Rule 421 Procedure Following Filing of Complaint—Issuance of Summons

The district attorney may in the district attorney’s discretion require review of any summary complaint prior to its being submitted to the issuing authority. The district attorney must undertake such review in court cases under Rule 506.

No fine or costs should be specified in the summons in cases in which the issuing authority determines that there is a likelihood of imprisonment.

Previous rule, originally numbered Rule 139, adopted January 31, 1970, effective May 1, 1970; renumbered Rule 66 September 18, 1973, effective January 1, 1974; rescinded July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986, and not replaced in the present rules. Present Rule 66 adopted July 12, 1985, effective January 1, 1986; January 1, 1986 effective date extended to July 1, 1986; Comment revised February 1, 1989, effective July 1, 1989; Comment revised August 9, 1994, effective January 1, 1995; renumbered Rule 421 and Comment revised March 1, 2000, effective April 1, 2001.

Report explaining the August 9, 1994 Comment revisions published at 22 Pa.B. 6 (January 4, 1992); Final Report published with the Court’s Order at 24 Pa.B. 4342 (August 27, 1994).

Final Report explaining the March 1, 2000 reorganization and renumbering of the rules published with the Court’s Order at 30 Pa.B. 1478 (March 18, 2000).