PIKE COUNTY Local Rule Criminal Rule 131(B); No. 1209-2013-Civil; No. 123-2013-MD [43 Pa.B. 4848]
[Saturday, August 24, 2013]Order And Now, this 29th day of July, 2013, the Court Orders the following:
1. Local Rule of Criminal Procedure 131(B) is hereby effective as of October 1, 2013 after publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin and the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's Webportal;
2. The Court Administrator of the 60th Judicial District is hereby Ordered to do the following:
a. File one (1) certified copy of this Order and the pertinent Rule with the Criminal Procedural Committee;
b. File two (2) certified copies and a computer diskette containing this Order and the pertinent Rule with the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin;
c. File seven (7) certified copies of this Order and the pertinent Rule with the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts;
d. Publish the Rule to the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's Webportal;
e. Provide one (1) copy of this Order and the Local Rule to each member of the Pike County Bar Association who maintain an active practice in Pike County; and
f. Keep continuously available for public inspection, copies of this Order and the Local Rules.
By the Court
HONORABLE JOSEPH F. KAMEEN,
President JudgeLocal Rule of Criminal Procedure 131(B).
The Pike County Court of Common Pleas, having considered the increase in criminal prosecutions over the past several years and the fact that more than 75% of the preliminary hearings before Magisterial District Judges are resolved by waivers to the Court of Common Pleas, now concludes that in order to make the most efficient use of prosecutors, public defenders and the other resources of the MDJ offices as well as the County Judicial District, the creation of a Central Court for conduct of Preliminary Hearings is appropriate and will allow for a more effective and efficient use of judicial personnel and facilities. This central court shall be identified as the Criminal Central Court of Pike County (hereinafter Central Court).
The Pike County Court of Common Pleas hereby directs that the Magisterial District Courts of Pike County shall utilize the Central Court which is hereby created to hear all Preliminary Hearings in criminal cases with the exception of any criminal homicide case as defined under 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2501, § 2502, § 2503, § 2505, § 2506, and § 2507 and 18 Pa.C.S.A. § 2603, § 2604 and § 2605. (The homicide cases set forth above shall be scheduled for a Preliminary Hearing before the Magisterial District Judge of the jurisdiction in which the crime was committed unless the hearing is otherwise scheduled by Court Order.)
The President Judge shall issue an Administrative Order setting the place and time for all proceedings before Central Court.
[Pa.B. Doc. No. 13-1581. Filed for public inspection August 23, 2013, 9:00 a.m.]
