Armstrong Cnty. C.P. Rules of Criminal Procedure Rule 576.1

A. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and

the 33rd Judicial District of Armstrong County have agreed upon

an implementation plan for electronic filing, as that term is

defined in Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1, in the 33rd Judicial District

through the statewide system known as PACFile. This local rule

supplements Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1.

B. Electronic filing through the PACFile System is

voluntary, not mandatory. All electronic filings shall be in

Portable Document Format (PDF).

C. Attorneys and defendants proceeding without counsel

who decline to participate in the PACFile System, or who are

unable to electronically file or accept service of legal papers

which were filed electronically, or are otherwise unable to

access the PACFile System, shall be able to file legal papers in

a physical paper format (a hard copy), in accordance with

Pa.R.Crim.P. 576, and shall be served with a hard copy of legal

papers which were electronically filed in accordance with

Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.

D. Legal papers include a pleading or other submission to

the court, including motions, answers, notices, briefs, or other

documents, of which filing is required or permitted, including

orders, copies of exhibits, and attachments.

E. Legal papers which may not be filed electronically are

those excluded by Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1(C)(1)-(6), plus:

(1) confidential documents, including but not limited

to drug and alcohol assessments, mental health evaluations and

reports, and medical records;

(2) oversized documents or documents that cannot be

reduced to 8½ x 11 inches;

Legal papers that are not permitted to be filed

electronically shall be maintained in a physical paper format.

F. The following offices must be served in accordance

with Pa.R.Crim.P. 576:

(1) Sheriff;

(2) Adult Probation;

(3) Court Reporter;

(4) Court Administrator (includes service of

motions for continuance, which must be filed

and served no later than 48 hours before the time

set for the proceeding); and

(5) Judge (if service upon a judge is required, or is

provided as a courtesy)

G. Counsel and unrepresented parties must adhere to the

Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of

Pennsylvania and refrain from including confidential information

in legal papers filed with the Clerk of Courts or the Court,

whether filed electronically or in a paper format.

H. Applicable filing fees shall be paid through

procedures established by the Clerk of Courts and at the same

time and in the same amount as required by statute, Court rule

or order, or published fee schedule.

Adopted December 11, 2024, effective January 27, 2025.

MOTION PROCEDURES