Westmoreland Cnty. C.P. Criminal Rules Rule WC 576.1

(A) Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 576.1, Electronic Filing

and Service of Legal Papers, electronic filing of legal papers through the PACFile

electronic filing system is permissive in Westmoreland County, the Tenth

Judicial District. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has agreed

upon an implementation plan for the use of PACFile in the Tenth Judicial District

as of September 13, 2021.

(B) Legal Papers Defined. The legal papers which shall be filed electronically shall

encompass all written motions, written answers and any notices or documents

for which filing is required or permitted, including orders, exhibits and

attachments, except for the following:

1. Applications for a search warrant;

2. Applications for an arrest warrant

3. Any grand jury materials; except the indicting grand jury indictment or the

investigating grant jury presentment;

4. Submissions filed ex parte as authorized by law;

5. Submissions filed or authorized to be filed under seal;

6. Exhibits offered into evidence, whether or not admitted, in a court

proceeding, and

7. Wiretap Act, cell phone, tracker and Internet petitions.

General rules of court and court policies that implement the rules shall continue

to apply to all filings regardless of the method of filing.

(C) Any party who declines to electronically file, or who is unable to electronically

file or accept service of electronically filed legal papers, or who is otherwise

unable to access the system, shall be entitled to file legal papers in a physical

paper format and be served electronically filed legal papers in a physical format.

(D) Filing fees. Applicable filing fees shall be paid through procedures established

by the Clerk of Courts and at the same time and in the same amount required by

statute, court rule or order, or published fee schedule.

(E) Confidential information. Counsel and unrepresented parties shall adhere to

the Public Access Police of the Unified Judicial System and refrain from including

confidential information in legal papers filed with the Clerk of Courts, whether

filed electronically or as a paper document.

Adopted August 4, 2021, effective 9/20/21.