Legal News

Supreme Court Releases Changes to Municipal Court

By Brian Harris

By Amaris Elliott-Engel
Of the Legal Staff

The state Supreme Court has issued orders today that will make several changes in Philadelphia Municipal Court.

The orders include those issued under Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille's authority and those that required approval of the entire seven-member court.

Among other changes, Castille said that preliminary hearings will now be held 14 to 21 days after a defendant first comes into contact with the criminal justice system, rather than three to 10 days.

Attorneys will now be required to prioritize their appearances in preliminary hearings above all other appearances except for trials, but defense counsel must notify the court within 48 hours if they are on trial in another court, Castille said.

Municipal Court judges will no longer be able to mark cases that are otherwise ready to proceed for preliminary hearing as "marked ready not reached," prohibiting judges from not holding preliminary hearings because they want to leave the bench, Castille said.

Defense counsel will now have to state their readiness to proceed at preliminary hearing before prosecutors do so, Castille said.

Along with the court, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office is preparing to divert summary offenses involving marijuana to their own docket, Castille said.

Full post as published by The Legal Intelligencer Blog on April 05, 2010 (boomark / email).