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WILKES-BARRE — An order signed by Luzerne Count President Judge Michael T. Vough on Friday more specifically lays out the county courthouse’s reopening plan.
Starting on Monday, the Luzerne County Courthouse will be open for the first time since mid-March.
While Vough explained much of the details involving the reopening in an interview with the Times Leader earlier this week, the Friday order contains some more specific details.
As previously stated, masks must be worn in order to enter the building. While hearings will not begin again until June 8, once they do, only the litigants, counsel, witnesses and members of the press will be allowed to attend hearings.
Those who are required to attend hearings should arrive at the courthouse 10 minutes prior to their scheduled time.
Those who can file documents with the court electronically are encouraged to do so, but for those who cannot, the prothonotary and clerk of courts offices will be accepting filings in the basement of the courthouse, near the sheriff’s department. Similarly, communication technology is to be used at all times “when possible and practical” for hearings.
All hearings involving a prisoner are being held through video conferencing.
Criminal jury trials will not be held until September.
DUI court will begin again on June 10, with specialty court and treatment court resuming on June 12.
PFA hearings will begin on June 8, occurring between the hours of 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Civil jury trials are also on hold until September, and as many civil proceedings as possible are to be held over communication technology.
As for family court, those filing motions requesting a custody conference should email those motions to Sharon Mudlock at [email protected]. Similarly, those seeking to file a motion seeking special relief or contempt should email them to Nancy Biscontini at [email protected].
Those filing family court motions who are representing themselves and do not have access to email can file at the Bernard C. Brominski Building on Thursdays between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Once again, communication technology will be used when possible.
Orphans court will have motions hours on Tuesdays from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. and Thursday from 8:30 to 9:15 a.m., starting on June 8. These will be held at the Penn Place Building.
The magisterial district courts will also open on June 8, with no one other than litigants, counsel, witnesses and press being allowed into hearings. District judges will insure these people will be called into the building one case at a time, and only five total cases can be scheduled per hour.
Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan