THE COURTS
Title 234--RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
[234 PA. CODE CHS. 1--11, 20, 30, 50, 100, 200, 300, 350, 1100, 1400, 1500, 1600, 1700, 2000, 4000, 6000 AND 9000]
Order Adopting the Reorganization and Renumbering of the Rules of Criminal Procedure and Making Correlative Changes; No. 260 Criminal Procedural Rules, Doc. No. 2
[30 Pa.B. 1477] The Criminal Procedural Rules Committee has prepared a Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the Rules of Criminal Procedure and the correlative rule changes. The Order will be effective April 1, 2001. The Final Report follows the Court's Order. In addition, as an aid to the Bench and the Bar, the Committee has included with the Court's Order as an Appendix a Table of Contents showing the reorganization and renumbering of the rules, a Derivation Table, and a Disposition Table. (Editor's Note: See 30 Pa.B. 1493 (March 18, 2000).) The complete text of the rules as renumbered and amended appears on the Court's homepage at www.courts.state.pa.us.
Order Per Curiam:
Now, this first day of March, 2000, upon the recommendation of the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee; the proposal having been published before adoption at 29 Pa.B. 1360 (March 13, 1999), and in the Atlantic Reporter (Second Series Advance Sheets, Vol. 724/725), and a Final Report to be published with this Order:
It Is Ordered pursuant to Article V, Section 10 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania that:
(1) the Rules of Criminal Procedure are hereby reorganized and renumbered;
(2) the editorial changes and technical corrections to the Rules of Criminal Procedure are adopted;
(3) new Rules 109, 112, 460, 461, 462, 645, and 1101 are promulgated;
(4) former Rule 301, renumbered Rule 106, is amended;
(5) former Rule 1108, renumbered Rule 633, is amended;
(6) former Rule 1117, renumbered Rule 602, is amended;
(7) the revision of the Comment to former Rule 51, renumbered Rule 400, is approved;
(8) the revision of the Comment to former Rule 313, renumbered Rule 585, is approved;
(9) the revision of the Comment to former Rule 314, renumbered Rule 586, is approved;
(10) former Rules 90 and 150 are rescinded and replaced by new Rule 109;
(11) former Rules 27 and 328 are rescinded and replaced by new Rule 112;
(12) former Rule 86 is rescinded and replaced by new Rules 460, 461, and 462; and
(13) former Rules 39, 159, 340, 1415 and 2020 are rescinded and replaced by new Rule 1101.
This Order shall be processed in accordance with Pa.R.J.A. 103(b), and shall be effective April 1, 2001.
FINAL REPORT1 and Correlative Amendments
Reorganization and Renumbering of the Rules of Criminal Procedure,2 On March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, upon the recommendation of the Criminal Procedural Rules Committee, the Court reorganized and renumbered the Rules of Criminal Procedure and adopted correlative amendments to a number of rules. With this reorganization and renumbering, the rules are presented in a more logical fashion that more accurately reflects the movement of a criminal case through the criminal justice system, thereby making the rules more ''user friendly'' and easier to follow to the conclusion of a criminal proceeding.
INTRODUCTION
Over the years, the Committee has been reminded of the illogic of the organization of the rules that has evolved. From its creation, charged with developing uniform statewide procedures for criminal cases, the Committee has of necessity recommended blocks of new rules in a piecemeal fashion. New segments could not always be integrated into the existing rules in an orderly manner, but rather were ''shoehorned in.'' For example, the search warrant rules follow the sentencing rules, although they more logically belong toward the beginning of the process.
The Committee understands those who are regularly involved with the criminal justice system are, for the most part, familiar with and comfortable using the current organization. However, many who are just beginning to work with, or are not regularly involved in the criminal justice system, are unfamiliar with the present organization of the rules;3 these people find it difficult to work with the rules as cases move through the system. The Committee also noted that even those regularly involved with criminal procedures find that familiarity with the present organization does not always eliminate the difficulty of finding the relevant rules when unfamiliar issues arise. Therefore, following the initial compilation of the rules, the Committee began to reorganize groups of rules within specific Chapters when the opportunity presented itself.4
In 1999, no longer satisfied with this piecemeal approach to reorganization, the Committee agreed the system would benefit from a complete reorganization and renumbering of all the rules in a logical order that more closely mirrors the progression of a case. Our efforts culminated in the Court's March 1, 2000 Order.
It is the Committee's belief that this reorganization will not significantly affect those who work with the rules on a daily basis, although it may take time to ''relearn'' the rule numbers. It will simplify the procedures for those who come in contact with the criminal justice system less frequently.5
DISCUSSION
Using the ''Table of Rules'' as a starting point, the Committee initially considered reorganizing the rules into four chapters: General Provisions, Summary Case Rules, Court Case Rules, and Municipal Court Rules, with the numbers of the rules in each chapter preceded by the number of the chapter and a hyphen. However, after working with this format, the Committee found it too limiting; the rules did not easily fit into the scheme, and this presentation of the rules was less informative than the present multiple-chapter system. After additional consideration, the Committee agreed the organization would be clearer and easier to use if the rules continued to be separated into multiple chapters, each covering a separate category of procedures.
The new organization adopted by the Court has eleven chapters, starting with Chapter 1. The rules in Chapter 1 start with 100, and subsequent chapters are similarly numbered. There are some ''gaps'' in the numbers in a chapter in anticipation of future expanded provisions. Within some chapters are subdivisions or parts, similar to the subdivisions in the current system; whenever possible, the numbering within each part of a chapter starts with a different series of numbers, except in those cases in which the parts are interrelated. See, e.g., Chapter 5, Parts B(1) and B(2).
In addition to the overall reorganization and renumbering, the Court adopted a number of organizational rule changes described below in Part II.6 These include the ''new'' rules that have been developed by combining or separating existing rules. These rules are ''new'' only in the sense that they have not been previously combined or separated. There are no substantive changes. See, e.g., ''new'' Rule 109, combining former Rules 90 and 150, and ''new'' Rule 645, which has been created by separating provisions from paragraph (a) of former Rule 1108.
Finally, the Committee has indicated in the Table of Contents that a few rule numbers are [RESERVED]. These ''reserved'' rules cover substantive matters that have no counterpart in the current rules, which the Committee has set aside for consideration at a future time.
I. REORGANIZATION7
(1) New Chapter 1 (General Provisions) covers all the procedures that apply generally to all cases, or at all stages of the proceedings, and includes the following current rules:
(a) Rules 1 (100) through 6 (105);
(b) Rule 301 (106) (Continuances) made applicable to both summary and court cases;
(c) Rule 9016 (107) (Contents of Subpoena);
(d) Rule 1701 (108) (Habeas Corpus Venue);
(e) Rules 302 (120), 316 (122), 317 (123), and 318 (121) governing the procedures relating to counsel, and a possible new rule governing in forma pauperis proceedings;8
(f) Rules 27 (112), 326 (110), 327 (111), and 328 (112) that address the procedures related to public comment, publicity, and broadcasting, with Rules 27 and 328 combined into one rule, ''new'' Rule 112, applicable to all cases;
(g) the rules in Chapters 20 and 30;
(h) Rules 90 and 150 governing defects in form, content, or procedure in summary and court cases, combined into one rule, ''new'' Rule 109, applicable to all cases;
(i) Rules 9024 (113) and 9025 (114) concerning notices; and
(j) Rule 9030 (115) concerning recording and transcribing court proceedings.
(2) New Chapter 2 (Investigations) is divided into two parts consisting of (1) the search warrant rules, current Chapter 2000, and (2) the investigating grand jury rules, current Chapter 200, Parts II and III. These rules have been moved up in the organization because these procedures could occur at anytime, including before a case is instituted.
(3) The ARD rules, Rules 160--162 (300--302) and 176--186 (310--320), continue to be separate, and have been moved into new Chapter 3 (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition).
(4) New Chapter 4 (Procedures in Summary Cases) incorporates former Chapter 50 governing all the proceedings in summary cases, and is broken into parts comparable to the parts in current Chapter 50. The following changes have been made:9
(a) Rule 95 (401) concerning the institution of proceedings involving parking violations has been moved to the beginning of the chapter with the other summary case rules that provide for the institution of proceedings.
(b) The summary arrest procedures have been joined together in Part D (Arrest Procedures in Summary Cases), with the order of the arrest with warrant and arrest without warrant rules switched, so the summary case rules are in the same order as the court case rules, see section (5)(b)(i) below.
(c) A separate new part, Part F, has been created to more clearly set forth the procedures for appeals for trial de novo. ''New'' rules have been created from Rules 86 (rescinded) and 1117(c) (deleted), and provisions comparable to those in Rule 83 (454), that cover the notice of appeal, stays pending and during the appeal, and the trial de novo. The new trial de novo rule, new Rule 462, provides that, although the trial will be conducted by a judge in the court of common pleas, the procedures for conducting the trial de novo are comparable to the trial provisions of Rule 83 (454), and includes a provision to make it clear that the attorney for the Commonwealth has the discretion whether to appear for the trial de novo.
(5) New Chapter 5 (Pretrial Procedures in Court Cases) incorporates the following current rules:
(a) Rules 9015 (500) and 9015A (501) concerning preservation of testimony have been moved into this chapter as Part A (Preservation of Testimony), because the procedures in these rules only apply to court cases, and are generally applicable to all stages of the proceedings in a court case.
(b) Rules 101--124 of current Chapter 100 (Procedure in Court Cases) have been moved into Part B (Instituting Proceedings) (Rules 502--518), with the following changes:
(i) Rule 101 (502) has been renamed ''Instituting Proceedings in Court Cases;'' and
(ii) Rule 102 (518) concerning warrantless arrests has been moved to Part B(3) (Arrest Procedures in Court Cases), and follows the arrest warrant rules.
(c) Current Chapter 4000 (Bail) has been moved to new Part C, with some modification of the order of the rules within the new chapter. Rule 4009 (521) concerning bail after the finding of guilt now follows Rule 4001 (520) concerning bail before verdict. Rule 4017 (522) concerning the detention of witnesses now follows Rule 4009 (521) because the detention of witness rule goes to the issue of setting bail, albeit for witnesses. The subchapter divisions in current Chapter 4000 are retained in new Part C.
