Philadelphia Cnty. C.P. Municipal Court-Traffic Local Rule 120

(a) Entry of Appearance.

(1) Counsel for defendant shall file with the Attorney Filing Unit an entry of appearance

(see form which follows this Local Rule), identifying the citations for which counsel has been

retained. The entry of appearance shall include the attorney's office address and electronic mail

address, phone number, and the Supreme Court attorney identification number. An entry of

appearance seeking to limit representation to a specific hearing shall not be accepted.

(2) When counsel is appointed pursuant to Pa.R.Crim. P. 1035, Appointment of Counsel,

the filing of the appointment order shall enter the appearance of appointed counsel.

(3) Counsel shall not be provided any defendant information unless an Entry of Appearance

is filed with the Attorney Filing Unit.

(4) An attorney who has been retained by a defendant and entered an appearance as

provided in this rule shall continue such representation in the Traffic Division until granted leave

to withdraw by the court pursuant to paragraph (b). An attorney who has been appointed by the

court pursuant to Pa.R.Crim. P. 1035 shall continue representation as provided in Local Rule 1035.

(b) Withdrawal of Appearance. Counsel for a defendant may not withdraw his or her appearance

except by leave of court. The request shall be in writing (see form which follows this Local Rule),

or may be made orally in open court in the presence of the defendant. The Court may grant the

request to withdraw when new couns el enters an appearance, when new counsel is appointed to

represent the defendant, or when the defendant intelligently waives the right to counsel.

COMMENT: The entry of appearance process has been problematic in Traffic

Division proceedings. This Local Rule is designed to advise all parties that counsel

must enter an appearance as a precondition to representation of Traffic Division

defendants. Traffic Division will not provide defendant information to counsel until

an entry of appearance is filed. Counsel is not permitted to enter an appearance

for a limited purpose –i.e. representation for a warrant hearing, or impoundment

hearing and the like. Rather, counsel must enter an appearance in connection with

all proceedings in the Traffic Division and must officially withdraw from the case

to be relieved of further legal obligations at the Traffic Division level.

Note: Adopted December 21, 2005, effective on February 1, 2006; amended on

May 8, 2014, effective June 23, 2014.

ENTRY OF APPEARANCE FORM

ENTRY OF APPEARANCE

Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania Citation Number(s):

________________________________________________ Date of Birth: ______________

Defendant’s Name

TO THE CLERK OF COURT:

Enter my appearance for Defendant in connection with the above citations.

Name of Attorney (Please Print): ____________________________________________________________

Office Address of Attorney: ______________________________________________________________________

Electronic Mail Address of Attorney: ______________________________________________________________

Phone Number: _________________________________ Attorney I.D. No.: ______________________ ____

Signature of Attorney: ____________________________________________________ _ Date: __________

REQUEST FOR LEAVE TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL FORM

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania: Citation No(s).

:

_____________________________

Defendant:

REQUEST FOR LEAVE TO WITHDRAW AS COUNSEL

Defendant’s Name Date of Birth

Address City State Zip

Name of Defendant’s Attorney Attorney ID #

Office Address City State Zip

Electronic Mail Address of Attorney:

Date of Trial Time Courtroom (If Available)

Reason for Request to Withdraw (Attach all necessary documentation)

Defendant’s Position

I verify that the statements made herein are true and correct, and that false statements herein are made

subject to the penalties of 18 Pa.C.S. §4904, relating to unsworn falsification to authorities.

Date: _____________________ ___________________________________________

Signature Defendant’s Attorney

ORDER

Counsel’s request to withdraw as counsel for the Defendant is:

Granted. Reason:

Denied. Reason:

Date: ______________ _____________________________________

HEARING OFFICER/JUDGE