Pennsylvania Code
Title 210 - APPELLATE PROCEDURE
Part I - RULES OF APPELLATE PROCEDURE
Article III - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Chapter 33 - BUSINESS OF THE SUPREME COURT
ORIGINAL MATTERS
Rule 3307 - Applications for Leave to File Original Process

(a) Scope.-This rule applies only to matters within the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court under 42 Pa.C.S. § 721 which are not in the nature of mandamus or prohibition ancillary to matters within the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Applications for relief pursuant to or ancillary to the appellate jurisdiction of the Supreme Court, including relief which may be obtained in the Supreme Court by petition for review or petition for specialized review, are governed by Article I and Article II and may be filed without an application under this rule. See also Pa.R.A.P. 3309 (applications for extraordinary relief).

(b) General Rule. The initial pleading in any original action or proceeding shall be prefaced by an application for leave to file such pleading, showing service upon all parties to such action or proceeding. The matter will be docketed when the application for leave to file is filed with the Prothonotary of the Supreme Court. The application shall be deemed filed on the date received by the prothonotary unless it was on an earlier date deposited in the United States mail and sent by first class, express, or priority United States Postal Service mail as shown on a United States Postal Service Form 3817 Certificate of Mailing, Form 3800 Receipt for Certified Mail, Form 3806 Receipt for Registered Mail, or other similar United States Postal Service form from which the date of deposit can be verified. The certificate of mailing or similar Postal Service form from which the date of deposit can be verified shall be cancelled by the Postal Service, shall show the docket number of the matter, if known, and shall be either enclosed with the application or separately mailed to the prothonotary. Appearances shall be filed as in other original actions. An adverse party may file an answer no later than 14 days after service of the application. The answer shall be deemed filed on the date of mailing if first class, express, or priority United States Postal Service mail is utilized. An adverse party who does not intend to file an answer to the application shall, within the time fixed by these rules for the filing of an answer, file a letter stating that an answer to the application will not be filed. Upon receipt of the answer to the application, or a letter stating that no answer will be filed, from each party entitled to file such, the application, pleadings, and answer to the application, if any, shall be distributed by the prothonotary to the Supreme Court for its consideration.

(c) Disposition of application.-The Supreme Court may thereafter grant or deny the application or set it down for argument. Additional pleadings may be filed, and subsequent proceedings had, as the Supreme Court may direct. If the application is denied, the matter shall be transferred to the appropriate court by the prothonotary in the same manner and with the same effect as matters are transferred under Pa.R.A.P. 751.