Schuylkill County Courthouse and all Magistrate courts in the county were closed to the general public at 4:30 p.m. due to fears of the spread of COVID-19 coronavirus.
This emergency action remains in effect through Friday, April 3.
According to an order from Schuylkill County President Judge William Baldwin, the following actions are being taken at the Courthouse:
- At the courthouse, hearings for PFAs, temporary and final, will be conducted, as will contempt orders for violating PFAs.
- People needed for bench warrant hearings, bail hearings for the incarcertated, detention hearings, emergency issues regarding children, individuals posting bail for an incarcerated person, and motions regarding public health concerns which involve immediate and irreparable harm will be admitted to court.
- Payments are being accepted for court costs, fines, and restitution by mail, online, or by phone.
Magistrate courts are closed to the public with the following exceptions:
- Preliminary arraignments
- Criminal case filings
- Preliminary hearings only for incarcerated people
- Issuing search and bench warrants
- Emergency PFA petitions
Baldwin’s order says “Courts will continue to function to the greatest extent possible through the use of videoconferencing, telephones, and other available means of advanced communication technology.”
FOR MORE …
SPECIAL SECTION: Coronavirus in Schuylkill County
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