(d) Rules 140--15110 (540--551), the rules governing court case proceedings before issuing authorities, follow the bail section as Part D (Proceedings in Court Cases Before Issuing Authorities).
(e) Rules 224 (561), 225 (560), 227--229 (562--564), 231 (565), and 232 (566) concerning the procedures related to informations have been moved to be Part E (Informations). This change has been made because chronologically the preparation of an information is the next step in the process after the case is held for court.
(f) Most of the rules in Chapter 300, except where noted otherwise, have been moved into Part F (Procedures Following Filing of Information), Part F(1) (Motion Procedures), and Part G (Plea Procedures). The rules from Chapter 300 and other rules have been reorganized in Part F as follows:
(i) Part F includes Rule 311 (570) (Pretrial Conference), Rule 303 (571) (Arraignment), Rule 304 (572) (Bill of Particulars), and Rule 305 (573) (Pretrial Discovery and Inspection).
(ii) Part F(1) includes Rules 306--307 (578--579) and 310 (580) concerning pretrial motions, Rules 9020 (574), 9021 (575), 9022 (576), and 9023 (577), which cover motions procedures generally, Rules 312--315 (584--587), 323 (581), and 324 (588), which deal with specific pretrial motions, and Rules 1127 (582) (Joinder-Trial of Separate Indictments or Informations) and 1128 (583) (Severance of Offenses or Defendants), which usually are implemented by a pretrial motion. In addition, in keeping with the chronological organization, Rule 323 (581) (Suppression of Evidence) has been moved to follow Rule 310 (580) (Disposition of Pretrial Motions).
(iii) Part G includes Rules 319 (590) (Pleas and Plea Agreements) and 320 (591) (Withdrawal of Plea of Guilty).
(6) New Chapter 6 (Trial Procedures in Court Cases) includes the rules in Chapter 1100, which have been reorganized and modified as follows:
(a) Part A (General Provisions) includes those rules from Chapter 1100 that apply generally to all trials: Rules 1100 (600) (Prompt Trial), 1105 (601) (Presence of Judge), 1115 (603) (Exceptions), 1116 (604) (Opening Statements and Closing Arguments), 1117 (602) (Presence of the Defendant), 1118 (605) (Mistrial), 1124 (606) (Challenges to Sufficiency of Evidence), 1124A (607) (Challenges to Weight of Evidence), and 1125 (608) (Motion for Judgment of Acquittal After Discharge of Jury);
(b) Part B (Non-Jury Procedures) sets forth the rules that govern non-jury trials, including Rule 1101 (620) (Waiver of Jury Trial), Rule 1102 (621) (Procedure When Jury Trial is Waived), and 1122 (622) (Time for Court Action Following Non-Jury Trial); and
(c) Part C (Jury Procedures) sets forth the rules that govern jury trials beginning with Rule 1104 (630) (Juror Qualification Form, List of Trial Jurors, and Challenge to the Array). It is divided into two subparts: (1) impaneling the jury, Part C(1), which includes Rules 1106 (631) (Examination and Challenges of Trial Jurors), 1107 (632) (Juror Information Questionnaire), 1108 (633) (Alternate Trial Jurors), 1126 (634) (Number of Peremptory Challenges), and 1109 (635) (Exhaustion of the Jury Panel); and (2) the conduct of the jury trial, Part C(2), which includes Rule 1103 (641) (Consent to be Tried by Less Than Twelve Jurors), Rules 1110 (640), 1111--1113 (642--644), 1114 (646), and Rules 1119--1121 (647--649).
(i) Rule 1108 (Alternate Trial Jurors) has been broken into two rules. The provisions of Rule 1108 that govern the examination and selection of alternate trial jurors, ''new'' Rule 633, follow the juror information questionnaire rule. The second two sentences of Rule 1108(a) have been separated to form ''new'' Rule 645 (Seating and Discharge of Alternate Jurors). ''New'' Rule 645 follows Rule 1113 (644) (Note Taking by Jurors), maintaining the chronological organization.
(ii) Rule 1103 (641) (Consent to be Tried by Less Than Twelve Jurors), which applies at anytime after the jury is sworn and before verdict, has been moved to follow present Rule 1110 (640) (Swearing the Trial Jury to Hear the Case).
(7) New Chapter 7 (Post-Trial Procedures in Court Cases) incorporates current Chapter 1400. The Chapter is divided into two parts: (1) sentencing procedures, which includes Rules 1401--1409 (700--708); and (2) post-sentence procedures, which includes Rules 1410--1411 (720--721) and Rule 9017 (722) (Contents of Order of Expungement), included here because an expungement request ordinarily would not occur until after sentencing.
(8) New Chapter 8 incorporates, without change, current Chapter 350 (Special Rules for Cases in Which the Death Sentence is Authorized). These rules have been moved to immediately precede the post-conviction collateral proceedings because they apply before post-conviction proceedings and are self-contained and impact on a narrow set of cases.
