b)(ii), the issuing authority must include with the transcript transmittal a notice to the court of common pleas that the defendant has not complied with the fingerprint order issued pursuant to Rule 510(C)(2). See [Rule] Pa.R.Crim.P. 543(D)(3)(b)(ii). The court of common pleas [must] shall take whatever actions deemed appropriate to address this non-compliance.
[See] See Chapter 5 Part E for the procedures governing indicting grand juries. Pursuant to Rule 556.2(A)(3), the judge [is required to] shall notify the issuing authority that the case will be presented to the indicting grand jury. Pursuant to Rule [556.11(A)] 556.2(A)(3)(a), upon receipt of the notice, the issuing authority [is required to] shall close out the case in his or her office, and forward it to the court of common pleas for all further proceedings. When the case is transmitted to the court of common pleas, the clerk of courts should associate the transcript and other documents transmitted by the issuing authority with the motion and order filed pursuant to Rule 556.2(A)(5).
When arrest warrant information has been sealed pursuant to Rule 513.1, the arrest warrant information already will have been filed with the clerk of courts. When the case is transmitted to the court of common pleas, the clerk of courts should associate the transcript and other documents transmitted by the issuing authority with the original file created for the sealing procedure.
For when the magisterial district court or the Philadelphia Municipal Court is required to transmit the contact information of the victim to the court of common pleas, see 18 P.S. § 11.201(2)(iii)(B).
[Official Note: Formerly Rule 126, adopted June 30, 1964, effective January 1, 1965; suspended January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; revised January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; renumbered Rule 146 and amended September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; amended October 22, 1981, effective January 1, 1982; amended July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; effective date extended to July 1, 1986; renumbered Rule 547 and amended March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended August 24, 2004, effective August 1, 2005; amended May 1, 2007, effective September 4, 2007, and May 1, 2007 Order amended May 15, 2007; amended July 10, 2008, effective February 1, 2009; amended June 21, 2012, effective in 180 days; amended December 23, 2013, effective March 1, 2014.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court's Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
Final Report explaining the August 24, 2004 changes published with the Court's Order at 34 Pa.B. 5025 (September 11, 2004).
Final Report explaining the May 1, 2007 amendments concerning the request for a bench warrant published with the Court's Order at 37 Pa.B. 2496 (June 2, 2007).
Final Report explaining the July 10, 2008 amendments to paragraph (C)(6) concerning the fingerprint order published at 38 Pa.B. 3971 (July 26, 2008).
Final Report explaining June 21, 2012 amendments to paragraph (A) and adding paragraph (C)(7) concerning indicting grand juries published with the Court's Order at 42 Pa.B. 4140 (July 7, 2012).
Final Report explaining the December 23, 2013 Comment revisions concerning sealed arrest warrant documents published with the Court's Order at 44 Pa.B. 239 (January 11, 2014).]
SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
CRIMINAL PROCEDURAL RULES COMMITTEE
ADOPTION REPORT
Amendment of Pa.R.Crim.P. 135, 460, and 547 On May 2, 2024, the Supreme Court amended Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure 135, 460, and 547. The Criminal Procedural Rules Committee has prepared this Adoption Report describing the rulemaking process. An Adoption Report should not be confused with Comments to the rules. See Pa.R.J.A. 103, cmt. The statements contained herein are those of the Committee, not the Court.
Background
Prior to the amendments discussed below, Pa.R.Crim.P. 460(D) required an issuing authority to file the transcript, original complaint or citation, the summons or warrant of arrest, and the bail bond with the clerk of courts if an appeal were taken. Similarly, Pa.R.Crim.P. 547(b)-(c) required an issuing authority to transmit to the clerk of courts a number of documents, including the original complaint, along with the transcript, if a defendant had been held for court or if the case was to be presented to the indicting grand jury. These rules required the transcript and documents to be physically transferred in their paper form.
