A court calendar in Berks County, PA lists the hearings set for the Court of Common Pleas and the magisterial district courts. A docket shows the case, the judge, the courtroom, and the time, and the list changes as dates move. This page sets out how to search by case number or name, how to read a status code, and how to confirm a hearing.
Readers should confirm a date on the morning of a hearing, since a continuance can appear after a printed list goes out. The courthouse at 633 Court Street in Reading holds most Common Pleas sessions. A district court handles smaller matters in its own building. The Clerk of Courts can confirm a courtroom and a time.
Court Calendar Search
A court calendar search starts with a case number, a party name, or a judge, and the state portal lists most scheduled events.
- Case number: the docket number on a filing points to the exact calendar entry.
- Name search: use the spelling from the complaint, plus the filing year, to avoid a mix-up.
- Judge or date: a daily list groups hearings by courtroom and judge.
- Official page: https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
- Confirm: call Court Administration when a listing is missing or a time looks wrong.
Court Schedule Information
A calendar entry carries the case caption, the docket number, the judge, the courtroom, and the start time. The list may show the hearing type and a status code. A civil motion may sit in one courtroom but a criminal trial sits in another. A reader should write down each field before leaving the screen. A reader should note the courtroom, the judge, and the start time before a visit. A reader can compare the same filing on the case lookup page before making a trip to the courthouse.
Hearing Time & Courtroom Location
A hearing time is a start time, and a list can run late when an earlier matter takes longer. The courtroom number matters more than the floor directory, since a session can move. A reader should arrive early and check the posted list at the entrance. The tipstaff can confirm the room when a docket entry is unclear. The table below lists the court administration details. A courthouse map helps.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Court | Berks County Court of Common Pleas |
| Address | 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601 |
| Contact number | (610) 478-6208 (Court Administration) |
| Office hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. |
| Official page | https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ (plain text) |
Case Number & Listed Parties
A docket number is the surest way to find a case, and it appears on every filing. A party search needs the full name used at filing, since a nickname or a maiden name may not match. A case can list several parties, and a reader should note each role. A criminal caption names the Commonwealth, and a civil caption names the plaintiff and the defendant. A clerk can help narrow it.
Hearing Type & Presiding Judge
A calendar lists the hearing type, such as a preliminary hearing, a motion argument, a trial, or a sentencing. The presiding judge is named on the docket, and a visiting judge may take a session. A reader should note the judge before entering a courtroom. A change of judge can move a case to another list and a later date. The docket lists the judge and the room for each session.
Calendar Status Codes
A status code shows where a hearing stands. A scheduled event is still on the list, a continued event has a new date, and a cancelled event will not be heard. A held event has taken place, and the docket will show the result. A reader should treat a code as a pointer and confirm the entry with the clerk. The table below lists the common codes. The clerk can confirm a code.
| Code word | Meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled | The hearing is set for the listed date. | Confirm the room on the morning of the hearing. |
| Continued | The date has moved, often at a party’s request. | Read the new date on the docket. |
| Rescheduled | The court has set a new time or room. | Check the judge and the courtroom again. |
| Cancelled | The hearing will not take place. | Ask the clerk whether a new date is needed. |
| Held | The hearing has ended. | Request the order or the transcript. |
Types of Court Hearings
The Court of Common Pleas hears civil, criminal, family, and probate matters, and each type follows its own calendar. A criminal list covers arraignments, pretrials, trials, and sentencings. A civil list covers motions, pretrial conferences, and trials. A family list covers support, custody, and divorce. A district court handles traffic and small claims. The table below lists the main hearing types. A reader should name the right list. A reader can start from berks county pa and move to the record pages listed for the county.
| Docket | Typical hearings | Office |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal | Arraignment, pretrial, trial, sentencing | Clerk of Courts |
| Civil | Motion, pretrial conference, trial | Prothonotary |
| Family | Support, custody, divorce, protection order | Prothonotary |
| Probate | Estate account, will contest, audit | Register of Wills |
| District | Traffic, small claim, preliminary hearing | Magisterial district court |
Civil, Criminal & Family Dockets
A civil docket covers contract claims, injury suits, and foreclosure, and the Prothonotary keeps the file. A criminal docket covers charges from a district court and sits with the Clerk of Courts. A family docket covers divorce, custody, support, and protection orders, and some papers stay confidential. A reader should name the docket type before a search, since each list follows a separate path. Each office can confirm its own list.
