Rule 571 - Acknowledgment Of ArraignmentEvery defendant shall be arraigned before a judge, before the Clerk of Court, the Clerk's deputy or by first class mail, where the defendant is represented by counsel of record and upon timely initiative, hereinafter set forth:
(a) Arraignment shall take place at the Cumberland County Courthouse, at the Cumberland County Prison, at the State Correctional Institution at Camp Hill, by first class mail, or at such other place as may be designated by an order of the President Judge.(b) If defense counsel chooses to have the defendant arraigned via first class mail, then the defendant and their counsel must complete the Acknowledgment of Arraignment form as prescribed by the Court and available on the Court Website; and file the Acknowledgment of Arraignment form with the Clerk of Court before the date set for arraignment.(c) Except when arraignment is done via first class mail, arraignment shall take place no later than ten (10) days after the information has been filed, unless waived by a defendant who has counsel, or is otherwise postponed by the court for cause shown.(d) Defendant and counsel, if an appearance has been entered, shall receive written notice of the arraignment no later than five (5) days before the date scheduled for the arraignment. (1) Such notice shall include a caption containing the name of the case, and the docket number and/or the offense tracking number.(2) A completed subpoena to appear for formal arraignment shall be executed and given personally to the defendant by the District Justice following a preliminary hearing on the charges or a waiver thereof. Notice may also be given by first-class mail or in accordance with Pa.R.Crim.P. 114.(e) If a defendant is represented by private counsel, or court-appointed counsel other than the Public Defender, defendant may appear with counsel before the Clerk of Court for arraignment anytime prior to the scheduled formal arraignment, at which time counsel shall enter a formal appearance, if an appearance has not been previously entered of record.(f) At arraignment, the defendant shall be instructed to appear at a pretrial conference pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 570 and trial.(g) Acknowledgment of Arraignment form as prescribed by the Court and available on the Court Website shall be signed, and a copy given to defendant, on arraignments held before the Clerk of Courts or a deputy. Upon any refusal to sign the form, the Clerk or deputy shall read the form to defendant and attest to same.Amended effective 1/1/2024.