Penn. L.C.R. Crim.P. No. 590

As amended through April 9, 2024

Rule 590 - Pleas And Plea Agreements

A. Guilty pleas and pleas of nolo contendere shall be scheduled through the Office of the District Attorney using the forms designated by that office for the scheduling of pleas. When scheduling the plea, counsel shall inform the guilty plea secretary if and where the defendant is incarcerated.

B. A completed Plea Scheduling Form, the form of which shall be published as a part of these Local Rules as Local Rule 590-1, shall be presented to the District Attorney before a plea is scheduled.

C. Once a plea is scheduled, it may only be rescheduled by submitting a completed Request to Reschedule Plea form to the judge before whom the plea is scheduled. If the request to reschedule is granted by the judge before whom the plea is scheduled, the form will be forwarded to the District Court Administrator, who will schedule the matter on that judge's next available plea date or on the date specified by the judge and indicated on the Request to Reschedule Plea form.

D. Any plea which is withdrawn shall be placed on the trial list of the judge before whom the plea was scheduled at the time it was withdrawn. The case will be deemed to be trial ready and will be assigned a trial date by the judge, who shall determine trial priority in accordance with Local Rule 570C.

E. Rejected pleas shall be handled as follows:

1. If the case has not previously had a pretrial conference under 570B, the District Court Administrator shall schedule the case for a pretrial conference on the next available date with a judge other than the judge who rejected the plea.

2. If the case has previously had a pretrial conference, the plea shall be rescheduled. Counsel shall note on the Request to Reschedule Plea form that the plea was rejected, the form will be forwarded to the District Court Administrator and the plea will be rescheduled by the District Court Administrator with a different judge on the next available plea date.

F. Prior to entering a guilty plea or plea of nolo contendere, a defendant shall complete and sign a written plea colloquy on the form provided by the District Attorney. The form shall be presented to the Court at the time of the plea hearing, together with the completed Plea Scheduling form required by this Rule.

Penn. L.C.R. Crim.P. No. 590

Revised 9/30/2013 , effective 12/9/2013.