Westmoreland Cnty. C.P. Orphans' Rules RULE WO 16.2

(a) All proceedings relating to an application shall be confidential.

(b) Upon the initial filing of the application, the court shall review the application and note any information identifying the pregnant woman (such as name and address and social security number) and shall then seal the application in an envelope, denoting on the face thereof a caption using the initials of the pregnant woman and writing an order on the face of the envelope, which shall indicate the contents of the envelope (for example, application for judicial authorization of an abortion, verification of applicant, verification of medical provider, etc.). The court shall direct that the record (application, pleadings, submissions, transcripts, exhibits, orders, evidence and any other written material to be maintained, which shall include its own findings and conclusions) be sealed. The order shall specifically state that the envelope shall remain sealed and confidential.

(c) The Clerk of the Orphans’ Court shall docket the case by using a docket number only. Neither the name nor the initials of the pregnant woman shall appear anywhere upon the docket. All subsequent pleadings and exhibits shall be similarly sealed and maintained. A final decree in the matter, using only the initials of the pregnant woman, may appear on the face of a sealed envelope, but the findings of fact and memorandum opinion of the court shall be sealed.

(d) The identity of the pregnant woman shall not be disclosed in any report or decision of the proceeding.

(e) All persons shall be excluded from hearings upon the application except the pregnant woman, her attorney, her guardian ad litem, her proposed guardian (if she is alleged to be incapacitated), the proposed guardian’s attorney, and witnesses of the applicant or of the applicant’s attorney and guardian ad litem, or other individuals as directed by the court.

(f) The judge hearing the application shall direct all persons present at any hearing or proceeding upon the application not to disclose any information regarding the case.

CROSS REFERENCES: See Pa. O.C. Rule 16.2 and 16.6.

Adopted February 1, 1996, effective May 1, 1996. Rule WO202 renumbered April 6, 2017, effective May 29, 2017.