(9) New Chapter 9 incorporates, without change, current Chapter 1500 (Post-Conviction Collateral Proceedings).
(10) New Chapter 10 incorporates, without change, current Chapter 6000 (Philadelphia Municipal Court).
(11) New Chapter 11 has no counterpart in the present rules, and includes Rule 9998 (1100) (Abolition of Practice and Procedure Under Repealed Statutes) and all the suspension rules (Rules 39, 159, 340, 1415, and 2020) joined in one ''new'' rule, Rule 1101 (Suspension of Acts of Assembly).
II. RULE CHANGES
In order to facilitate the reorganization, the Committee agreed that, in addition to renumbering all the rules within the scheme of the reorganization, some of the current rules would have to be amended, a few others would have to be combined into ''new'' rules,11 and still others would have to be divided into two or more separate rules. As noted previously, there are no substantive changes to these rules; the changes, described below, merely accommodate the overall reorganization of the rules.
(1) Rule 301 (Continuances) is renumbered Rule 106, and amended to make it applicable to both summary and court cases.
(2) ''New'' Rule 109 (Defects in Form, Content, or Procedure) combines Rules 90 and 150 into one rule, applicable to both summary and court cases.
(3) ''New'' Rule 112 (Publicity, Broadcasting, and Recording of Proceedings) combines Rules 27 and 328 into one rule, applicable to both summary and court cases. The ''new'' rule is derived largely from Rule 27, and incorporates the provisions of Rule 328 governing ceremonial proceedings.
(4) There are three ''new'' rules governing summary appeals for a trial de novo that were developed from Rules 83 (Trial in Summary Cases), 86 (Appeals),12 and 1117(c) (Presence of the Defendant), as follows:
(a) ''new'' Rule 460 (Notice of Appeal) incorporates the provisions of Rule 86(A), (D), (E), (F), (H), and (I), and the corresponding paragraphs in the Comment;
(b) ''new'' Rule 461 (Stays) incorporates the provisions of Rule 86(B) and the corresponding provisions in the Comment; and
(c) ''new'' Rule 462 (Trial De Novo) incorporates provisions from Rules 86 and 1117(c), and enumerates the procedures for the trial de novo that are comparable to the procedures in Rule 83 (454), as follows: paragraph (A) incorporates Rule 86(G); paragraph (B) follows the procedures set forth in Rule 83(B); paragraph (C) follows the procedures set forth in Rule 86(G); paragraph (D) is derived from Rule 1117(c); paragraph (E) is new to the rules, and addresses the situation when a defendant withdraws a summary appeal; and paragraphs (F) and (G) follow the procedures set forth in Rule 83(D) and (E). In addition, the first paragraph of the Comment has been added to emphasize that the attorney for the Commonwealth has the discretion whether to appear for the trial de novo. The last paragraph of the Comment is taken from the Rule 1117 Comment.
(5) Rule 1117 (Presence of the Defendant) is renumbered Rule 602, and amended by the deletion of paragraph (c) and the correlative paragraph from the Comment, which have been moved to ''new'' Rule 462.
(6) Rule 1108 (Alternate Trial Jurors) is renumbered Rule 633 (Examination and Challenges of Alternate Trial Jurors), and amended by the deletion of the last two sentences of paragraph (A). The last two sentences of Rule 1108(A), which address procedures concerning alternate jurors that occur at a later stage in the proceedings--the seating of alternate jurors during the trial and the discharge of alternate jurors when the jury retires to deliberate--have been moved to form ''new'' Rule 645 (Seating and Discharge of Alternate Jurors).
(7) ''New'' Rule 1101 (Suspension of Acts of Assembly) combines all the suspension rules, Rules 39, 159, 340, 1415, and 2020, into one rule.
Annex A
TITLE 234. RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE Editor's Note: The following information is contain in this Annex:
1. Part I. Categories of rule changes.
2. Part II New Rules.
3. Part III. Rules that have conforming amendments or Comment revisions that go beyond the renumbering and the addition of the nonsubstantive technical or editorial changes; and rules that are being rescinded.
