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PA Bulletin, Doc. No. 17-669

THE COURTS

Title 255—LOCAL
COURT RULES

LUZERNE COUNTY

Adoption of New Rule of Judicial Administration Uniform Rules Regarding Broadcasting, Taking of Photographs, Audio, Video or Motion Pictures of Judicial Proceedings in the Hearing Room or Courtroom or its Environs; Local Rule of Judicial Administration; No. 3634 of 2017

[47 Pa.B. 2330]
[Saturday, April 22, 2017]

Order

 And Now, this 22nd day of March, 2017, It Is Hereby Ordered and Decreed that the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas adopts the following local rule governing uniform rules regarding broadcasting, taking of photographs, audio, video, or motion pictures of judicial proceedings in the hearing room or courtroom or its environs for the 11th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania:

 The Luzerne County District Court Administrator is Ordered and Directed to do the following:

 1) File one (1) copy of these Rules with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts via email to adminrulespa@courts.us.

 2) File two (2) paper copies and one (1) electronic copy in a Microsoft Word format only to bulletin@palrb.us with the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin.

 3) Publish these Rules on the Luzerne County Court website at www.luzernecountycourts.com.

 4) File one (1) copy shall be kept continuously available for public inspection and copying in the Office of Judicial Services and Records of Luzerne County and the Wilkes-Barre Law and Library Association.

 5) File one (1) electronic copy of these Rules in Microsoft Word format only to law.library@luzernecounty.org for publication in the Luzerne Legal Register.

 Said Local Rule of Judicial Administration shall be effective in the 11th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania thirty (30) days after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and upon publication on the Luzerne County website.

By the Court

RICHARD M. HUGHES, III, 
President Judge

Luz.Co.R.Jud.A. 1910; Uniform Rules regarding Broadcasting, Taking of Photographs, Audio, Video, or Motion Pictures of Judicial Proceedings in the Hearing Room or Courtroom or its Environs

Rule 1910. Broadcasting, Taking of Photographs, Video or Motion Pictures.

 1. No sound recording, photograph, video recording, cellular phone recording, motion picture of any type may be made or taken of any judicial proceeding which includes during, immediately before or immediately after said proceeding or in any hearing room or courtroom or in the area immediately surrounding the entrances or exits of such rooms, without the prior permission of the presiding judge, the presiding hearing officer or the designee of the presiding judge or the presiding hearing officer.

 2. All electronic devices, including, but not limited to, cellular phones, tablets, laptops and cameras, shall be powered off (not simply muted) in all hearing rooms, courtrooms and in the area immediately surrounding the entrances and exits of such rooms unless permission to activate such device has been first obtained in advance from the presiding judge, the presiding hearing officer or the designee of the presiding judge or the presiding hearing officer. This directive specifically includes parties, witnesses, support staff of participants and attorneys. This provision does not apply to any Deputy Sheriff.

 3. No photograph, video recording or motion picture of any witness, juror, police officer, judge or judicial officer connected to a pending judicial proceeding may be taken or made in the courthouse or in any building housing a courtroom or hearing room, whether or the court is actually in session, without the prior permission of the presiding judge, the presiding hearing officer or the designee of the presiding judge or presiding hearing officer.

 4. The transmission in any form by any means of any conversation or testimony taken by any electronic means during or anytime thereafter any judicial proceeding without the prior permission of the presiding judge, the presiding hearing office or the designee of the presiding judge or presiding hearing officer is strictly prohibited.

 5. Violation of this Order may constitute contempt of court and result in the confiscation of such device and the deletion of any offending data or material on such device, the imposition of a fine of up to $1,000.00 and/or imprisonment of up to six (6) months upon a finding of contempt of this rule.

 6. The presiding judge, the presiding hearing officer the District Court Administrator, the designee of the presiding judge, the presiding hearing officer or the District Court Administrator, including the courtroom staff of the presiding judge or presiding hearing officer and the Sheriff of Luzerne County or his deputy, are authorized to enforce this Order, including taking immediate possession of any offending device.

 7. Any device confiscated pursuant to this Order that is not claimed by its lawful owner within seven (7) business days of such confiscation shall be deemed forfeited to the County of Luzerne.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 17-669. Filed for public inspection April 21, 2017, 9:00 a.m.]


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