With the introduction of the Electronic Records Management System (ERMS), magisterial district courts are now able to scan paper documents and convert them into an electronic format. Because of the availability of this technology, the Committee began considering amendments to the rules that would permit magisterial district courts to electronically transmit scanned transcripts and documents to the clerk of courts. Electronically transmitting these documents would eliminate delay and reduce costs.
To accomplish this modernization of the rules, the Committee favored rulemaking that would subject the electronic transmission of transcripts and documents to minimal requirements. First, the Committee chose to make the practice voluntary. By making the practice voluntary, the rules would not interfere with existing local procedures, or local procedures still being developed, by mandating statewide procedures. Additionally, the benefits of electronic transmission were viewed as sufficiently persuasive to render compulsion unnecessary. Second, rather than allowing electronic transmission to be at the discretion of each magisterial district court, the adoption of electronic transmission should be at the president judge's direction, ensuring uniformity across the judicial district. Third, any documents that were originally in paper form, including the transcript, would remain with the magisterial district court subject to the Court's Record Retention Policy. See 204 Pa. Code § 213.51.1
The Committee published a proposal consistent with the above requirements for comment. See 50 Pa.B. 5224 (September 26, 2020). One response was received from a clerk of courts who questioned whether the proposal would include miscellaneous cases such as fugitives from justice, see 42 Pa.C.S. § 9134, and indirect criminal contempt, see 23 Pa.C.S. § 6114. The Committee concluded that these types of cases should not be included because the rules do not currently provide for the transfer of these miscellaneous dockets. Moreover, the scope of the proposal was limited to court cases and appeals from summary proceedings. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 135(a), 460(a), and 547(a).
Amendments
Rules 135, 460, and 547 have each been amended to include a new subdivision titled ''Electronic Transmission,'' which is further subdivided into three additional subdivisions. The new subdivision provides for a president judge to require, via the adoption of a local rule, that ''the transcript and any associated documents [ ] be electronically scanned and transmitted to the clerk of courts in digital format in lieu of transmitting the physical paper transcript and associated documents;'' identifies the scanned transcript and associated documents as the original documents for purposes of these rules; and requires the magisterial district judge to ''retain the physical paper transcript and associated documents as may be required by rule of court or records retention policies.'' Pa.R.Crim.P. 135(c); Pa.R.Crim.P. 460(e); Pa.R.Crim.P. 547(d).
Rules 460 and 547 have also been amended to permit a copy of the complaint or citation, which ever applies, to be transmitted electronically when electronically transmitting the transcript and associated documents. Pa.R.Crim.P. 460(d)(2); Pa.R.Crim.P. 547(c)(1). Prior to this amendment, the original complaint or citation was required to be transmitted with the transcript. If the physical file is mailed or couriered to the clerk of courts, the original is still required.
Finally, the title of Rule 460 has been amended to read, ''Notice of Appeal; Transmittal of Transcript and Associated Documents,'' and the title to Rule 547 has been amended to read, ''Transmittal of Transcript and Associated Documents.''
* * *
The following commentary has been removed from Rule 135:
Official Note: Formerly Rule 125 adopted June 30, 1964, effective January 1, 1965; suspended effective May 1, 1970, revised January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; renumbered Rule 26 and subparagraphs (b)(5) and (b)(10) amended September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; subparagraph (b)(10) amended April 8, 1982, effective July 1, 1982; previous subparagraph (b)(7) deleted January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983; amended July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; effective date extended to July 1, 1986; renumbered Rule 135 and amended March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended July 10, 2008, effective February 1, 2009.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court's Order at 30 Pa.B. 1477 (March 18, 2000).
Final Report explaining the July 10, 2008 amendment adding new paragraph (9) requiring a notation of fingerprinting published with the Court's Order at 38 Pa.B. 3975 (July 26, 2008).
The following commentary has been removed from Rule 460:
Comment, ¶ 9: ''Paragraph (D) was amended in 2003 to align this rule with Rule 401(A), which permits the electronic transmission of parking violation information in lieu of filing a citation.''
