The Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Project began in 1998 as an initiative to analyze national standards, case law and local practices to respond to changes in the purpose of the Juvenile Act. Based on the analysis and reports from the project, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania established the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee on January 22, 2001.
The committee has nine members and three ex-officio members. Members are judges, attorneys and administrators who are experts in juvenile delinquency and dependency law. Committee members are appointed by the Supreme Court to three-year terms, and each member may serve a maximum of two terms.
The committee is an advisory body. Its role is to advise the Supreme Court on matters related to the procedural rules governing actions for juvenile delinquency and dependency courts.
The primary goal of the committee is to simplify juvenile delinquency and dependency law practice by recommending new rules or amendments to existing procedural rules. The committee reviews legislation and monitors court decisions to ensure that the rules conform to developments in the law as well as to the realities of juvenile law practice. The committee strives to promote statewide uniformity of practice, to streamline procedures, and to encourage the prompt disposition of juvenile matters.
Committee members and staff speak at conferences and seminars to inform judges, attorneys, court administrators and personnel, probation officers, caseworkers and others of recent and proposed changes in the procedural rules related to juvenile matters. The committee strives to maintain open channels of communication with those who work with or are affected by the rules it proposes.
| Committee Members |
Staff |
| Honorable Todd A. Hoover, Chair |
A. Christine Riscili, Esq., Counsel |
| Patricia J. Kennedy, Esq., Vice Chair |
Tricia D. Carbaugh, Assistant |
|
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| James E. Anderson, ex officio |
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| Jonathan R. Birbeck |
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| Frank P. Cervone, Esq. |
|
| Honorable Kevin M. Dougherty |
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| Katherine J. Gomez, Esq. |
|
| Honorable Kathryn M. Hens-Greco |
|
| Honorable J. Brian Johnson |
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| Deborah Gordon Klehr, Esq. |
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| Sandra E. Moore, ex officio |
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| Lisa Siciliano, ex officio |
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| Kerith Strano Taylor, Esq. |
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| Honorable Dwayne D. Woodruff |
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Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee
Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 6200
PO Box 62635
Harrisburg, PA 17106-2635
phone: 717-231-9555
fax: 717-231-9541
juvenilerules@pacourts.us
- Rules Adopted by the Supreme Court and Other Postings
- Prior Proposed Rules
- Delinquency Rules - Updated 1/18/12
- Dependency Rules - Updated 5/20/11
- SORNA Colloquy
The Juvenile Court Judges' Commission consulted with the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee in the design of the SORNA colloquy. This colloquy is to ensure the juvenile is aware of the SORNA legislation and any admission made to the specified sex offenses is voluntary, knowing, and intelligent. The PA Supreme Court has not adopted this colloquy.
- Delinquency: Model Petition and Court Orders
The following court orders have been reviewed by the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee. The Committee fully supports the use of these forms to ensure compliance with the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules. The forms also include the necessary language to receive state and federal funding. The PA Supreme Court has not adopted these forms or Court orders.
- Pennsylvania Juvenile Collateral Consequences Checklist
This checklist may be helpful in determining some of the consequences of an adjudication of delinquency. This document was prepared by the Pennsylvania Juvenile Indigent Defense Action Network and supported by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, Juvenile Defenders Association of Pennsylvania, and the National Juvenile Defender Center. This checklist has not been adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
Current Proposed Rules for Public Comment
These recommendations have not been submitted to or adopted by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. They are being published by the committee to solicit input from the public. No rules in this section are in effect.
No proposals are currently being published for comment.