Westmoreland Cnty. C.P. Criminal Rules RULE WC 120

(a) An entry of appearance may only be filed on either a Waiver of Arraignment or on a

Praecipe for Appearance. An attorney will not be noticed regarding motions, court

hearings, or trials unless the attorney enters an appearance.

(b) Once an appearance is entered, the attorney will remain counsel of record until

removed from the case by court order.

(1) In the event of a guilty plea or acceptance into the ARD program, the court

will entertain private counsel’s motion to withdraw at the time of sentencing

or at the time of acceptance into the ARD Program. If the motion is granted,

the private counsel and the defendant shall sign a Certificate of Withdrawal

which shall be forwarded to the clerk of courts as a part of the official

record.

(2) In order for the court to consider a petition for withdrawal of privately

retained counsel subsequent to the imposition of sentence and pending

appeal, counsel seeking to withdraw must provide the court with the

defendant’s completed application for a public defender, an executed

Certificate of Withdrawal, and a summary of the bases for appeal. The court

may direct the appointment of trial counsel to pursue the intended appeal at

the applicable court-appointed counsel rate.

Repealed October 1, 1998; New Rule WC302 adopted October 1, 1998, effective February 22, 1999. Renumbered

from WC302 May 10, 2001, effective July 2, 2001.