Philadelphia City Hall. Photo: Diego M. Radzinschi/ALM

The First Judicial District has suspended all criminal and civil trials in an effort to help combat the spread of coronavirus.

In an announcement sent early Monday afternoon, court leadership said it was suspending all jury and non-jury trials, as well as preliminary hearings until further notice. All civil pretrial conferences, case management conferences, diversion programs and discovery lists have also been either canceled or postponed.

The announcement also said all FJD courts and related offices are set to be closed starting Tuesday until April 1. As of Sunday, court leadership had also paused sheriff's tax sales and supervised visits to the court nursery in the Family Court building.

Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner also announced new charging and bail-related policies, which said the office would, among other things, seek to hold violent offenders in "held-without-bail" status, but would not seek to hold non-violent offenders pretrial.

"This pandemic requires us all to think differently and bear in mind the paramount danger to the public we cause by ignoring public health," Krasner said, adding later in the release: "I want to be clear: People who do violence and commit truly serious offenses risk being charged and held in custody. You do not want to be in any jail or prison right now, and I suggest that this warning ought to affect people's decision-making and behaviors beyond this public health emergency."

The announcements decision comes as the number of coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania have risen to 76 as of Monday, with most of those clustered in southeastern Pennsylvania. According to a press conference by Philadelphia officials Monday afternoon, there were nine cases  pending within in the city.

In its announcement, the FJD said the move was made due to public health concerns, and based on recommendations from local and national health authorities, including the Philadelphia Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As state and local officials across the country have have called for and ordered restrictions on businesses and government functions, the Philadelphia court leadership had faced mounting pressure over its announcement March 13 to continue most of its major operations, including jury trials. Other courts in the state, including the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, had decided to suspend trials and numerous court services.

The FJD's announcement said the court will continue to handle preliminary arraignments, bail acceptance and emergency protection from abuse service. Juvenile detention and shelter care hearings will also continue.

Following the announcement, Philadelphia Bar Association Chancellor A. Michael Snyder said in a press statement that the bar is "grateful" for the court's decision.

"We are appreciative of the leadership of the Philadelphia's First Judicial District which has just issued an order effectuating a limited closure of the courts. The court's action shows wisdom and consideration of the safety of all who would be called upon to enter the courts of the First Judicial District," he said. "The president judges, Judge [Idee] Fox and Judge [Patrick] Dugan, along with the administrative judges are to be commended for taking decisive action in an ever-emerging health crisis."

For a full list of the changes announced Monday afternoon, read below:

This is a developing story.