Section 907. Docketing of Appeal

(a) Docketing of appeal. Upon the receipt of the papers specified in Rule 905(b) (transmission to appellate court) the prothonotary of the appellate court shall immediately enter the appeal upon the docket, note the appellate docket number upon the notice of appeal, and give written notice of the docket number assignment in person or by first class mail to the clerk of the lower court, to the appellant and to the persons named in the proof of service accompanying the notice of appeal. An appeal shall be docketed under the caption given to the mat- ter in the lower court, with the appellant identified as such, but if such caption does not contain the name of the appellant, his name, identified as appellant, shall be added to the caption in the appellate court.

(b) Entry of appearance. Upon the docketing of the appeal the prothonotary of the appellate court shall note on the record as counsel for the appellant the name of counsel, if any, set forth in or endorsed upon the notice of appeal, and, as counsel for other parties, counsel, if any, named in the proof of service. The prothonotary of the appellate court shall upon praecipe of any such counsel for other parties, filed within 30 days after filing of the notice of appeal, strike off or correct the record of appearances. Thereafter a counsel’s appearance for a party may not be withdrawn without leave of court, unless another lawyer has entered or simultaneously enters an appearance for the party.

Official Note

The transmission of a photocopy of the notice of appeal, showing a stamped notation of filing and the appellate docket number assignment, without a letter of transmittal or other formalities, will constitute full compliance with the notice requirement of Subdivision (a) of this rule.

With regard to subdivision (b) and withdrawal of appearance without leave of the appellate court, counsel may nonetheless be subject to trial court supervision pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 904 (Entry of Appearance and Appointment of Counsel; In forma Pauperis).

With respect to appearances by new counsel following the initial docketing appearances pursuant to Subdivision (b) of this rule, please note the requirements of Rule 120.

The provisions of this Rule 907 amended May 16, 1979, effective September 30, 1979, 9 Pa.B. 1740; amended July 7, 1997, effective in sixty days, 27 Pa.B. 3503; amended March 15, 2004, effective 60 days after adoption, 34 Pa.B. 1670. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (231630) and (279429).