Bucks County Magisterial District Courts
No one wants to go to court when they have violated the law, be it a criminal or traffic case. Most of the time, there are two majors reasons someone is anxious about appearing in a Bucks County Magisterial District Court, which are you are afraid because you don’t know what might happen, and you are worried because you lack experience.
First of, the consequences for being found guilty is something to worry about. These could include fines and even jail time, depending on what you are being accused of. Still, there is no need to worry about that just yet because it is the prosecutor’s job to convince the judge you are guilty, and that hasn’t happened yet.
The reason an experienced attorney is necessary is because he or she knows what to look for on each case that is heard in the court. A good lawyer knows what to look for, such as credible evidence, and that is going to help you.
You no longer have to feel afraid because an experienced lawyer should be able to tell you what you can expect, making this experience a little less stressful.
Now, depending on the crime you are being accused of, you may end up in the Magisterial District Court or the Court of Common Pleas. These are different courts, and there are a few of them throughout Bucks County. It is important to find out and verify where you are expected to appear.
Missing court because you misread the directions or the address is something that happens more often than some may imagine. This is why it is important to verify the address by checking the summons or the order you received.
For the most part, Bucks County Magisterial District Courts are there to deal with offences that are not too serious. These offenses are usually called summary offences though they do hold preliminary hearings and arraignments for serious crimes, like misdemeanors or felony cases but only the preliminary hearings or arraignments, nothing more. Serious offenses are usually handled by the Court of Common Pleas.
At the moment, there are 20 Magisterial District Courts in this county. Each has their own judges, and they are there to handle certain districts.
You need to be aware of this so that it is easier to find out where you have been summoned or where you have been instructed to go. The following are the municipalities with their own court:
Two Courts
Bensalem, Bristol, and Levittown are municipalities with two Magisterial District courts. Those who are being summoned in one of these municipalities should confirm that you are going to the right place because you can easily make a mistake.
Only One Court
The following only have one court available:
- Feasterville
- Penndel
- Warminster
- Fallsington
- Morrisville
- Richboro
- Warrington
- Perkasie
- Quakertown
- Newtown
- New Britain
- Doylestown
- Jamison
- Ottsville
Those who need to go to the Court of Common Pleas are going to have to go to Doylestown. There are a total of 11 judges in that particular court, but it is a bigger court and handles more cases than some of the others mentioned here.
The right lawyer will be able to present a good case for you, depending on your situation. The attorney is going to try to have the case dismissed or at least reduce the punishment received. Having an experienced lawyer who knows local laws means you’ll have someone with valuable resources. This person might find several ways to help your case, and that is what you need right now. You need all the help you can get.