Minor Court Rules Committee

The Minor Court Rules Committee is charged by the Supreme Court with examining and evaluating the rules and standards regarding magisterial district judges' conduct, offices of magisterial district judges and civil matters in the magisterial district courts.

The committee reviews Pennsylvania court cases and legislation to identity decisional or statutory changes that affect magisterial district court procedure and necessitate amendments to the rules or other action by the court. Committee members and staff also speak at conferences and seminars to inform lawyers and court personnel of recent and proposed changes in the procedural rules related to rules of conduct as well as civil matters in the magisterial district courts.

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania established the Minor Court Rules Committee in 1990. It replaced a previous committee that was called the Minor Court Civil Procedural Rules Committee.

Committee appointments are typically for six-year terms. In special circumstances the Supreme Court may extend or reduce the term of an appointment. Committee members are appointed by the Supreme Court and are knowledgeable about the Pennsylvania Rules of Conduct, Office Standards and civil procedure for magisterial district judges and courts, and experienced in magisterial district court practice. The Minor Court Rules Committee has one ex-officio member who is identified by, and is a member of, the Pennsylvania Association of Court Management.

Committee Members

Honorable Margaret Hunsicker, Chair
Honorable Charles Hayden, Vice Chair
Honorable Daniel Butler
Honorable James R. Edgcomb
Honorable Sue. E. Haggerty
Honorable Alexandra Kokura Kravitz
Honorable Beth Scagline Mills
Honorable Bradley K. Moss
Angharad Stock, Esq., ex officio
Daniel G. Vitek, Esq.

Staff Members

Pamela Walker, Counsel
Tricia D. Carbaugh, Assistant

Proposed Rules for Public Comment

Proposed Rules for Public Comment
Proposal Deadline
Retention of Recent Amendments to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 515 and 516 March 15, 2021

Approved Rules

Approved Rules
Description Effective Date
Rules 209, 503, 504, 506-508, 512-521, 1007, 1008, and 1013 are amended January 01, 2021
Rules 501, 514-516, 1001, 1002, and 1005 are amended in the attached form and Rule 514.1 is adopted January 01, 2021
Rules 515 and 516 are amended January 01, 2021
Rules 209, 304, 403, 410, 503, 515, and 516 are amended September 01, 2020
Title 207 - Judicial Conduct; Part II - Conduct Standards; Chapter 33 - Code of Judicial Conduct; Subchapter A September 01, 2020
Filing an affidavit of compliance with the Federal Cares Act in landlord-tenant cases July 16, 2020

Prior Proposed Rules

Prior Proposed Rules
Proposal Deadline
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 514 - Security Deposits November 12, 2020
Proposed Amendment of Rule 4.2 of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges - Political and Campaign Activities September 22, 2020
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 301, 302, and 321 and Proposed Adoption of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 350 August 04, 2020
Proposed Order Relative to Federal CARES Act and Landlord-Tenant Cases June 16, 2020
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.J.A. Nos. 101 and 103, Pa.R.C.P. Nos. 51 and 129, Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 201, and Pa.O.C. Rule 1.1 November 15, 2019
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 1208, 1209, 1210, and 1211 May 28, 2019
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 209, 304, 403, 410, 503, 515, and 516 - SMCRA Affidavits May 28, 2019
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 501, 514-515, 1001-1002 and 1005 January 30, 2018
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 515-516 and 1007-1008 January 29, 2018
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 402 January 28, 2018
Proposed amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 206, governing the petition to proceed in forma pauperis September 12, 2017
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 314 September 11, 2017
Proposed Adoption of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 514.1 and Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 501, 514-515, 1001-1002 and 1005 June 06, 2017
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 515-516 April 27, 2016
Proposed Adoption of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 302.1 and 302.2, and Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 314 and 1001 May 05, 2015
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 207 April 29, 2015
Proposed Amendment of Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. No. 402 April 29, 2015
Proposed Amendment of the Official Notes to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 316, 322, 324, 509 and 514 April 29, 2015
Proposed Amendment of the Official Notes to Pa.R.C.P.M.D.J. Nos. 515-516 and 1007 April 29, 2015
Proposed Rescission of Certiorari Rules April 15, 2015
Automated red light enforcement appeals (new) rules 601-606 January 30, 2015
Proposed amendments to Rules 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 1207 and 1208, and the Official Notes to Rules 1209, 1210 and 1211 January 30, 2015
Amendments to Rule 1002 September 12, 2014
Proposed amendments to Rules 801-803, 805, 807-816, 818 and 820, proposed amendments to the Official Notes of Rules 804 and 806, and proposed rescinding of Rule 817 September 12, 2014
New Rules 302.1 and 302.2 March 28, 2014
Recommendation to amend rules 307, 308, 309, 310, 312, 313, and 314 March 07, 2014
Proposed new rule 320 December 02, 2013
Amendments to Rules 506 and 507 and Official Note to Rule 313 August 30, 2013
Amendments to Rules 506, 1016, 1018, the official note to Rule 1019, and adopt a new rule 519.1 August 09, 2013
Proposed Rescission of Rule 13 and Amendment of Rule 14 of the Rules of Conduct for MDJ June 28, 2013
Amendment to Rule 207 of the Minor Court Civil Rules, Representation in Magisterial District Court June 20, 2013
Amendments to Rule 209, 403 and 410 of the Minor Court Civil Rules February 22, 2013
Amendments to Rule 1002 of the Minor Court Civil Rules. February 13, 2013
Revisions to the Official Note to Rule 341, and Rule 402 of the Minor Court Civil Rules January 18, 2013
Adopt revisions to Rules 209, 305, 307, 314-315 and 318-319 May 04, 2012
Adopt an entirely new Rule 326 as well as revisions to Rules 324 and 514 November 12, 2010
Revise Rule 15 of the Pennsylvania Rules Governing Standards of Conduct for MDJs November 05, 2010
Adopt an entirely new Rule 23 of the Rules of Conduct for Magisterial District Judges May 29, 2009
Amendment to Rule 202 and promulgate an entirely new Rule 215 of the Rules of Conduct May 31, 2008
Amendment to Rule 209 of the Rules of Conduct, Office Standards and Civil Procedure for MDJs May 31, 2008
Amendment to Rule 214 of the Rules of Conduct, Office Standards and Civil Procedure for MDJs May 31, 2008