Arraignments & Pretrial Hearings
An arraignment is a first appearance where the charge is read and bail is set. A pretrial hearing covers motions, evidence exchange, and a possible plea. A defendant has a right to counsel at both stages. A victim may attend and may ask about a protection order. A reader should check the docket for the courtroom, since a video link may replace a trip to the courthouse. A lawyer can describe the charge.
Motions, Trials & Sentencings
A motion hearing asks the judge to decide a point before trial. A trial can last a day or a week, and the calendar may hold a backup list. A sentencing follows a plea or a verdict, and the judge sets the term and any restitution. A reader should bring the case number and arrive early. A sentencing order is the record to request. The clerk can confirm the time.
Schedule Changes & Remote Attendance
A court date can move when a party asks for a continuance, a judge clears a list, or a case settles. A notice goes to the parties, and the docket shows the new date. A remote option may be offered for a status or a motion, but not for every hearing. A reader should confirm the format before traveling. The clerk can state the current setting. A notice can arrive late.
Rescheduled & Continued Hearings
A continuance moves a hearing to a later date, and a rescheduling can change the courtroom as well. The docket shows the old date as continued and the new date as scheduled. A party who does not receive a notice should call the clerk. A bench warrant can follow a missed date after a continuance, so a reader should keep the address current. A dated notice settles a dispute.
In-Person Attendance Rules
A visitor to the courthouse passes through a security check, and a weapon or a sharp item will be refused. A person should bring a photo ID and the case number. A hearing may be closed to the public in a juvenile or a sealed matter. A reader should check the posted rule before a visit. A quiet phone and formal dress help the courtroom. A line forms early.
Virtual Hearing Links
A virtual hearing uses a video link that the court sends to the parties. The link may not work for a member of the public, and a judge can limit remote attendance. A participant should test the camera and the microphone before the session and join early. A recording of a hearing is not a public record if the court does not release it. A reader should ask the clerk about viewing.
Schedule Accuracy & Resolution
A calendar is a working list, and a date can change after the page goes up. The docket is the record the court treats as official, so a reader should compare it with a printed list. A missing entry may mean a sealed case or a late change. A call to Court Administration can confirm the setting. A dated printout helps a later question. A copy of the docket is stronger.
Calendar Update Delays
A courtroom deputy updates the list after a session, and a clerk enters the change on the docket. The portal may refresh on a delay. A Friday afternoon change can sit until Monday. A reader should check the docket on the morning of the hearing and call the office when the two lists differ. A dated screen print is useful. A clerk can confirm the current entry by phone.
Confidential & Sealed Hearings
A juvenile matter, a protection order, and a sealed case may be heard in a closed courtroom. The public calendar can show a block of time without a case caption. A reader who needs a record from a closed file should ask the clerk about the rule. A lawyer can request a transcript or an order. A sealed entry can still appear as a closed item. A clerk can state the rule.
Missing Schedule Resolution
A hearing that does not appear may have moved, settled, or been cancelled. A reader should search the docket by case number, then call Court Administration. A party should confirm with the lawyer before skipping a date. A missed hearing can lead to a bench warrant. The clerk can state the next step and the courtroom for a listed matter. A lawyer can check a closed list for a date.
These questions cover the points readers raise most often about the Berks County court calendar. Each answer names the office that keeps the list and the step that confirms a date. A reader who needs a sealed or closed hearing should contact the court directly, since this page cannot release a record. Staff can confirm a room and a time before a visit. A short call can save a trip.
When are daily court schedules updated?
A daily list is usually posted on the business day before a session, and a courtroom deputy can add a change on the morning of a hearing. The docket may update later than the posted list. A Friday change can wait until Monday. A reader should check both sources before traveling and keep a dated copy of the entry. A holiday can shift the posting to the next business day.
How do I verify a rescheduled court date?
Read the docket by case number and look for a continued entry with a new date. A notice from the court or the lawyer should match that entry. A call to Court Administration can confirm the courtroom as well. A reader should not rely on an older printout or a message from another party. A dated docket copy settles a question at the door. A clerk can read it back.
Are virtual hearings open to the public?
Not always. A judge can limit a video session to the parties, the lawyers, and the witnesses, mainly when a case involves a juvenile, a victim, or a sealed file. A public hearing may offer a viewing room at the courthouse. A reader should ask the clerk about attendance before the session and should not record the hearing without permission. A reader should not assume a link is open.
Who confirms unlisted court appearances?
The Clerk of Courts can confirm a criminal setting, and the Prothonotary can confirm a civil or family setting. Court Administration can confirm a courtroom and a time. A lawyer can check a private list for a case that does not appear in public. A reader should call the office for the docket type rather than a general line. A case number helps the office find the list.