Delaware County 32-1-22 Magisterial District Court
The moment is coming when you or someone you love has to stand in front of a judge. Do not fret about this; many people in your position feel nervous about this. Still, the date is coming, and you have to be ready to appear in a Delaware County Magisterial District Court.
Appearing in front of a judge to face criminal or traffic charges is scary enough, and it doesn’t have to be scarier, which may happen if you do not have proper representation. A good lawyer can help answer questions and clear the air. The right lawyer can give you an opportunity for justice if given a chance.
Most of the time, appearing in front of the Delaware County Magisterial District Court 32-1-22 in Chester starts with an order. Now, the order can come in many forms; some are summons given to the accused as a simple traffic citation. Other times the order to appear before the court comes so that you participate in an arraignment or a preliminary hearing. There are other times when you must appear for something like a bench warrant, or sometimes you are being asked to be a part of a non-jury trial.
Those who are asked to appear before this court are going to have answer to the honorable Magisterial District Judge, Spencer B. Seaton, Jr.
The district court is in the middle of Philadelphia and Wilmington. It is an establishment of justice near the Delaware River. There are four districts covered by this court, including Chester’s 8, 9, 10, 11 wards.
It is important to point out that there are a number of Magisterial District Courts in Chester. Keep in mind that you are encouraged to examine paperwork to confirm where you are going, or have an experienced lawyer confirm the location. You do not want to miss your date simply because you failed to confirm the correct court.
The Magisterial District Court is there to deal with simple citations, most of which deals with traffic, but there are a few exceptions, such as preliminary arraignments.
Legal problems between landlords and tenants are also dealt with in this court as well. Legal civil cases are also dealt with here as long as the damage claim is not more than $12,000.
Magisterial District Court
Summary offences that the state of Pennsylvania considers to be the least serious offences are decided by this court. The following are some offences that might be heard in this court:
- Criminal mischief are addressed
- Cases about harassment
- Charges for disorderly conduct
- Drinking while underage
- Caught driving with a license that is momentarily invalid
- First shoplifting offense as long as the value stolen was lower than $150
Most of the time, the judge who oversees this court also administers and performs marriages.
In Delaware County, there are 33 of these courts, which is the reason it is important to confirm that you are going to the right court when summoned.
What will happen depends on your case. For example, if you are facing a misdemeanor or a felony, then the court is going to allow a preliminary arraignment or hearing. After the issue is addressed and a decision has been made, the issue is passed on to the County Court of Common Pleas.
Why do You Need a Good Delaware Criminal Defense Lawyer?
A skilled lawyer can be invaluable for a number of reasons, especially when the charge against you could be up to $300 in fines, or it may even lead to three months jail time. Things get even dicier for those who have a past conviction because you are now looking at up to six months in jail.
The right lawyer can diffuse issues and give you sound advice regarding the charges you are facing. The goal is always going to be dismissal, but even if that is not possible, the lawyer will try to lessen the punishment.
