COVID-19 Court and Bar Association updates

Work From Home Resources

1. Attached here; updated 5/8/2020

Bucks County

1. On the morning of March 17^th, President Judge Bateman signed the attached that declares a judicial emergency in Bucks County from March 17, 2020 through April 14, 2020
2. As a follow up to the Declaration entered earlier on March 17th, President Judge Bateman has entered the attached Orders regarding the functioning of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts through April 14, 2020
   Bucks County CCP Order
   MD Court Order
3. As a follow up to President Judge Bateman’s Administrative Orders issued March 17^th, 2020, on March 18^th, the Family Division of the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas issued the linked general standards outlining the Family Court operations during the Judicial Emergency
4. On March 18^th, Judge Robert O. Baldi sent out this linked notice to members of the bar
5. Linked here please find a Message to the Bar from Linda Bobrin, Esquire, Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court. The Message concerns office access and safety protocols and procedures being implemented by the ROW to combat the ongoing Coronavirus situation
6. A message (LINK) from the Recorder of Deeds of Bucks County for their modified operations
7. Please see the Emergency Order No. 2020-03 (Bucks County) (LINK) signed by President Judge Bateman pursuant to the latest PA Supreme Court Order
8. March 23rd Order for individuals to stay at home: linked here
9. CIVIL FILINGS – STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ISSUE
10. NOTICE REGARDING CONTINUANCE OF CIVIL TRIALS AND ARBITRATIONS
11. Update – House Arrest Petitions and Procedures, click here
12. NOTICE REGARDING POSTPONEMENT OF APRIL 9, 2020 SHERIFF’S SALES, click here
13. Attached is Emergency Order 2020-08 signed by President Judge Bateman on Friday, March 27, 2020
14. Please find the new Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court policy related to taking application via Zoom or other methods during this pandemic
15. Please see Emergency Order 2020-09 received from Court Administration. The Order addresses the functioning of Magisterial District Courts
16. Attached is Emergency Order 2020-10 signed by President Judge Bateman on April 2, 2020
17. Update from Dave Kratz, Deputy Director, Bucks County Dept of Corrections, click here
18. Recording from ‘State of the Bucks County Courts’ – April 3, 2020 https://bluejeans.com/s/pW@ZL
19. Update from DA’s office (Jen Schorn) regarding early guilty pleas for those who are incarcerated at BCCF, click here
20. Attached is Emergency Order 2020-11 signed by President Judge Bateman on April 8, 2020 which sets forth the procedure for the operation of Family Court during the judicial emergency through May 15, 2020
21. Emergency Order 2020-12 signed by President Judge Bateman on April 14, 2020, addresses the continuation of pre-trial civil practice, including the discovery process, during the judicial emergency.
22. Liked here is the Supreme Court Order released on 4/15 temporarily permitting all CLE credits to be obtained with distance learning programs through the end of 2020.
23. Updates from Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court Linda Bobrin: The new Fast Track electronic probate program, and the new discount for marriage license fees for first responders and medical personnel
24. President Judge Bateman signed the attached Emergency Order 2020-13 that extends the Judicial Emergency through May 31, 2020
25. Attached is Emergency Order 2020-14 signed by President Judge Bateman on April 28, 2020 which sets forth Juvenile Dependency Child Visitation Procedures during the Period of the Judicial Emergency
26. Attached are Emergency Orders 2020-13.1 and 2020-14.1 signed by President Judge Bateman on April 30, 2020 which amend two filing deadlines to comport with the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Order issued on April 28, 2020
27. Attached is Emergency Order 2020-15 signed by President Judge Bateman which outlines the return to normal business hours of operations as of Monday, June 1, 2020 for the court of common pleas, the magisterial district courts and court filing offices; measures to address the safety issues arising from the pandemic; and the entry protocol for court visitors and employees. Also attached to supplement the entry protocol attached to Order 2020-15 are:
    1. Aerial plan noting location of checkpoints and tents outside the Justice Center to process visitors and employees through separate entrances; and
    2. Diagram of Justice Center lobby showing flow of traffic and screening procedures for visitors and employees.
28. Attached is Emergency Order 2020-16 signed by President Judge Bateman which does not affect the opening of the courts on June 1, 2020, subject to new entry and screening protocols, but instead extends the judicial emergency for the following distinct purposes only:
