1774 Order amending Rule 101 of the Rules and Standards with Respect to Offices of Magisterial District Judges; no. 374 magisterial doc.

Title 246—MINOR
COURT CIVIL RULES

PART I. GENERAL

[ 246 PA. CODE CH. 100 ]

Order Amending Rule 101 of the Rules and Standards with Respect to Offices of Magisterial District Judges; No. 374 Magisterial Doc.

[44 Pa.B. 5564]
[Saturday, August 23, 2014]

Order

Per Curiam

 And Now, this 5th day of August, 2014, It Is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that Rule 101 of the Pennsylvania Rules and Standards with Respect to Offices of Magisterial District Judges is amended in the following form.

 This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. No. 103(b), and shall be effective on September 4, 2014.

Annex A

TITLE 246. MINOR COURT CIVIL RULES

PART I. GENERAL

CHAPTER 100. RULES AND STANDARDS WITH RESPECT TO OFFICES OF MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT JUDGES

Rule 101. Establishment of Offices. Minimum Office Standards.

 A. The governing body of the county shall establish an office or offices for each magisterial district judge whose magisterial district is situated in the county at such locations within the county as may be approved by the president judge of the court of common pleas of the judicial district which includes the county. The governing body shall insofar as possible insure that each office meets the following minimum standards:

 (1) The principal office should be located in a place convenient to the public and which will allow the business of the office to be conducted with dignity, decorum and dispatch.

 (2) Such office shall not be located in or appurtenant to the residence or place of business of the magisterial district judge. It shall have a hearing room and such other rooms as may be necessary, and shall be provided with necessary furniture and equipment.

 (3) A magisterial district judge shall be provided with such staff, forms, supplies and equipment as shall be necessary for the proper performance of his or her duties. To maintain the dignity of [his] the office, he or she shall be provided with judicial robes.

 (B) The office of a magisterial district judge may be located outside of the boundaries of the magisterial district from which the judge is elected, upon petition of the president judge of the judicial district, provided:

 (1) The magisterial district in which the office is located adjoins the magisterial district from which the judge is elected;

 (2) Relocation of the office would not cause inconvenience or confusion to the public or to law enforcement;

 (3) The president judge certifies that the proposed location is more suitable or affordable than the facilities that are available within the magisterial district from which the judge is elected; and

 (4) Approval for the relocation has been granted by the Supreme Court.

 (C) Petitions for approval of a relocation of a magisterial district judge's office outside of the magisterial district from which he or she has been elected shall be forwarded to the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania and shall provide information to determine whether the conditions for approval have been satisfied. If the Court Administrator determines that the requirements are met, the petition will be forwarded to the Supreme Court for consideration.

Comment

 Consolidated districts must provide separate courtrooms and facilities for separate staff of the magisterial districts that have been consolidated. Districts must comply with standards published by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts for magisterial district courtrooms. Petitions for relocation must be published for public comment and hearing before the petition is submitted to the Court Administrator.

[Pa.B. Doc. No. 14-1774. Filed for public inspection August 22, 2014, 9:00 a.m.]