Section 622. Time for Court Action Following Non-Jury Trial

(A) A verdict shall be rendered in all non-jury cases within 7 days after trial.

(B) In any case in which a summary offense is joined with the misdemeanor, felony, or murder charges that were tried before the trial judge, the trial judge shall render a verdict on the summary offense, and impose sentence if the judge finds the defendant guilty of the summary offense, even in cases in which the judge has dismissed or found the defendant not guilty on the misdemeanor, felony, or murder charges.

Comment

The 1993 amendment to this rule was prompted by the general revision of post-trial procedures reflected in large part by Rule 720 (Post-Sentence Procedures; Appeal). Before this amendment, Rule 622 was a hybrid. It contained time limits for decisions on several types of motions, and also contained a time limit for verdict in non-jury trials. As a result of the adoption of Rule 720, post-verdict motions for a new trial, for judgment of acquittal, and motions in arrest of judgment were moved to post-sentence under Rule 720. The procedures for a motion for judgment of acquittal after the jury is discharged without agreeing on a verdict were amended in 1993 and moved to Rule 608. Rule 622, as amended, only provides the time limit for verdict in a non-jury case.

Pursuant to Rule 543 (Disposition of Case at Preliminary Hearing), in cases in which there are summary offenses that are joined with the misdemeanor, felony, or murder charges, the issuing authority is prohibited from adjudicating or disposing of the summary offenses, and must forward the summary offenses to the court of common pleas for disposition with the charges held for court. Therefore, when a judge is the trier of fact as to the misdemeanors, felonies, or murder pursuant to this rule, the judge may not remand the summary offense to the issuing authority, but must dispose of the summary offense together with the misdemeanor, felony, and murder.

Official Note

Formerly Rule 302 adopted June 30, 1964, effective January 1, 1965; renumbered Rule 1122 and moved to Chapter 1100, June 29, 1977 and November 22, 1977, effective as to cases in which the indictment or information is filed on or after January 1, 1978; amended January 28, 1983, effective July 1, 1983; amended March 22, 1993, effective as to cases in which trial commences on or after January 1, 1994; renumbered Rule 622 and Comment revised March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001; amended March 9, 2006, effective September 1, 2006.

Committee Explanatory Reports:

Final Report explaining the March 22, 1993 amendments published with the Court’s Order at 23 Pa.B. 1699 (April 10, 1993).

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).

Final Report explaining the March 3, 2006 amendments concerning joinder of summary offenses with misdemeanor, felony, or murder charges published with the Court’s Order at 36 Pa.B. 1392 (March 25, 2006).

The provisions of this Rule 622 amended March 9, 2006, effective September 1, 2006, 36 Pa.B. 1385. Immediately preceding text appears at serial page (265685).