Court of Common Pleas

22nd Judicial District

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

 
Honorable Raymond L. Hamill, President Judge

Honorable Robert J. Conway, Senior Judge

Wayne County Courthouse

925 Court Street

Honesdale, Pennsylvania 18431

Courthouse (570) 253 5970

Chambers (570) 253-0101 

Fax (570) 253-2919

Staff:

Linus H. Myers, Court Administrator, lmyers@co.wayne.pa.us

Linda Malakin, Adm. Asst. to Court Administrator

Wendy M. D'Agostino , Judicial Secretary/Chief Clerk

John H. Naegeli, Esq., Senior Law Clerk/Juvenile Master

Shelley L. Robinson, Esq., Law Clerk

Donna Sledzinski, Court Reporter/Monitor

Karen Vinton, Court Reporter/Monitor

Susan Rooney, Court Reporter/Monitor

Karen Johnson,Court Crier

COURT POLICIES & PROCEDURES 

Questions

Answers

Motions & Petitions	Heard each Tuesday and Thursday at 9:00 a.m. Parties should register with the Tipstaff. Motions only requiring Court scheduling dates may be presented directly to the Court Administrator for assignment of dates. Motions for Special Relief or emergency preliminary injunction may be presented as the situation dictates and availability of the Court. Courtesy copies need not be sent to the Court. All filings shall be made to the Prothonotary/Clerk of Court's Office. Parties should file an entry of appearance to insure proper notification of hearings.
Trial Terms	Jury Trials are scheduled the 3rd Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November unless that Monday is a holiday. The trial term continues two weeks or until all  trials are completed.
Jury Selection	Jury Selection takes place the first day of the Trial Term in the Main Courtroom of the original Courthouse. All juries for the trial term are selected that day. Jurors are provided with information advising them of the scheduled trial and information is updated daily via taped phone instructions after 4:30 p.m.
Who do I call with jury duty questions?	Questions regarding jury duty may be directed to Jury Commissioners Judy Romich or Patricia Biondo on Wednesday mornings at 253-5970 ex.2040 or with the Court Administrator 253-0101. To qualify as a juror you must be 18 years old, a United States citizen, a resident of Wayne County and be able to read, speak and understand English.
Courtroom Protocol	Regular Court sessions and trials are held in Courtroom No.2 located on the 4th Floor of the Courthouse Annex. Parties are expected to speak, dress and act professionally at all times. Cell phones may not be operated in the Courtroom. Video and audio recording devices, of any kind, are prohibited from the Courtroom. Courtrooms have easels and audio-visual equipment available (DVD/video tape equipment).
Transcripts	Counsel requesting transcripts should call Donna Sledzinski 253-5970 ex. 2030 or Karen Vinton ex.2035 for information on cost estimates, timing and payment procedures. CD's or audio reproductions of proceedings are available at a discounted rate. Public requests of transcripts should have an expectation of a minimum of thirty (30) days. The production of transcripts are prioritized by appellate needs, common pleas needs, counsel requests, private requests.
Arguments	Oral arguments are scheduled by the Prothonotary's Office and a briefing schedule issued to the parties. Arguments on motions for preliminary objections, exceptions to Master Reports, summary judgment, judgment on the pleadings and post trial motions are generally scheduled for the Court's Return Day, the first Wednesday of each month. Brief of the moving party is due ten (10) days prior to the argument date and brief of the responding party is due five (5) days prior to the argument date. Failure to file timely brief could result in default granting or denial of motion. Oral arguments may not be conducted by phone. Copies of briefs should be forwarded electronically, either in Word or .pdf format to srobinson@co.wayne.pa.us
Continuances	Must be presented in form of Motion for Continuance and presented to teh Court during Motions Court-Tuesday & Thursday mornings at 9:00 a.m.  Motion must include the specific reason/need for the continuance; include position of opposing party. Notice of presentation of the Motion shall be afforded to the opposing party. Continuances of status conferences and arbitration matters may be presented to Court Administration for consideration.
Status Conferences	May be conducted via phone by making prior individual arrangements with Court Administration. One parties' phone conference is not dependent upon the other. Covering counsel must be in a position to establish discovery and motion deadlines and agree to a trial date.
Pre-trial Conferences	Must be attended in person by trial counsel. Pre-trial memorandum must be filed five (5) days prior to pre-trial date. Clients must be available by phone and counsel should have full authority to enter into settlement negotiations. Pre-trial conferences occur approximately 4-5 weeks prior to jury selection.
Arbitrations	Arbitration limits-$50,000. Arbitration hearings are generally scheduled twice a month. If hearings are expected to be an entire day, the parties should contact Linda Malakin, Admin. Assistant to the Court Administrator 253-5970 ex. 2020 lmalakin@co.wayne.pa.us and advise of same. A separate day and panel may be selected for that case. Parties are instructed to notify Court Administration-IN WRITING-of settlement at least 48 hours prior to Arbitration Hearing.Failure to do so will result in the costs of Arbitrators assessed against the parties.
PFA Process	An emergency Protection from Abuse Order may be sought from any Magisterial District Judge between 4:30pm and 8:30am during weekdays and anytime during week ends. Order from District Judge is valid only until the Court of Common Pleas is available. A Petition for an Emergency Protection from Abuse Order then must be obtained at the Prothonotary's Office, Wayne County Courthouse and submitted to the Court for review. If approved, a PFA hearing shall be scheduled within ten days. Assistance may be sought through the Victim's Intervention Program at 253-4401 and through Northern Pennsylvania Legal Services at 253-1031.
Divorce Master Process	Upon filing a divorce action, party may seek appointment of Master by petitioning Court and depositing a $500.00 deposit with the Prothonotary for payment of Master's fees, and $200.00 with their attorney's escrow account for payment of transcripts to Court Reporters. The scheduling of a Master's Hearing will not take place unless the dposits are made. In the event the funds are exhausted and additional hearings/transcripts are required, funds must again be deposited prior to any scheduling of additional hearings.
Guardianships	Incapacitated person-Petition shall meet all requirements of 20 Pa. C.S.A 5511 and procedural rules under Rule 14 of the Orphans' Court Rules. In determining incapacity, Court requires either live testimony from physician or sworn deposition of same.

Important Links PA Bar Association   PA Superior Court   Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts