Section 1953. Emergency regional administrative units

(a) Within sixty (60) days of the adoption of this Rule, the Court Administrator shall recommend to the Supreme Court the number and designation of ‘‘emergency regional administrative units,’’ ensuring that every judicial district in the Commonwealth is included within an ‘‘emergency regional administrative unit’’ with one or more neighboring judicial districts.

Official Note

The units created pursuant to this rule are similar to those created pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. No. 701(E).

(b) In the event of an emergency affecting any court’s operations, causing the partial or full implementation of a court’s continuity of operations plan under Rule 1951, or if the Supreme Court or president judge declares a judicial emergency under Rule 1952 (A)(1) or (B)(1), the president judge of the affected judicial district or districts may activate the respective emergency regional administrative unit by providing notice to the Court Administrator. Once activated, judges and magisterial district judges may be temporarily assigned to another judicial district within the emergency regional administrative unit as if the judicial districts were operating within a unit created under Pa.R.J.A. No. 701(E).

(c) All judges and magisterial district judges assigned to another judicial district pursuant to this Rule shall have the same power and authority as that vested in a judge or magisterial district judge of that judicial district.

Official Note

See also Pa.R.J.A. No. 701(E).

(d) Whenever a judge or magisterial district judge is assigned to another judicial district pursuant to this Rule, notice shall immediately be sent to the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania.

(e) All expenses of any jurist assigned to another judicial district pursuant to this Rule shall be reimbursed as provided by law.

Comment

Rule 1953 is designed as a companion to Rule of Judicial Administration No. 701(E). Pursuant to Rule 701(E), president judges may petition the Supreme Court to combine with other judicial districts and form ‘‘regional administrative units.’’ Within each regional administrative unit, judges from one judicial district may be temporarily assigned to another judicial district within the unit without first obtaining a judicial assignment order from the Supreme Court. At present, only about half of Pennsylvania’s 60 judicial districts are included within a Rule 701 regional administrative unit. Rule 1953 authorizes the creation of ‘‘Emergency Regional Administrative Units’’ covering all of Pennsylvania’s 60 judicial districts. Through this Rule, in the event of an emergency judges and magisterial district judges from one judicial district within an emergency regional administrative unit may be assigned to another judicial district within the unit without first obtaining a Supreme Court order authorizing the temporary assignment. The Rule directs the Court Administrator of Pennsylvania to recommend to the Supreme Court the number and designation of emergency regional administrative units within 60 days of the adoption of this new Rule.

The provisions of Rule 1953 are adopted December 28, 2009, effective immediately, 40 Pa.B. 218.