Judge: County criminal division must close

Part of the criminal division of Allegheny County Common Pleas Court was ordered to close until further notice on Friday.

President Judge Kimberly Berkeley Clark issued the order late Thursday night. It was amended Friday afternoon to state that no in-person hearings or proceedings would occur until further order of the court.

The cause was not disclosed by court officials, although several employees and attorneys who work in the courthouse in Downtown Pittsburgh have complained about the rising number of court staff testing positive for COVID-19.

At least five people who work in the Grant Street building have become infected, as well as seven others across Allegheny County’s court system.

The amended order states several matters will be conducted electronically through Microsoft Teams, including bail hearings and motions, guilty pleas, sentencing hearings, accelerated rehabilitative disposition hearings, and probation violation hearings.

Non-jury trials requested or consented to by defendants, plus review hearings for domestic violence, drug, DUI, mental health, PRIDE and veterans courts, are also to be conducted remotely. Early disposition programs, phoenix dockets and statement of the case formal arraignments will also be done electronically.

Last week, the union that represents the lawyers in the district attorney’s office and the public defender’s office urged officials to close the entire courthouse — with all work occurring through videoconferencing — or to at least have temperature and symptom-checking stations at the entrances to ensure the safety of those who appear

each day.

The Court of Common Pleas, which includes the third and fifth floors of the courthouse, reopened physically in early June.

Also closed on Friday was the Protection From Abuse Department at 440 Ross St., Downtown, and the local district court on Lincoln Highway in North Versailles, according to Judge Clark’s original order. A reason was not given for those closures.

Court officials said emergency PFAs can be obtained at either Pittsburgh Municipal Court at 660 First Ave., Downtown, or via a local district court.

Amie Downs, the county spokeswoman, said last week that Allegheny County officials and the courts have spoken about temperature checks and other measures.

“We will continue to have those conversations to determine what is most appropriate based on advice from the Health Department, as well as feasible for a facility such as this while remaining consistent with all offices and facilities,” she said. “We do know that the courts are looking at specific options for their floors as well.”