Pa evictions going right now

[Matt M.]

As far as we all knew, in Pennsylvania evictions couldn’t be filed until after July 11, per governors orders. A friend of mine was served with eviction papers yesterday with a hearing July 3. I called around to a bunch of local magistrate offices, and they all say no evictions until Monday July 13, except the office that filed on him, they said there was a Supreme Court ruling stating June 1 was fine for evictions. I told this office that none other in the area were doing evictions, and basically I was told “yeah well, we are, per the Supreme Court ruling”. How is this possible? And why wouldn’t they all go by this Supreme Court ruling?

[Bill B.]

If you believe the governor could tell the courts they can’t hear evictions until July then you have to believe the governor could tell the courts they can’t open until July or hear any cases. They SHOULD be separate branches. I’m sure the governor wouldn’t like the courts telling him he can’t issue any more emergency orders. 

But I also agree with the post about the emergency federal unemployment. Unless you’re rent is waaay over $2,000/mo and you lost your job and you don’t qualify for state unemployment because you weren’t declaring your income I don’t see how you can’t pay rent. I have unemployed tenants in the $1400-$2000/mo rent range and they have zero problem paying rent. Some are better than when they were working.