4. Part IV. Table of Contents, Derivation Table and Disposition Table.
5. The complete text of the rules as renumbered and amended appears at www.courts.state.pa.us.
PART I. CATEGORIES OF RULE CHANGES13 1. Rules that have conforming amendments of Comment revisions that go beyond the renumbering and the addition of the nonsubstantive technical or editorial changes:
51, 301, 313, 314, 1108, 1117, and the Bail Rules Introduction2. Rules that are being rescinded:
27, 39, 86, 90, 150, 159, 328, 340, 1415, and 20203. Rules from which we have deleted outdated rule history or derivation history, in addition to the renumbering and the nonsubstantive technical or editorial changes:
1, 26, 51, 56, 58, 59, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 80, 84, 92, 106, 108, 119, 124, 140, 162, 176, 252, 258, 304, 306, 312, 317, 1124, 1125, 1404, 1405, 1410, 1504, 2003, 2006, 4001, 4002, 4003, 4005, 4007, 4008, 4009, 4010, 4011, 4012, 4013, 4014, 4015, 4016, 4017, 6000, 9016, 9020, 9021, 9023, and 90254. Rules in which the only changes are the addition of the new numbering scheme and changing paragraph designations such as changing (a) to (A) or (a) to (1):
3, 4, 5, 21, 22, 23, 31, 32, 52, 53, 55, 61, 71, 75, 76, 81, 83, 85, 87, 88, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 107, 109, 112, 113, 122, 123, 140A, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 151, 161, 177, 179, 180, 181, 182, 183, 184, 224, 228, 231, 232, 251, 255, 265, 260, 270, 271, 302, 310, 311, 315, 320, 353, 354, 357, 358B, 359, 1102, 1104, 1110, 1114, 1115, 1119, 1122, 1124A, 1128, 1408, 1409, 1500, 1501, 1502, 1503, 1505, 1506, 1507, 1509, 1510, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 4004, 6002, 6003, 6004, 6006, 6007, 6008, 6009, 6010, 6011, 9015, 9017, 9022, 9024, and 99985. Rules that have technical or editorial changes, such as making the rule gender neutral, changing ''which'' to ''that'' or ''where'' to ''when,'' and correcting citations and making other blue book-type corrections, in addition to the new numbering scheme and changing paragraph designations:
2, 6, 24, 25, 30, 60, 82, 91, 95, 110, 121, 160, 178, 185, 186, 225, 227, 229, 253, 257, 259, 261, 263, 264, 272, 273, 274, 303, 305, 307, 316, 318, 319, 323, 324, 326, 327, 351, 352, 355, 356, 358A, 360, 1100, 1101, 1103, 1105, 1106, 1107, 1109, 1111, 1112, 1113, 1116, 1118, 1120, 1121, 1126, 1127, 1401, 1402, 1403, 1406, 1407, 1411, 1508, 1701, 2002, 2002A, 2007, 2008, 4006, 6001, 6005, 6012, 6013, 9015A and 9030.
PART II. TEXT OF NEW RULES
[This is an amalgamated rule, combining former Rules 90 and 150.] Rule 109. Defects in Form, Content, or Procedure.
A defendant shall not be discharged nor shall a case be dismissed because of a defect in the form or content of a complaint, citation, summons, or warrant, or a defect in the procedures of these rules, unless the defendant raises the defect before the conclusion of the trial in a summary case or before the conclusion of the preliminary hearing in a court case, and the defect is prejudicial to the rights of the defendant.
Comment This rule combines and replaces former Rules 90 and 150.
This rule clarifies when a defendant should be discharged or a case dismissed because of a defect; it eliminates disputes as to what is an informal defect or a substantive defect. As a condition of relief regardless of whether the defect is in form, content, or procedure, the court or issuing authority must determine that there is actual prejudice to the rights of the defendant.
A complaint, citation, summons, or warrant may be amended at any time so as to remedy any defect in form or content that is not prejudicial to the rights of the defendant. Nothing in this rule shall prevent the filing of a new complaint or citation and the reissuance of process. Any new complaint or citation must be filed within the time permitted by the applicable statute of limitations.
Ordinarily, if a defendant does not raise a defect at the summary trial or before the conclusion of the preliminary hearing, the defendant cannot thereafter raise the defect as grounds for dismissal or discharge at a later stage in the proceedings. See Commonwealth v. Krall, 304 A.2d 488 (Pa. 1973). In a summary case, however, the provisions of this rule do not preclude a defendant from raising a defect for the first time after the summary trial when the interests of justice require it, as for example, when the defendant was not represented by counsel during the proceedings before the district justice or when the defendant could not reasonably have discovered the defect until after the conclusion of the summary trial.
Any defect properly raised under this rule shall be specifically described on the docket by the issuing authority. See Pa.R.Crim.P. 135.
If the issuing authority determines that a defect is prejudicial, it is intended that the decision recorded on the docket pursuant to Rule 135(B)(12) shall be ''discharge of the defendant'' or ''dismissal of the case,'' rather than ''not guilty.''
Official Note: Former Rule 90 adopted July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; effective date extended to July 1, 1986; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and replaced by Rule 109. Former Rule 150, formed from former Rule 114 (Informal Defects), and former Rule 115 (Substantive Defects), both adopted June 30, 1964, effective January 1, 1965; suspended effective May 1, 1970; both revised January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; combined, renumbered Rule 150 and amended September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; amended April 8, 1982, effective July 1, 1982, Comment revised July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; effective date extended to July 1, 1986; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and replaced by Rule 109. New Rule 109 adopted March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules, and the provisions of Rule 109, published with the Court's Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
[This is an amalgamated rule, combining former Rules 27 and 328.] Rule 112. Publicity, Broadcasting, and Recording of Proceedings.
(A) The court or issuing authority shall:
(1) prohibit the taking of photographs or motion pictures of any judicial proceedings or in the hearing room or courtroom or its environs during the judicial proceedings; and
(2) prohibit the transmission of communications by telegraph, telephone, radio, or television from the hearing room or the courtroom or its environs during the progress of or in connection with any judicial proceedings, whether or not the court is actually in session.
The environs of the hearing room or courtroom is defined as the area immediately surrounding the entrances and exits to the hearing room or courtroom.
