Are the Philadelphia Criminal Courts open for business?

Although some courts announced that they would be closing last week, the Philadelphia criminal courts remained open until Monday March 16, 2020. At that point, the courts announced that they would be shutting down all non-essential operations and delaying court dates for all types of criminal cases, including preliminary hearings, arraignments, bench trials, and jury trials.

Initially, the Court of Common Pleas announced that it planned to re-open on April 1, 2020. However, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court subsequently declared a statewide judicial emergency and ordered that courts remain closed until at least April 3, 2020. The Supreme Court, however, directed that courts remain at least partially open for essential functions such as bail hearings, detainer hearings, bench warrant hearings, preliminary arraignments, and potentially preliminary hearings for defendants who are incarcerated. At the moment, the Philadelphia courts have not been conducting preliminary hearings. It is still possible to file motions to reduce bail, lift detainers, and to lift bench warrants.

Are courts open in the rest of Pennsylvania during the Coronavirus pandemic?

No. Although the courts initially responded by letting each President Judge determine what should happen in each Pennsylvania district, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order generally closing all courts with the exception of certain essential hearings as mentioned above. The counties are still sorting out how they will proceed with essential hearings during the shut down, but jury and bench trials are currently not occurring anywhere in Pennsylvania. New Jersey has also suspended most court operations.

Is it possible to get bail reduced due to the disease?

Yes, Philadelphia and the surrounding counties are still processing and ruling on bail motions, and it is possible that the lack of adequate health care in the prison system could be a reason why a prosecutor and/or judge may look more favorably on a bail motion than they normally would. Even with the general shut down of the courts, it is possible to file an emergency bail motion. In Philadelphia, it appears that the judges may rule on bail motions on the paperwork without holding actual hearings, but the District Attorney’s Office and the courts are hoping to reduce the prison population to the extent possible in the hopes of avoiding the spread of the Coronavirus. Therefore, if your loved one is being held on high bail for a case which has been postponed due to the shut down, contact us immediately to discuss the prospects of getting that bail reduced.

Can I get a probation detainer lifted while the courts are closed?

Yes, like bail motions, the Philadelphia courts continue to accept emergency motions to lift probation detainers. All probation detainer motions and bail motions are being heard by the President Judge or a designee for either the Court of Common Pleas or the Municipal Court. This means that it remains possible to file a motion to lift a probation detainer despite the general shut down caused by the virus. Further, if you or your loved one has been detained due to a technical violation or an arrest for a relatively less serious crime, the odds may be good for getting a probation detainer lifted.

What happens to criminal cases while the courts are closed?

That is a good question. At the moment, everything except emergency petitions for bail motions, detainer motions, and bench warrant hearings are currently on hold. Defendants who have been arrested on new charges are still entitled to a prompt preliminary arraignment at which bail will be set, and the Supreme Court has allowed the Municipal Court to proceed with preliminary hearings for incarcerated defendants. However, the Municipal Court has not yet been holding preliminary hearings in those cases as the judges are still working through what the procedures will be and evaluating how long the shut down is likely to be in effect. It is clear that trials will not happen for some time, and that fact may be helpful in getting a detainer lifted or bail reduced. The courts have also suspended the function of Rule 600, which is the speedy trial rule for trials.

The bottom line is that if you or your loved one have recently been arrested or are being held on high bail or a probation detainer, we may be able to help. Call 267-225-2545 to speak with a Philadelphia Criminal Defense attorney today. Our award-winning criminal lawyers stand ready to help you navigate this difficult time.

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