Limited Chester County Court Re-Opening on May 18, 2020

By Lauren Dentone, Esq.

While Chester County Courts are closed through May 31, 2020, Administrative Court Order 9 expands the ability to have non-emergent in-court proceedings beginning as early May 18, 2020 to reduce the backlog of cases.

Evening Hours: Brief hearings are permitted to be scheduled after hours where a litigate is able to demonstrate an unresolvable hardship that prevents the litigate from participating in a hearing during normal business hours.

ARD Hearings: Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition hearings (a program for first-time criminal offenders with non-violent crimes) will begin in staggered formation throughout the day, with not more than five participants in court at any given time.

Summary Appeal, Name Change & Civil Forfeiture Hearings: These cases will be moved from a miscellaneous docket to a civil docket with hearings beginning on May 18, 2020 in front of a civil judge in a staggered fashion to avoid over-crowding.

Violations of Probation: These hearings will be held on Fridays, with all incarcerated individuals participating via video conferencing.

Additional safety measures are explained in Admin Order 9, which address general overcrowding in the court house as well as procedures for the County’s magisterial district courts. To determine if your case is eligible to be scheduled on this limited re-opening, please contact your attorney at Gawthrop Greenwood PC.

Gawthrop Greenwood and its team of lawyers will continue to review legislation and governmental decisions as they unfold, as we are committed to providing guidance to our clients. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call us at 610-696-8225.