(B) The court or issuing authority may permit the taking of photographs or radio or television broadcasting of judicial proceedings, such as naturalization ceremonies or the swearing in of public officials, which may be conducted in the hearing room or courtroom.
(C) Except as provided in paragraph (D), the mechanical or electronic recording of any judicial proceedings by anyone other than the official court stenographer in a court case, for any purpose, is prohibited.
(D) In a judicial proceeding before an issuing authority, the issuing authority, the attorney for the Commonwealth, or the defendant may cause a recording to be made of the judicial proceeding as an aid to the preparation of the written record for subsequent use in a case, but such recordings shall not be publicly played or disseminated in any manner unless in a court during a trial or hearing.
(E) If it appears to the court or issuing authority that a violation of this rule has resulted in substantial prejudice to the defendant, the court or issuing authority, upon application by the attorney for the Commonwealth or the defendant, may:
(1) quash the proceedings at the preliminary hearing and order another preliminary hearing to be held before the same issuing authority at a subsequent time without additional costs being taxed;
(2) discharge the defendant on nominal bail if in custody, or continue the bail if at liberty, pending further proceedings;
(3) order all costs of the issuing authority forfeited in the original proceedings; or
(4) adopt any, all, or combination of these remedies as the nature of the case requires in the interests of justice.
Comment This rule combines and replaces former Rules 27 and 328.
''Recording'' as used in this rule is not intended to preclude the use of recording devices for the preservation of testimony as permitted by Rules 500 and 501.
Official Note: Former Rule 27, previously Rule 143, adopted January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; renumbered Rule 27 September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; amended February 15, 1974, effective immediately; Comment revised March 22, 1989, effective July 1, 1989; amended June 19, 1996, effective July 1, 1996; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and replaced by Rule 112. Former Rule 328 adopted January 25, 1971, effective February 1, 1971; amended June 29, 1977 and November 22, 1977, effective as to cases in which the indictment or information is filed on or after January 1, 1978; Comment revised March 22, 1989, effective July 1, 1989; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and replaced by Rule 112. New Rule 112 adopted March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
FORMER RULE 27:
Final Report explaining the June 19, 1996 amendments to former Rule 27 published with the Court's Order at 26 Pa.B. 3128 (July 6, 1996).
NEW RULE 112:
Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules, and the provisions of Rule 112, published at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
[This rule is derived from former Rule 86(A), (D)--(F), (H), (I).] Rule 460. Notice of Appeal.
(A) When an appeal is authorized by law in a summary proceeding, including a prosecution for violation of a municipal ordinance that provides for imprisonment upon conviction or upon failure to pay a fine, an appeal shall be perfected by filing a notice of appeal within 30 days after the conviction or other final order from which the appeal is taken. The notice of appeal shall be filed with the clerk of courts.
(B) The notice of appeal shall contain the following information:
(1) the name and address of the appellant;
(2) the name and address of the issuing authority who heard the case;
(3) the magisterial district number in which the case was heard;
(4) the name and mailing address of the affiant as shown on the complaint or citation;
(5) the date of the conviction or other final order from which the appeal is taken;
(6) the offense(s) of which convicted, if any;
(7) the sentence imposed, and if the sentence includes a fine, costs, or restitution, whether the amount due has been paid;
(8) the type or amount of bail or collateral, if any, furnished to the issuing authority;
(9) the name and address of the attorney, if any, filing the notice of appeal; and
(10) except when the appeal is from a conviction, the grounds relied upon for appeal.
(C) Within 5 days after filing the notice of appeal, a copy shall be served either personally or by mail by the clerk of courts upon the issuing authority, the affiant, and the appellee or appellee's attorney, if any.
(D) The issuing authority shall, within 20 days after receipt of the notice of appeal, file with the clerk of courts:
(1) the transcript of the proceedings;
(2) the original complaint or citation;
(3) the summons or warrant of arrest, if any; and
(4) the bail bond, if any.
(E) This rule shall provide the exclusive means of appealing from a summary conviction. Courts of common pleas shall not issue writs of certiorari in such cases.
(F) This rule shall not apply to appeals from contempt adjudications.
Comment This rule is derived from former Rule 86(A), (D), (E), (F), (H), and (I).
This rule applies to appeals in all summary proceedings, including prosecutions for violations of municipal ordinances which provide for the possibility of imprisonment, and default hearings.
Appeals from contempt adjudications are governed by Rule 141.
The narrow holding in City of Easton v. Marra, 326 A.2d 637 (Pa. Super. 1974), is not in conflict, since the record before the court did not indicate that imprisonment was possible under the ordinance there in question.
When the only issues on appeal arise solely from an issuing authority's determination after a default hearing pursuant to Rule 456, the matter must be heard de novo by the appropriate judge of the court of common pleas and only those issues arising from the default hearing are to be considered. It is not intended to reopen other issues not properly preserved for appeal. A determination after a default hearing would be a final order for purposes of these rules.
Rule 462(D) provides for the dismissal of an appeal when the defendant fails to appear for the trial de novo.
