How to use the Local Rules of Court website:
There are three different methods for running a search of the Local Rules of Court website: the Multi-Search Form, Search by Main Category and Keyword. These instructions will give you a brief overview of how to use each method.
The Multi-Search Form allows you to search within one of the four categories of rules at a time (ie: Civil Procedure, Criminal Procedure, Orphans’ Court and Judicial Administration). To run a search, select the category you want in the top drop down box. Once selected, this category will disappear, but the next drop down box will become active. This is the subcategory box, and it includes all of the areas addressed in that category of rules, which are derived from the table of contents that appears in the Local Rules of Court binder in the law library (ie: Category: Criminal Procedure, Subcategory: Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition). If you select a choice from the subcategory box and click “submit,” you will get a list of all of the rules in that subcategory. If you already know the name or number of the rule you are looking for, you can enter that into the text boxes and click “submit,” but you must select a subcategory first or you will not get any results. Also, when using this feature you must include leading zeros in your rule number for any rule that is less than 4 digits (ie: Rule 20 would be entered as “0020”). The same goes for rules with numbers after the decimal point if that series of rules also includes rules with more than one digit after the decimal point (ie: Civil Procedure Rule 1910.1 would be 1910.01). This is a constraint of the database, and is necessary to keep the rules in numerical order when using the next method of searching. When you find the rule that you want, click on the rule number and the rule will appear.
Search by Main Category
This is the easiest way to browse the rules. Just select the main category you want (ie: Orphans’ Court) and click “submit.” This will give you a list of all of the rules in that category in numerical order, along with their name and subcategory. Just click on the rule number and it will appear.
Keyword Search
If you don’t know what category you need to look in, you can enter a keyword into the text box and click “submit.” This will give you every rule in all categories that contain that word. Obviously, the more specific you can make your keyword, the fewer rules you will get. This is the most general way to search, but it can be very useful if you don’t have a working knowledge of the rules.
General Information
For any rule that includes the format of a form (ie: Civil Procedure 208.3(a), Motions Practice and Procedure, which includes the format of the Civil Scheduling Praecipe and Civil Continuance Request) you will find that the format of the form has been removed from the text of the rule. If you scroll down to the bottom of the rule there will be links to a PDF version of the form. This will require Adobe Reader software in order to view the form. If you do not have this software go to www.Adobe.com and download it for free.
As previously noted, for groups of rules with more than one number that appears after the decimal point, the rules having only one digit after the decimal point will have leading zeros. This is a constraint of the database and is necessary to keep the rules in numerical order. These leading zeros should not be considered part of the rule number for the purpose of citation.
If you encounter any problems using this site, or find any inaccuracies in the information posted on it, please contact the law library at 445-1508 or 445-1510 and the staff will be happy to assist you.