Rule 1901 - PROMPT DISPOSITION OF MATTERS; TERMINATION OF INACTIVE CASES.(a) The Prothonotary shall prepare and forward to the Court on or before the third Monday of September each year, or on such other date as the Court by special order may direct all civil matters in which no steps or proceedings have been taken for two years or more prior thereto and shall give notice thereof to counsel of record, and to the parties for whom no appearance has been entered, as provided by Pa.R.J.A. No. 1901(c). If no action is taken or no written objection is docketed in such a matter prior to the commencement of the general call, the Prothonotary shall strike the matter from the list and enter an order as of course dismissing the matter with prejudice for failure to prosecute, under the provisions of this rule. If no good cause for continuing a matter is shown at the general call, an order shall be entered forthwith by the court for dismissal.(b) The Clerk of Courts shall prepare and forward to the Court on or before the third Monday of September each year, or on such other date as the Court by special order may direct criminal proceedings in which no steps or proceedings have been taken for two years or more prior thereto and shall give notice thereof to the district attorney, any private prosecutor and the defendant, as provided by Pa.R.J.A. No. 1901(c). If no good cause for continuing a proceeding is shown at the general call, an order for dismissal shall be entered forthwith by the court. The Court may initiate proceedings to terminate the cases contained on said list pursuant to Pa.R.J.A. No 1901(c)(1), (2).
(c) On or before September 1 of each year, each Magisterial District Judge shall prepare and forward to the Court a list of all civil and summary proceedings in the judge's magisterial district in which no steps or proceedings have been taken for two years or more prior thereto. The Court shall thereafter give to the parties in a civil matter and to the prosecutor and defendant in a summary matter notice of the Court's intention to terminate the proceedings as provided by Pa.R.J.A. 1901(c). If no good cause for continuing a proceeding is shown in response to said notice, an order for dismissal shall be ordered forthwith by the Court. If an action is terminated pursuant to this rule, an aggrieved party may petition the Court to reinstate the proceeding. The Court may reinstate the proceeding upon good cause shown both for the failure to respond to the Court's notice of intent to terminate and for continuing the proceeding.Amended effective 3/1/2021; amended effective 2/1/2024.