Prospective Dependency Juvenile Court Hearing Officers
In order to preside as a hearing officer in dependency matters, an individual must be a member in good standing of the Pennsylvania Bar and have been licensed to practice law for at least five consecutive years. Pa.R.J.C.P. 1182(A)(1-2).
A prospective hearing officer must also complete six hours of instruction approved by the Pennsylvania Continuing Legal Education Board. This instruction must specifically address the Juvenile Act, the Pennsylvania Rules of Juvenile Court Procedure, the Child Protective Services Law, evidence rules and methodology, and child and adolescent development. Pa.R.J.C.P. 1182(A)(3).
Rule 1182 Dependency Juvenile Court Hearing Officer Certification Course
The Office of Children and Families in the Courts developed an online juvenile court hearing officer certification course to meet the initial six-hour instruction requirement of Pa.R.J.C.P. 1182(A)(3).
To request that a prospective hearing officer be given access to the Rule 1182 Juvenile Court Hearing Officer Certification Course, the President Judge, Dependency Judge, or Court Administrator can click here.
Note: If the prospective hearing officer will also preside over delinquency matters, he or she will need to complete the Rule 182 Juvenile Court Hearing Officer Certification Course.
Upon completing the initial six hours of instruction and prior to presiding over dependency matters, the hearing officer shall sign an affidavit attesting that he or she has met the requirements of Rule 1182 and send the affidavit to the President Judge or his or her designee of each judicial district where the hearing officer is seeking to preside. Pa.R.J.C.P. 1182(C)(1-2). Click here to download an affidavit template.