Court Opinion

ID: 9839143
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-11 20:16:21.805745+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:45:33.244664
License: Public Domain

SUPREME COURT OF PENNSYLVANIA
                    CRIMINAL PROCEDURAL RULES COMMITTEE

                                   ADOPTION REPORT

                            Amendment of Pa.R.Crim.P. 574

        On September 11, 2023, the Supreme Court amended Pennsylvania Rule of
Criminal Procedure 574 governing the admission of acertified forensic lab report in lieu
of the expert appearing and testifying in court. The Criminal Procedural Rules Committee
has prepared this Adoption Report describing the rulemaking process. An Adoption
Report should not be confused with Comments to the rules. See Pa.R.J.A. 103, cmt. The
statements contained herein are those of the Committee, not the Court.

       The Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee was asked to consider a new
Rule of Juvenile Court Procedure similar to Pa.R.Crim.P. 574 ( Forensic Laboratory
Report; Certification In Lieu of Expert Testimony). The proposed rule would govern the
admission of acertified forensic lab report in lieu of the expert appearing and testifying in
court. One reason for the requested rulemaking was to increase consistency among the
bodies of rules for prosecutors and defenders crossing over from criminal proceedings to
delinquency proceedings. To that end, the Juvenile Court Procedural Rules Committee
published for comment proposed Pa.R.J.C.P. 405. See 52 Pa.B. 7266 ( November 26,
2022).

        One commenter, the American Association of Laboratory Accreditation,
recommended that the Comment not name specific certifying organizations because the
certifying organization contained in the Comment no longer exists as named. Instead,
the Association suggested referencing the forensic testing standard and the standard for
the accrediting body. The Association provided information as to the specific standards.
That suggestion was incorporated into the Comment to Pa.R.J.C.P. 405. Because the
same certifying organization was referenced in the Comment to Pa.R.Crim.P. 574, the
Criminal Procedural Rules Committee has likewise incorporated the Association's
suggestion into the Comment to Pa.R.Crim.P. 574. Additionally, Pa.R.Crim.P. 574 has
been restyled, subdivision (d) and (e) have been deconstructed to improve readability,
and acitation to authority has been corrected.

      The following commentary has been removed from Rule 574:

      Official Note: New Rule 574 adopted February 19, 2014, effective April 1,
      2014.

      Committee Explanatory Reports:
       Final Report explaining new Rule 574 providing for notice and
demand procedures regarding forensic laboratory reports published with
the Court's Order at 44 Pa.B. 1311 ( March 8, 2014).

The amendment of Rule 574 becomes effective January 1, 2024.

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