The judicial emergency declared in March by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will now be extended through May 8 in Allegheny County, according to an order issued Thursday by county President Judge Kim Berkeley Clark.
Clark’s order follows an extension of the statewide judicial emergency through April 30, ordered Wednesday by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
The court on March 16 declared a statewide judicial emergency, paving the way for county judges to modify the way their courts operate amid statewide closures over the coronavirus.
The emergency declaration by the state’s highest court allows county president judges, including Judge Clark, to declare their own countywide judicial emergencies through April 14.
Judicial emergencies allow the president judges to take a slew of actions to “protect the health and safety” of those who work for and use the courts. Among them are canceling or postponing jury duty and trials.
Clark’s order also recognizes the possibility that the the emergency could be extended through the end of May.
Any case postponed due to the emergency will be re-scheduled at a date after May 31, according to the order.
“Cases that can be resolved entirely through the use of advanced communication technology may be postponed to a date prior to May 31,” Clark wrote.
