Lanc. Cnty. Pa. 117
During those hours when the Magisterial District Courts are not normally open for business (Duty Court Hours), the coverage required under 117 and as set forth in this rule shall be provided by Magisterial District Judges in accordance with a Duty Court Assignment schedule approved by the President Judge and amended from time to time as necessary.
During Duty Court Hours, the Duty Court Judge shall be available at or about 7 A.M and 8 P.M. each day, either in person at the Lancaster City Public Safety Building or by video conference from his or her court office, to perform any pending judicial duties. In addition to these two designated times, the Duty Court Judge shall be available at any time during Duty Court Hours to perform those duties requiring continuous coverage as set forth below in Section III. A. of this local rule.
A Countywide Regional Booking and Centralized Arraignment system is hereby implemented in Lancaster County to be in effect during Duty Court Hours. All criminal Defendants apprehended during Duty Court Hours are required to be processed and booked through Live Scan and CPIN equipment at a Lancaster County Police Department possessing this technology, and which Police Department has been approved and designated as a Regional Booking Center in accordance with the Lancaster County Countywide Booking Center Plan.
The Lancaster Countywide Regional Booking Center Plan having been approved by PCCD, a Regional Booking Center fund fee of three hundred dollars ($300) is imposed on any Defendant processed and booked through a Lancaster County Regional Booking Center at any time if the person:
After being processed and booked at a Lancaster County Regional Booking Center during Duty Court Hours, Defendants are required to be either:
Magisterial District Judges with jurisdiction during regular business hours and the Duty Court Judge during Duty Court hours shall be available to provide continuous coverage for the issuance of search warrants pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 203, arrest warrants pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 513, requests to accept bail pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 520(B), and requests for emergency relief under the Protection From Abuse Act.
Magisterial District Judges with jurisdiction during regular business hours and the Duty Court Judge during Duty Court Hours shall be available without unnecessary delay to conduct preliminary arraignments pursuant to Rule 516, to set bail pursuant to Rule 517(A), and to accept criminal complaints and conduct preliminary arraignments pursuant to Rule 519(A)(1).
Magisterial District Judges with jurisdiction during regular business hours and the Duty Court Judge during Duty Court Hours shall be available without unnecessary delay for the purpose of providing the services set forth in Pa.R.Crim.P. 117(A)(2)(a) requiring conducting summary trials or setting collateral in summary cases under Rule 431(B)(3) and Rule 441(C).
If a summary Bench Warrant is executed during regular business hours, the Magisterial District Judge with jurisdiction shall be available without unnecessary delay to conduct a bench warrant hearing. If a Bench Warrant is executed during Duty Court Hours, the Duty Court Judge may conduct a bench warrant hearing.
Magisterial District Judges, the Clerk of Court or his designees, and the Warden of the Lancaster County Prison or his designees, shall be authorized to accept bail in accordance with the provisions of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure.
Lanc. Cnty. Pa. 117