    1. Statewide rules pertaining to a criminal defendant’s right to a prompt trial are suspended for duration of this order.
    2. Statewide rules restricting the use of advanced communication technologies are suspended for duration of this order
29. Emergency Order 2020-17 signed by President Judge Bateman which suspends all grand jury proceedings during the period of the judicial emergency and shall expire on August 29, 2020 unless further extended by Court Order
30. Emergency Order 2020-18 signed by President Judge Bateman on July 24, 2020 which extends the judicial emergency for the following distinct purposes only:
    1. Suspension of Rule-Based Right of Criminal defendants to Prompt Trial in Emergency Order 2020-16 is extended to 9/28/20.
    2. Suspension of statewide rules restricting use of Advanced Communication Technologies (ACT) in Emergency Order 2020-16 is extended to 9/28/20.
    3. Suspension of Grand Jury Proceedings in Emergency Order 2020-17 is extended to 9/28/20.
    4. No trials requiring jury of 12, whether civil or criminal, will be held prior to 9/28/20
31. Emergency Order 2020-20 signed by President Judge Bateman on September 21, 2020 which extends the judicial emergency for the following distinct purposes only:
    1. Suspension of Rule-Based Right of Criminal Defendants to Prompt Trial in Emergency Order 2020-16 is extended to December 31, 2020.
    2. Suspension of statewide rules restricting use of Advanced Communication Technology (ACT) in Emergency Order 2020-16 is extended to December 31, 2020.
    3. Suspension of Grand Jury Proceedings in Emergency Order 2020-17 is extended to December 31, 2020.
32. Emergency Order 2020-21 signed by President Judge Bateman on September 30, 2020 which ends the suspension of grand jury proceedings in Bucks County. As a result, grand jury proceedings may recommence immediately.
33. Emergency Order 2020-22 signed by President Judge Bateman on November 5, 2020 which extends the judicial emergency for the following distinct purposes only:
    1. Suspension of Rule-Based Right of Criminal Defendants to Prompt Trial in Emergency Order 2020-16 is extended to February 26, 2021
    2. Suspension of statewide rules restricting use of Advanced Communication Technology (ACT) in Emergency Order 2020-16 is extended to February 26, 2021.
    3. There will be no criminal or civil trials requiring a jury of 12 before January 1, 2021.
    4. There will be no civil jury trials between November 30, 2020 and January 1, 2021
34. Emergency Order 2020-23 signed by President Judge Bateman on December 3, 2020 which extends the judicial emergency for the seventh judicial district for the following distinct purpose: No jury trials, whether criminal or civil in nature and without regard to the number of jurors required, will be conducted prior to March 1, 2021.
35. On behalf of the Magisterial District Courts of Bucks County, please see the attached  “District Court Procedures during COVID” document.
36. Emergency Order 2020-24 signed by President Judge Bateman on December 18, 2020 which extends the judicial emergency for the seventh judicial district through March 31, 2021. Among the Court’s directives set forth in this Order:
    1. Jury trials, whether criminal or civil in nature regardless of the number of jurors required, are suspended through March 31, 2021.
    2. Compulsory arbitration proceedings and Formal Arraignments will be suspended through March 31, 2021.
    3. Sheriff Sales scheduled for January, February and March, 2021 are postponed and shall be rescheduled to April 9, 2021.
    4. Advanced Communication Technology (ACT) shall be used to conduct proceedings in common pleas and magisterial district courts whenever practicable.
    5. Pa. R.Crim. P. 600 is suspended for the duration of the judicial emergency or through such date as may be declared by Order of Court.
    6. Normal hours of operation will be maintained by all court offices.
37. Emergency Order 2021-1 signed By President Judge Bateman on March 5, 2021 which follows his last Emergency Order (2020-24) issued on December 18, 2020. Emergency Order 2021-1 extends the judicial emergency generally and for limited purposes for the seventh judicial district through June 30, 2021. Among the directives in this Order:
    1. Jury Trials, whether criminal or civil in nature and regardless of the number of jurors required, are suspended through May 31, 2021.
    2. Compulsory arbitration proceedings are suspended through April 30, 2021.
    3. Advanced Communication Technology (ACT) shall be used to conduct proceedings in common pleas and magisterial district courts whenever practicable during the duration of the judicial emergency.
    4. Although criminal jury trials are suspended through May 31, 2021, Pa. R. Crim. P. 600 is suspended for the duration of the judicial emergency or through such date as may be declared by further order of court.