Certiorari was abolished by the Criminal Rules in 1973 pursuant to Article V Schedule Section 26 of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, which specifically empowers the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania to do so by rule. This Schedule section is still viable, and the substance of this Schedule section has also been included in the Judicial Code, 42 Pa.C.S. § 934. The abolition of certiorari continues with this rule.
Official Note: Former Rule 86 adopted July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; revised September 23, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; the January 1, 1986 effective dates extended to July 1, 1986; amended February 2, 1989, effective March 1, 1989; amended March 22, 1993, effective January 1, 1994; amended October 28, 1994, effective as to cases instituted on or after January 1, 1995; amended February 27, 1995, effective July 1, 1995; amended October 1, 1997, effective October 1, 1998; amended May 14, 1999, effective July 1, 1999; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and paragraphs (A), (D), (E), (F), (H), and (I) replaced by Rule 460. New Rule 460 adopted March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.
Committee Explanatory Reports
FORMER RULE 86:
Final Report explaining the March 22, 1993 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 23 Pa.B. 1699 (April 10, 1993).
Final Report explaining the October 28, 1994 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 24 Pa.B. 5843 (November 26, 1994).
Final Report explaining the February 27, 1995 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 25 Pa.B. 935 (March 18, 1995).
Final Report explaining the October 1, 1997 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 27 Pa.B. 5408 (October 18, 1997).
NEW RULE 460:
Final Report explaining the reorganization and renumbering of the rules and the provisions of Rule 460 published at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
[This rule is derived from former Rule 86(B) and (C).] Rule 461. Stays.
(A) In all summary cases in which a sentence of imprisonment has been imposed, execution of sentence shall be stayed until the time for appeal expires.
(B) In any summary case in which a notice of appeal is filed, the execution of sentence shall be stayed.
(C) Whenever the execution of sentence is stayed pursuant to this rule, the issuing authority may set collateral.
(D) During the 30-day appeal period, failure to pay fines and costs, or restitution, shall not be grounds for imprisonment, and shall not be grounds to preclude the taking of an appeal.
Comment This rule is derived from former Rule 86(B) and (C).
Under paragraph (B), the stay applies to all ''sentences'' imposed after conviction, including sentences of imprisonment, fines and costs, or restitution, and sentences of imprisonment for defaults in payment pursuant to Rule 456.
Official Note: Formerly Rule 86(B) and (C), adopted October 1, 1997, effective October 1, 1998; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and paragraphs (B) and (C) replaced by Rule 461. New Rule 461 adopted March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
FORMER RULE 86(B) AND (C):
Final Report explaining the October 1, 1997 addition of paragraphs (B) and (C) to Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 27 Pa.B. 5408 (October 18, 1997).
NEW RULE 461:
Final Report explaining the reorganization and renumbering of the rules and the provisions of Rule 461 published at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
[This rule is derived from former Rules 86(G) and 1117(c).] Rule 462. Trial De Novo.
(A) When a defendant appeals after conviction by an issuing authority in any summary proceeding, upon the filing of the transcript and other papers by the issuing authority, the case shall be heard de novo by the judge of the court of common pleas sitting without a jury.
(B) The attorney for the Commonwealth may appear and assume charge of the prosecution. When the violation of an ordinance of a municipality is charged, an attorney representing that municipality, with the consent of the attorney for the Commonwealth, may appear and assume charge of the prosecution. When no attorney appears on behalf of the Commonwealth, the affiant may be permitted to ask questions of any witness who testifies.
(C) In appeals from summary proceedings arising under the Vehicle Code or local traffic ordinances, other than parking offenses, the law enforcement officer who observed the alleged offense must appear and testify. The failure of a law enforcement officer to appear and testify shall result in the dismissal of the charges unless:
(1) the defendant waives the presence of the law enforcement officer in open court on the record;
(2) the defendant waives the presence of the law enforcement officer by filing a written waiver signed by the defendant and defense counsel, or the defendant if proceeding pro se, with the clerk of courts; or
(3) the trial judge determines that good cause exists for the law enforcement officer's unavailability and grants a continuance.
(D) If the defendant fails to appear, the trial judge may dismiss the appeal and enter judgment in the court of common pleas on the judgment of the issuing authority.
(E) If the defendant withdraws the appeal, the trial judge shall enter judgment in the court of common pleas on the judgment of the issuing authority.
(F) The verdict and sentence, if any, shall be announced in open court immediately upon the conclusion of the trial.
(G) At the time of sentencing, the trial judge shall:
(1) if the defendant's sentence includes restitution, a fine, or costs, state the date on which payment is due. If the defendant is without the financial means to pay the amount in a single remittance, the trial judge may provide for installment payments and shall state the date on which each installment is due;
(2) advise the defendant of the right to appeal to the Superior Court within 30 days, and that, if an appeal is filed, the execution of sentence will be stayed and the trial judge may set bail;
(3) if a sentence of imprisonment has been imposed, direct the defendant to appear for the execution of sentence on a date certain unless the defendant files a notice of appeal within the 30-day period; and
(4) issue a written order imposing sentence, signed by the trial judge. The order shall include the information specified in paragraphs (G)(1) through (G)(3), and a copy of the order shall be given to the defendant.
