Delaware County 32-1-28 Magisterial District Court
There are many different reasons why you might one day receive a notice that you must appear in the Magisterial District Court, but all of them are likely to lead to an uneasy feeling. As the date approaches, you will likely become more apprehensive as well. You might need to answer to a traffic citation you received somewhere in the area, or you have been charged with a felony. No matter what the reason might be, you will want to take this first hearing seriously. We are here to help you. It is important to have a criminal defense lawyer you can trust working on your case for you.
If you have received a notice to appear in 32-1-28 Magisterial District Court, that means that you have received a traffic summons or have been charged with some other type of crime. As a result of the latter, you may need to attend a preliminary hearing or arraignment. You will not want to be there with anyone but the most experienced criminal defense lawyer, as your very future is at stake. The Magisterial District Court also receives bench warrants and conducts non-jury trials. Those are presided over by Magisterial District Judge Deborah Krull.
Magisterial District Court 32-1-28 is actually located in Media. This is approximately 12 miles to the west of downtown Philadelphia. You will find that this court covers the Boroughs of Media and Swarthmore, as well as Wards 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7 in the Providence Township. This is where most minor court proceedings take place. This includes disputes between a landlord and tenant as well as civil cases with claims ranging from $1 to $12,000.
Magisterial District Court System Explained
Summary offenses are heard by the Magisterial District Court. These might be the lowest level of offense you can be charged with in Pennsylvania, but they are still serious in nature. It could be that you were charged with criminal mischief or disorderly conduct. You do not want such a conviction to go on your permanent record. If you are under the age of 21 and caught drinking, this is also the court that will hear the charge against you. Another common summary offense involves shoplifting when the value of the stolen merchandise is under $150.
This is just one of the 33 Magisterial District Courts in Delaware County. It is also tasked with the responsibility of holding preliminary hearings and arraignments for most misdemeanors and felonies charges in Media, Pennsylvania. These are important because it determines the future direction of your case. After this hearing, the charges against you will be referred to the Court of Common Pleas. You will want our office working on the case from the beginning so that we can follow it there on your behalf.
Traffic citations are also sent to the Magisterial District Court. You will really want to fight these as well. You might feel that the fine is minor enough that you will just pay it of pocket and be done with it. If you do that, the points will be added to your driving record. This could have a negative impact on you down the road by increasing your insurance premium and leading to the possible suspension of your driving license if you happen to get too many upheld citations in a row. You want a lawyer to argue against the violation or to at least have the penalty reduced.
You Need A Lawyer
Keep in mind that even some summary offenses involve up to six months in jail if you are convicted. This has far-reaching consequences on your personal and professional life. You need to fight the charges, and that is best done with a professional and experienced attorney standing by your side. This is your future, so make sure that you hire the very best legal representation that you possibly can.
