148 Amendment of Rule 3.15 of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges; No. 392 magisterial rules doc.

PART II. CONDUCT STANDARDS

[ 207 PA. CODE CH. 51 ]

Amendment of Rule 3.15 of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges; No. 392 Magisterial Rules Doc.

[46 Pa.B. 553]
[Saturday, January 30, 2016]

Order

Per Curiam

 And Now, this 15th day of January, 2016, It Is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that Rule 3.15 of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges is amended in the following form.

 To the extent that notice of proposed rulemaking would otherwise be required by Pa.R.J.A. No. 103, the immediate promulgation of the amendments is found to be in the interests of justice and efficient administration.

 This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(b), and the amendments herein shall be effective immediately.

 Mr. Justice Eakin did not participate in the decision of this matter.

Annex A

TITLE 207. JUDICIAL CONDUCT

PART II. CONDUCT STANDARDS

CHAPTER 51. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT OF MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES

PENNSYLVANIA RULES FOR MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES

Canon 3. A magisterial district judge shall conduct the magisterial district judge's personal and extrajudicial activities to minimize the risk of conflict with the obligations of judicial office.

Rule 3.15. Reporting Requirements.

 (A) A magisterial district judge shall publicly report:

 (1) the source and amount of compensation received for extrajudicial activities as permitted by Rule 3.12;

 [(1)] (2) the source and address of the source of income for compensation over $1,300 for fiduciary activities as permitted by Rule 3.8 and financial activities as permitted by Rule 3.11;

 [(2)] (3) the amount or value of gifts and other things of value as permitted by Rule 3.13(C), unless the value of such items, alone or in the aggregate with other items received from the same source in the same calendar year, does not exceed $250; and

 [(3)] (4) the amount or value of reimbursement of expenses and waiver of fees or charges permitted by Rule 3.14(A), unless the amount of reimbursement or waiver, alone or in the aggregate with other reimbursements or waivers received from the same source in the same calendar year, does not exceed $650.

 (B) When public reporting is required by paragraph (A), a magisterial district judge shall report:

 (1) the date, place, and nature of the activity for which the magisterial district judge received any extrajudicial compensation;

 (2) the date and description of any gift, loan, bequest, benefit, or other thing of value accepted;

 (3) the date and source of any reimbursement of expenses or waiver or partial waiver of fees or charges; and

 (4) the date and source of any gifts, loans, bequests, benefits, or other things of value received by the business, profession, or other separate activity of a spouse, a domestic partner, or other family member of a magisterial district judge residing in the magisterial district judge's household if the source is a party or other person, including a lawyer, who has come or is likely to come before the magisterial district judge, or whose interests have come or are likely to come before the magisterial district judge.

 (C) The public report required by paragraph (A) shall be made at the filing due date for the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Statement of Financial Interest.

 (D) Reports made in compliance with this Rule shall be filed as public documents on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court Statement of Financial Interest form.

Comment:

 Pursuant to the Supreme Court's Order of February 6, 2015, No. 442 Judicial Administration Docket, all judicial officers, as defined therein, shall file a statement of financial interest on a form prescribed by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and approved by this Court or such amended form as may be issued in the future. The Order provides, inter alia, for filing deadlines, electronic submission, and consequences for failure to file and falsification of information on the form.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 16-148. Filed for public inspection January 29, 2016, 9:00 a.m.]