Pennsylvania Code
Title 234 - RULES OF CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
Chapter 9 - POST-CONVICTION COLLATERAL PROCEEDINGS
Rule 903 - Docketing and Assignment

(A) Upon receipt of a petition for post-conviction collateral relief, the clerk of courts promptly shall time stamp the petition with the date of receipt and make a docket entry, at the same term and number as the underlying conviction and sentence, reflecting the date of receipt, and promptly shall place the petition in the criminal case file. The clerk shall transmit the petition and the criminal case file to the trial judge, if available, or to the administrative judge, if the trial judge is not available. If the defendant's confinement is by virtue of multiple indictments or informations and sentences, the case shall be docketed to the same term and number as the indictment or information upon which the first unexpired term was imposed, but the court may take judicial notice of all proceedings related to the multiple indictments or informations.

(B) When the petition is filed and the docket entry is made, the clerk shall transmit a copy of the petition to the attorney for the Commonwealth.

(C) The trial judge, if available, shall proceed with and dispose of the petition in accordance with these rules, unless the judge determines, in the interests of justice, that he or she should be disqualified.

(D) When the trial judge is unavailable or disqualified, the administrative judge promptly shall assign and transmit the petition and the record to another judge, who shall proceed with and dispose of the petition in accordance with these rules.