G20 Forces Court Closure

Federal court offices in Pittsburgh will be closed during the G-20 Summit. Clerk of Court Robert Barth Jr. says Chief Judge Donetta Ambrose made the decision when it became apparent that there would be no vehicular access to the building during the September 24th and 25th event. The offices will also be closed Wednesday the 23rd. Barth says lawyers, judges and others who need access to records will be able to do so electronically. He says this does not mean that the entire United State District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania will be closed. He says the offices in Erie and Johnstown will remain open and plans are being formulated to allow for emergency access to the court for injunctive relief or other petitions to the court that need immediate attention. Emergency Filing Procedures will be released after Labor Day. The US Bankruptcy Court offices in the US Steel Tower will also be closed during the summit. Barth says he has been told that the post office in the Courthouse will also be closed but a spokesperson or the United Sates Postal service could not confirm that assumption.