Comment This rule is derived from former Rule 86(G) and former Rule 1117(c).
The procedures for conducting the trial de novo in the court of common pleas set forth in paragraphs (B), (F), and (G) are comparable to the summary case trial procedures in Rule 454 (Trial in Summary Cases).
Pursuant to paragraph (B), the decision whether to appear and assume control of the prosecution of the trial de novo is solely within the discretion of the attorney for the Commonwealth. When no attorney appears at the trial de novo on behalf of the Commonwealth or a municipality, the trial judge may ask questions of any witness who testifies, and the affiant may request the trial judge to ask specific questions. In the appropriate circumstances, the trial judge may also permit the affiant to question Commonwealth witnesses, cross-examine defense witnesses, and make recommendations about the case to the trial judge.
The provisions of paragraph (C) that permit the court to continue the case if there is good cause for the officer's unavailability were added in response to Commonwealth v. Hightower, 652 A.2d 873 (Pa. Super. 1995).
Paragraph (D) makes it clear that the trial judge may dismiss a summary case appeal when the judge determines that the defendant is absent without cause from the trial de novo. If the appeal is dismissed, the trial judge should enter judgment and order execution of any sentence imposed by the issuing authority.
Official Note: Former Rule 86 adopted July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; revised September 23, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; the January 1, 1986 effective dates extended to July 1, 1986; amended February 2, 1989, effective March 1, 1989; amended March 22, 1993, effective January 1, 1994; amended October 28, 1994, effective as to cases instituted on or after January 1, 1995; amended February 27, 1995, effective July 1, 1995; amended October 1, 1997, effective October 1, 1998; amended May 14, 1999, effective July 1, 1999; rescinded March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001, and paragraph (G) replaced by Rule 462. New Rule 462 adopted March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.
Committee Explanatory Reports:
FORMER RULE 86:
Final Report explaining the March 22, 1993 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 23 Pa.B. 1699 (April 10, 1993).
Final Report explaining the October 28, 1994 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 24 Pa.B. 5843 (November 26, 1994).
Final Report explaining the February 27, 1995 amendments to former Rule 86 published with the Court's Order at 25 Pa.B. 935 (March 18, 1995).
Final Report explaining the October 1, 1997 amendments to former Rule 86 concerning stays published with the Court's Order at 27 Pa.B. 5408 (October 18, 1997).
Final Report explaining the May 14, 1999 amendments to former Rule 86, paragraph (G), concerning the police officer's presence published with the Court's Order at 29 Pa.B. 2776 (May 29, 1999).
NEW RULE 462:
Final Report explaining the reorganization and renumbering of the rules and the provisions of Rule 462 published at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).
[This rule is derived from former Rule 1108(a).]
[Continued on next Web Page] _______
1 The Committee's Final Reports should not be confused with the official Committee Comments to the rules. Also note the Supreme Court does not adopt the Committee's Comments or the contents of the Committee's explanatory Final Reports.
2 As an aid in following the reorganization, the Committee has prepared (1) a Table of Contents for the reorganized chapters and renumbered rules; (2) a Derivation Table that indicates the new rule numbers and titles, with the ''former'' rule numbers listed next to them, and (3) a Disposition Table that indicates the current rule numbers and titles with the ''new'' rule numbers listed next to them. See the Appendix that follows the Court's Order.
3 This may include lawyers, judges, and members of the minor judiciary, as well as law enforcement officials, court personnel, probation and parole officers, bail agencies, and private citizens.
4 For example, in the early 1970s, chapters dealing with preliminary and summary proceedings were reorganized by moving the summary case rules into a separate chapter. In 1985, after monitoring the application of Chapter 50 (Procedures in Summary Cases) and recognizing there was confusion about the procedures, the Committee recommended the reorganization of the chapter. In 1994, the Committee recommended the reorganization of rules in Chapter 100 (Procedures in Court Cases). In 1995, to address continuing problems with the application of the bail rules in practice, the Committee recommended the reorganization of Chapter 4000 (Bail).
5 Although the piecemeal chapter reorganizations and renumberings initially met with resistance, even nay-sayers ultimately agreed that the changes were conceptually better, and that making the rules in the chapter easier to follow was beneficial for all those who use the rules.
6 In addition to the renumbering and correlative changes to all the rule cross-references, there are a number of editorial changes and technical corrections throughout, such as making a rule gender neutral or modifying punctuation. Because these are not substantive changes, they have not been described in this Final Report.
7 The rule numbers listed in this part of the discussion, unless otherwise indicated, refer to the current rule numbers, with the new number appearing in parentheses.
8 A rule governing the procedures for proceeding in forma pauperis is one of the areas the Committee agreed to consider at a future time.
9 The Committee may consider a new summary case motions rule. If one is developed, it would be added to the general procedures section, Part E of Chapter 4.
10 Present Rule 150 has been rescinded and combined with present Rule 90, also rescinded, to become new Rule 109.
11 When two rules are combined into a ''new'' rule, the former rules have been rescinded.
12 Former Rule 86 has been rescinded.
13 The rule numbers refer to the current rules before the renumbering.
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Bulletin full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version.
