As amended through March 1, 2024
Rule 117 - Coverage Magisterial District Judges(1) All Magisterial District Judge Offices shall be open for regular business on Mondays through Fridays from 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. prevailing time.(2) Magisterial District Judges shall be available 24 hours per day, every day of the calendar year to provide continuous coverage for the issuance of warrants, pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 203; arrest warrants pursuant to Pa.R.Crim.P. 513; requests to accept bail and to issue emergency orders under the Protection from Abuse Act. The Magisterial District Judges shall satisfy this rule by remaining on-call during non-regular business hours on a rotating basis pursuant to a schedule prepared by the Court Administrator. The schedule shall be distributed and publicized pursuant to past practice.(3) Magisterial District Judges shall be available during non-regular business hours each day at 8:30 A.M. and 8:30 P.M. ( effective 10-07-2019) for the purpose of providing the services set forth in Pa.R.Crim.P. 117(A)(2)(a), (b), (c) and (d). The availability of each Magisterial District Judge shall be on a rotating basis pursuant to the same schedule proposed pursuant to subdivision (2) and shall be publicized pursuant to past practice.(4) Magisterial District Judges shall be available during regular business hours for all other business.(5) Each Magisterial District Judges shall be available to preside over preliminary hearings at the Beaver County Courthouse, or such other location that may be established for "Central Court", on a rotating basis pursuant to a schedule prepared by the Court Administrator.