Official Note: Former Rule 86 adopted July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; revised September 23, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; the January 1, 1986 effective dates extended to July 1, 1986; amended February 2, 1989, effective March 1, 1989; amended March 22, 1993, effective January 1, 1994; amended October 28, 1994, effective as to cases instituted on or after January 1, 1995; amended February 27, 1995, effective July 1, 1995; amended October 1, 1997, effective October 1, 1998; amended May 14, 1999, effective July 1, 1999; amended March 3, 2000, effective July 1, 2000; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and paragraphs (A), (D), (E), (F), (H), and (I) replaced by Rule 460. New Rule 460 adopted March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended February 6, 2003, effective July 1, 2003; Comment revised February 28, 2003, effective July 1, 2003; Comment revised December 29, 2017, effective April 1, 2018; Comment revised January 27, 2021, effective June 1, 2021.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Former Rule 86:
Final Report explaining the March 22, 1993 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 23 Pa.B. 1699 (April 10, 1993).
Final Report explaining the October 28, 1994 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 24 Pa.B. 5843 (November 26, 1994).
Final Report explaining the February 27, 1995 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 25 Pa.B. 935 (March 18, 1995).
Final Report explaining the October 1, 1997 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 27 Pa.B. 5408 (October 18, 1997.)
Final Report explaining the March 3, 2000 amendments concerning appeals from guilty pleas published with the Court's Order 30 Pa.B. 1509 (March 18, 2000).
New Rule 460:
Final Report explaining the reorganization and renumbering of the rules and the provisions of Rule 460 published at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
Final Report explaining the February 6, 2003 changes concerning electronically transmitted parking citations published at 33 Pa.B. 969 (February 22, 2003).
Final Report explaining the February 28, 2003 Comment revision cross-referencing Rule 461 published with the Court's Order at 33 Pa.B. 1324 (March 15, 2003).
Final Report explaining the December 29, 2017 Comment revision cross-referencing Rule 462(F) published with the Court's Order at 48 Pa.B. 226 (January 12, 2018).
Final Report explaining the January 27, 2021 Comment revisions regarding dismissal by agreement of summary cases in the common pleas court pursuant to Rule 458 published with the Court's Order at 51 Pa.B. 688 (February 6, 2021).
The following commentary has been removed from Rule 547:
Official Note: Formerly Rule 126, adopted June 30, 1964, effective January 1, 1965; suspended January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; revised January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; renumbered Rule 146 and amended September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; amended October 22, 1981, effective January 1, 1982; amended July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; effective date extended to July 1, 1986; renumbered Rule 547 and amended March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended August 24, 2004, effective August 1, 2005; amended May 1, 2007, effective September 4, 2007, and May 1, 2007 Order amended May 15, 2007; amended July 10, 2008, effective February 1, 2009; amended June 21, 2012, effective in 180 days; amended December 23, 2013, effective March 1, 2014.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court's Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
Final Report explaining the August 24, 2004 changes published with the Court's Order at 34 Pa.B. 5025 (September 11, 2004).
Final Report explaining the May 1, 2007 amendments concerning the request for a bench warrant published with the Court's Order at 37 Pa.B. 2496 (June 2, 2007).
Final Report explaining the July 10, 2008 amendments to paragraph (C)(6) concerning the fingerprint order published at 38 Pa.B. 3971 (July 26, 2008).
Final Report explaining June 21, 2012 amendments to paragraph (A) and adding paragraph (C)(7) concerning indicting grand juries published with the Court's Order at 42 Pa.B. 4140 (July 7, 2012).
Final Report explaining the December 23, 2013 Comment revisions concerning sealed arrest warrant documents published with the Court's Order at 44 Pa.B. 239 (January 11, 2014).
* * *
These amendments are effective April 1, 2025.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 24-705. Filed for public inspection May 17, 2024, 9:00 a.m.] _______
1 The paper version of the documents, including wet signatures, have no discernable administrative or evidentiary value in subsequent proceedings. See also Pa.R.Crim.P. 103 (defining ''copy'' and ''signature''). The archival value is governed by the Record Retention Policy.
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