Pennsylvania Courts

1. Primary website:  http://www.pacourts.us/
2. On March 18^th, the Supreme Court order issued the following order generally closing the courts statewide from the close of business yesterday through April 3.  Here is a link to the news release:  http://www.pacourts.us/assets/files/page-1305/file-8638.pdf.  Here is a link to the actual order:  http://www.pacourts.us/assets/files/page-1305/file-8634.pdf
3. AOPC website regarding county by county court operations and proceedings.  This page is also very helpful as important new information is added as needed: http://www.pacourts.us/ujs-coronavirus-information
4. CLE rule changes (ABA site): https://www.americanbar.org/events-cle/mcle/mcle_rules_suspensions/
5. UJS Coronavirus Information: http://www.pacourts.us/ujs-coronavirus-information
6. AOPC Update for Lawyers Participating in Court Functions: The following statement has been issued by H. Geoffrey Moulton Jr., court administrator, Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts “In the view of AOPC, restricted access to law offices and facilities by legal professionals, staff, and clients is permitted to the degree 1.to allow attorneys to participate in court functions deemed essential by a President Judge per the Supreme Court’s order of March 18, 2020, so long as social distancing and other mitigation measures are employed for the protection of lawyers, staff, and clients. Pursuant to the Governor’s order, all other business must be conducted remotely; necessary retrieval of files or other materials should be accomplished expeditiously.”
7. Recent decisions by the Supreme Court related to the Practice of Law by Attorneys: Per curiam order
8. The Supreme Court supplemented its March 18, 2020 emergency declaration order. A copy of the supplemental order is attached
9. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Cancels April Session: linked here
10. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued this Order extending the statewide judicial emergency through April 30, 2020
11. Supreme Court entered the attached Order that extends the statewide judicial emergency through June 1, 2020 while directing courts to restore a wider range of operations in consideration of public safety
12. Pennsylvania Board of Law Examiners Announces Rescheduling of July 2020 Bar Exam and Supervised-Practice Order; click here for Supreme Court Order 837

Other Information

1. Montgomery County (PA) Courts: https://montcopa.org/285/County-Courts
2. Pennsylvania Extends Personal Income Tax Return Filing Deadline to July 15, 2020: https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/payment-deadline-extended-to-july-15-2020
3. A message from Lawyers Concerned for Lawyers, linked here
4. Pennsylvania Allows Remote Notarization of Some Documents During Coronavirus Emergency: https://www.dos.pa.gov/Documents/2020-04-02-Remote-Notarization.pdf
5. PBA Published Opinion on the Ethical Obligations for Lawyers Working Remotely, click here
6. Linked here are several documents and explanations for the updated orders and guidance that Governor Wolf issued recently. The original Stay at Home Order that was issued by the Governor on April 1st is set to expire so that the Governor is extending it through June 4th to allow for the phased transition of counties from the Red designation during the length of the revised order. For those counties moving to the Yellow phase on May 8th, Governor Wolf signed a new Order for those 24 counties to move into the next phase of Pennsylvania’s COVID -19 response and to authorize certain businesses to reopen, subject to additional guidance that we have previously shared with you. Lastly, Governor Wolf is expected to announce on Friday additional counties that have been identified as being able to move into the Yellow phase (i.e., a limited reopening of businesses) “soon.” See: Governors Stay-At-Home Order Amendment, Governors Yellow Phase Order, Secretary of Health Yellow Phase Order & Guidance for Businesses
7. On May 7th, the Wolf Administration issued an updated list of Life-Sustaining Businesses FAQ to reflect the transition of 24 counties to the yellow phase of the Governor’s re-opening plan on May 8th. Attached is the complete FAQ Document
8. Click here for LCL’s COVID-19 professional, mental health and recovery resource guide, updated March, 2021