Log In


Reset Password

State courts to open Monday

(AP) Pennsylvania courts are being allowed to resume many of the functions that have been suspended for more than a month in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state Supreme Court said in an order issued Tuesday that starting next Monday, state courts will be open to conduct most business unless a local emergency order is in place, although in-person access to court facilities will be limited.

The justices said their order that suspended some court deadlines and time limits will end May 11. Criminal and civil jury trials won’t resume, and the court didn’t indicate when that will happen.

A statewide moratorium on evictions will also end May 11, although the high court said there may be other special federal rules for evictions during the pandemic.

The justices kept a statewide judicial emergency in place until June 1 to give local county president judges flexibility, including over court deadlines.

Lawyers are encouraged to perform depositions remotely. Depositions as well as other mandatory appearances by doctors, nurses and others in health care remain suspended until June 1.