201 Pa. Code r. 602 - Continuing education requirement
(a) Every
magisterial district judge shall complete a continuing education program each
year equivalent to not less than 32 hours per year in such courses or programs
as are approved by the Minor Judiciary Education Board. If a magisterial
district judge fails to meet these continuing education requirements, the judge
shall be subject to suspension by the Supreme Court until such time as evidence
of compliance with such requirements is submitted by the Board, but in no event
longer than six months at which time the failure to meet the continuing
education requirements shall be grounds for the Supreme Court, after a hearing,
to declare a vacancy in that district.
(b) The Minor Judiciary Education Board shall
conduct at least one continuing education practicum course, consisting of not
less than thirty-two hours, which each magisterial district judge, or senior
magisterial district judge, whether law trained or non-law trained, within
twelve months of first assuming office, shall be required to attend. The Board
shall approve the length of the program and the course of instruction.
Practicum exercises will be a part of the course of instruction. Senior
magisterial district judges may petition the Board for a waiver of this
requirement.
(c) No judge who is
suspended by Order of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania or the Court of
Judicial Discipline shall be permitted to attend any continuing education
course or program approved by the Minor Judiciary Education Board during the
term of suspension. Notwithstanding the attendance requirements set forth in
paragraph (a), the judge shall be provided the opportunity to make up any
required hours of continuing education once the period of suspension has
expired and an Order has been issued returning the judge to active
status.
(d) Paragraph (c) shall not
apply to any judge suspended for failure to complete the program described in
paragraph (a).
Official Note
The text of this rule is taken, in part, from Rule 20 of the Rules Governing Standards of Conduct of Magisterial District Judges, rescinded March 26, 2015, effective immediately.
Notes
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(a) Every magisterial district judge shall complete a continuing education program each year equivalent to not less than 32 hours per year in such courses or programs as are approved by the Minor Judiciary Education Board. If a magisterial district judge fails to meet these continuing education requirements, the judge shall be subject to suspension by the Supreme Court until such time as evidence of compliance with such requirements is submitted by the Board, but in no event longer than six months at which time the failure to meet the continuing education requirements shall be grounds for the Supreme Court , after a hearing, to declare a vacancy in that district.
(b) The Minor Judiciary Education Board shall conduct at least one continuing education practicum course, consisting of not less than thirty-two hours, which each magisterial district judge , or senior magisterial district judge , whether law trained or non-law trained, within twelve months of first assuming office, shall be required to attend. The Board shall approve the length of the program and the course of instruction. Practicum exercises will be a part of the course of instruction. Senior magisterial district judges may petition the Board for a waiver of this requirement.
(c) No judge who is suspended by Order of the Supreme Court or the Court of Judicial Discipline shall be permitted to attend any continuing education course or program approved by the Minor Judiciary Education Board during the term of suspension. Notwithstanding the attendance requirements set forth in subdivision (a), the judge shall be provided the opportunity to make up any required hours of continuing education once the period of suspension has expired and an Order has been issued returning the judge to active status.
(d) subdivision (c) shall not apply to any judge suspended for failure to complete the program described in subdivision (a).