As amended through August 12, 2024
Rule 542.2 - Scheduling of Court DatesA. The date on which a defendant shall be directed to appear for formal arraignment, non-trial disposition conference, DUI date or plea date, and trial will be as follows: 1. Arraignment shall be scheduled on the arraignment date as established bi-annually by schedule adopted by the Court.2. Non-trial disposition conference shall be scheduled as established bi-annually by schedule adopted by the Court.3. Plea dates shall be held on DUI dates and plea dates as established by the Court Calendar, as supplemented by the Court Administrator's Office pursuant to paragraph B hereinbelow.4. Jury selection and trial shall be scheduled on the first day of the criminal trial term, as established by the Court Calendar, which follows the DUI date/plea date established above.B. The Court Administrator's Office shall biannually prepare a schedule from the Court Calendar, which shall list the dates of arraignment, non-trial disposition conference, DUI date or plea date, and jury selection/trial term applicable for cases held for court on or before each Central Court date. On or before January 1st and July 1st of each year, the Court Administrator's Office shall post the schedule for Central Court dates occurring within the following six (6) months and provide copies to the Court, the Clerk of Court's Office, each Magisterial District Judge, the District Attorney, and the Public Defender. The Magisterial District Judge shall enter the dates of court appearances and the notice required by this rule in accordance with the schedule established by the Court Administrator's Office.C. If a defendant is held for court following a preliminary hearing on a date other than a Central Court date, they shall be scheduled for additional proceedings according to the schedule which would apply to the Central Court date immediately following the preliminary hearing.D. In order to comply with Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 600, the Commonwealth may change the dates of plea and trial by providing the Court and counsel with written notice of the same at the time of formal arraignment.Amended effective 5/29/2023; amended effective 7/31/2023; amended effective 12/18/2023; amended effective 8/12/2024.