By Order of President Judge Donna Jo McDaniel, the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, 5th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, will be closed on Monday, February 8, 2010 as a result of the emergency situation created by the recent snowstorm.
All Divisions and Departments of the Court will be closed including all Magisterial District Judges' offices, Pittsburgh Municipal Court, adult and juvenile probation centers, and auxiliary downtown offices including the Office of Conflict Counsel, Court Reporters, Pretrial Services and the Probation Department. Employees, except as noted below, should NOT report for work.
The decision to close does not effect the 24 X 7 preliminary arraignment operations at the Allegheny County Jail. Court personnel assigned to this operation should report for work as previously assigned.
All persons having business with to Court, including prospective jurors summoned to appear on Monday, February 8, 2010, are NOT required to appear.
The minor courts, also called the "special courts," are the first level of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. Except in Philadelphia, these courts are presided over by magisterial district judges who decide small claims, landlord-tenant disputes, traffic cases and minor criminal matters. There are 546 magisterial district judges based in community courts throughout the Commonwealth. These judges are not required to be lawyers, but they must undergo legal training and attend continuing legal education programs.
In Philadelphia the minor courts are made up of a Municipal Court and a separate Traffic Court, each with its own elected judges. In Allegheny County the Pittsburgh Municipal Court is staffed by magisterial district judges based in the city and the county.
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