Court Administration

Court Order Extending Judicial Emergency in Lackawanna County Dated May 27, 2020

In accord with the Order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dated May 27, 2020, the Judicial Emergency in the 45th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, Lackawanna County, is hereby extended through September 4th, 2020

Emergency Judicial Order Dated April 20, 2020

The Judicial Emergency Declared in the 45th Judicial District of Pennsylvania Shall Continue to Exist Through May 31, 2020 due to the COVID – 19 Crisis.

Emergency Judicial Order Dated April 14, 2020

All Domestic Relations Conferences Scheduled between April 14, 2020 through May 31, 2020 are Encouraged to be Held via Teleconference

Emergency Judicial Order Dated April 14, 2020

All Support Hearings in front of Master Kathryn Karam between April 14, 2020 through May 31, 2020 shall be Held via Video Conference

Emergency Judicial Order Dated April 3, 2020

Important procedural changes for obtaining PFAs in light of the Judicial Emergency declared by this Court and by the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania on April 1, 2020, directing the closure of court facilities

Emergency Judicial Order Dated April 1, 2020

in accord with the Order of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court dated April 1, 2020 extending the declaration of the Judicial Emergency through April 30, 2020, it is hereby ordered and decreed that, the Judicial Emergency declared in the 45th Judicial District of Pennsylvania shall continue to exist through April 30, 2020 due to the COVID-19 crisis

Emergency Judicial Order Dated March 16, 2020

in accord with the Order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania authorizing this Court to declare a Judicial Emergency in the 45th Judicial District of Pennsylvania, I do hereby declare that a Judicial Emergency exists in this Judicial District and shall continue to exist until April 14, 2020 on account of COVID-19

Emergency Custody Petitions

in light of the Judicial Emergency declared by this Court and by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on April 1, 2020, the COVID-19 Emergency Declaration and Stay at Home Order issude by Governor Tom Wof on March 27, 2020, requiring all Lackawanna County residents to to remain at home or at their place of residence to avoid spreading COVID-19, recognizing, however, that child custody transfers are permitted under the Order

Temporary Motion Practice in Lackawanna County

Important change to Motion Practice in Lackawanna County Motion Court, Family Motion Court and Orphan’s Court

The office of the District Court Administrator was established in Lackawanna County to reduce the burden of administrative duties for the Judges of the Courts of Common Pleas. The responsibility of the District Court Administrator is to manage the non-judicial functions of the court. Judges are ultimately responsible for effective court management; however, the complexity of the modern court requires the delegation of administrative functions and responsibilities to the District Court Administrator. The District Court Administrator serves as an appointee of the entire court but is subject to the supervision and direction of the President Judge. The District Court Administrator must practice extensive managerial and administrative skills in order to serve effectively as the managerial arm of the court, and by doing so, increases the time that judges can spend in adjudication.

The Court Administrator’s Office advises and assists the President Judge of the Common Pleas Courts with management and administration of the courts. The Administrator’s Office is also responsible to the other eight Common Pleas Court judges, assuring that the Court staff carries out the specialized duties which are assigned to them. The Court Administrator’s Office is the administrative arm of the Court and is responsible for all support functions necessary to maintain the efficient and effective operation of both the Common Pleas Court and the Minor Judiciary. Responsibilities of this Office include, but are not limited to, juror usage, budget and fiscal operations, personnel, planning, scheduling court proceedings, information systems development, case flow management, and public information. The Lackawanna County Court Administrator’s office administers and supervises the Offices of the Magisterial District Judges, Central Court, Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation, and Domestic Relations in addition to the court reporters, law library and contract foreign language and sign language interpreters. The office works very closely with the Department of Children and Youth Services in all court related matters affecting the family. The Court Administrator is also responsible for overall personnel management and labor relations for the judicial branch.

The Office applies all of its skills and resources to the achievement of departmental goals as defined by law, and in accordance with policy established by the Court. It involves a close working, cooperative relationship, not only between the Court Administrator and Court-supervised departments, but with those County agencies which provide services to the Court, and other County agencies as well.

For more information and answers regarding State Courts, select this link www.courts.state.pa.us or ujsportal.pacourts.us to access the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System websites.

Office Hours 9:00 A.M. through 4:00 P.M. Monday through Friday

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LAP grievance procedure