In Re: Order Amending Rules 1950-1952 and 1954 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Judicial Administration

Summary

This document amends Pennsylvania Rules of Judicial Administration Nos. 1950–1952 and 1954. The amendments address continuity-of-operations and emergency-action planning, emergency authorities and procedures, and court security committees, incident reporting, and facility security assessments. The rules assign responsibilities to the Supreme Court, Court Administrator, president judges, and district court administrators during emergencies.

Holdings

1. Pennsylvania judicial districts must develop, maintain, review, and certify continuity-of-operations plans and emergency action plans under standards and procedures established by the Court Administrator.
2. Upon declaration or authorization of a judicial emergency, the Supreme Court may take specified statewide or district-specific administrative and procedural actions, and an authorized president judge may take enumerated measures to protect persons and property and continue court operations.
3. Each Pennsylvania judicial district must maintain a local court security committee, complete required judicial incident reporting, and conduct court-facility security assessments as prescribed by the amended rule and the Court Administrator.

Questions Presented

1. What amendments should govern continuity-of-operations planning and emergency action plans for Pennsylvania courts?
2. What authority should the Supreme Court and president judges have to respond to judicial emergencies and maintain court operations?
3. What court security committees, incident-reporting requirements, and security assessments should each Pennsylvania judicial district maintain?

Disposition

other