Montgomery County Magisterial District Courts

About Montgomery County Magisterial District Courts

A total of 30 Magisterial District Courts are scattered throughout Montgomery County. An elected district judge presides over each respective courtroom. These courts are intended to mitigate summary offenses - the least severe grade of criminal charges that can be acquired in the state of Pennsylvania. Individuals who are charged with committing minor crimes like disorderly conduct, criminal mischief, harassment, loitering, and low-level retail theft (shoplifting) will likely be charged with a summary offense. District courts also handle small civil actions, specifically claims where damages do not exceed $12,000.

Here is a list of the magisterial district courts that are located in Montgomery County.

District	Judge	City	Address	Contact
East & West Norriton	Marc A. Alfarano	Norristown	160 W. Germantown Pike, Ste D-5	(610) 272-3029
Franconia, Lower Salford, Perkiomen, Skippack	Albert J. Augustine	Harleysville	840 Harleysville Pike, Ste. 2	(610) 584-4732
Plymouth, part of Conshohocken	Francis J. Bernhardt	Conshohocken	625 West Ridge Pike Building “B”, Ste. 101	(610) 828-0278
Cheltenham	Christopher J. Cerski	Jenkintown	117 York Road, Ste. 100 A	(610) 885-4796
Marlborough, Upper Hanover, Salford, Upper Salford, Green Lane, Red Hill, East Greenville, Pennsburg	Maureen C. Coggins	Red Hill	80 H Gravel Pike, Ste. 100	(610) 679-5811
Montgomery, Hatfield Township	Andrea Duffy	Montgomeryville	601 Bethlehem Pike Building ‘D”, Ste. 100	(215) 855-3946
Upper Moreland, Lower Moreland, Bryn Athyn	Jay S. Friedenberg	Willow Grove	102 York Road, Ste. 100	(215) 659-6840
Upper Merion, Bridgeport	James P. Gallagher	Bridgeport	128 W Fourth Street	(610) 277-3377
Part of Norristown	Margaret Hunsicker	Norristown	601 DeKalb Street, Ste. 200	(610) 279-6226
Abington, Rockledge	John D. Kessler	Abington	1150 Old York Road	(215) 887-2362
Lower Pottsgrove, Part of Pottstown	Edward Kropp Sr.	Pottstown	1 Security Plaza, Ste. 102	(610) 326-9274
Part of Norristown	Francis Jr. Lawrence	Norristown	601 DeKalb Street, Ste. 300	(610) 279-3332
Upper Moreland, Hatboro, Horsham	Paul N. Leo	Hatboro	420 S. York Road, Condo C-F	(215) 957-5935
Lower Gwynedd, Upper Gwynedd, Whitpain, North Wales	Suzan Leonard	Blue Bell	653 Skippack Pike, Ste. 101	(215) 646-8201
Towamencin, part of Hatfield, Lansdale	Edward Levine	Lansdale	430-440 Pennbrook Parkway	(215) 393-7534
Whitemarsh, park of Conshohocken	Deborah A. Lukens	Lafayette Hil	4002 Center Avenue	(610) 828-5226
Upper Merion, West Conshohocken	Wm. I. Maruszczak	Norristown	200 West Main Street	(610) 265-3950
Springfield	Katherine E. McGill	Oreland	1316 Bruce Road	(215) 572-7845
Part of Cheltenham, Jenkintown	Elizabeth McHugh	Jenkintown	117 York Road	(215) 635-1535
Part of Horsham	Harry J. 3rd Nesbitt	Horsham	903 Sheehy Drive, Ste. A	(215) 675-2040
West Pottsgrove, part of Pottstown	Scott T. Palladino	Pottstown	1 Security Plaza, Ste. 101	(610) 326-9271
Part of Abington, Willow Grove Mall	Juanita A. Price	Glenside	875 North Easton Road	(215) 885-4120
Lower Merion, Narberth	Michael P. Quinn	Ardmore	116 A Cricket Avenue	(610) 896-8585
Lower Providence, part of Upper Providence, Collegeville and Trappe	Cathleen K. Rebar	Collegeville	133 Level Road	(610) 409-2515
Douglass, New Hanover, Upper Frederick, Lower Frederick, Upper Pottsgrove	Maurice H. Saylor	Gilbertsville	1881 Swamp Pike	(610) 326-1145
part of Lower Merion	Henry Schireson	Narberth	925 Montgomery Avenue, Ste. 100	(610) 664-5262
Part of Norristown	Gregory Scott	Norristown	601 DeKalb Street, Ste. 100	(610) 945-9156
Limerick, Upper Providence, Royersford	Richard H. Welsh	Limerick	497 West Ridge Pike	(610) 495-9440
Upper Dublin, Ambler	Patricia Zaffarano	Ambler	1301 S. Bethlehem Pike	(215) 542-1262
Part of Lower Merion	Karen Eisner Zucker	Narberth	925 Montgomery Ave, Ste. 20	(610) 668-1201
Magisterial District Court Administration	Esquire John E. Savoth	Norristown	Montgomery County Courthouse Lower Level Plaza, P.O. Box 311	(610) 278-3058

For more information about the district courts and their locations, visit the county website.

The Significant Role of An Attorney in a Montgomery County Magisterial District Court

More serious cases involving misdemeanor and felony charges are conceived in Magisterial District Courts, as defendants are required to attend preliminary hearings and arraignments under its jurisdiction. These initial parts of the criminal procedure are pivotal for defendants.

People who could be possibly facing penalties of jail time or imprisonment will be obligated to attend an arraignment. It's usually scheduled shortly after an arrest. During this period of time, the accused will be informed of their official charges, and eventually expected to enter a plea. Although people can get through arraignments without an attorney, it's almost always better to retain one. A plea of not guilty, guilty, or no contest are crucial factors in how your case will play out. A legal professional will be able to help you assess your options, and avoid pitfalls that will make receiving a favorable outcome in court less likely.

The ultimate goal is to impede the creation of a criminal record. Any crime on your record will elicit limitations and difficulties when it comes to landing a job, living in certain locations, and partaking in specific activities. For example, it has become routine for jobs to conduct background checks on potential employees. The existence of a criminal record itself can serve as a disadvantage in the job market, as people without any documented run-ins with the law will be perceived as more employable, and will be chosen over you.

This is why it's important that you contemplate retaining a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney. An experienced legal professional in your area knows their way around the Magisterial District Court system and will be able to provide you with valuable insight. Familiarity with the courts has its perks, as an attorney can properly assess the chances of reducing your charges, or even dismissing your case based on your individualized circumstances.

Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorney

All criminal cases--ranging from summary offenses to felonies--in Montgomery start at the District Court. Our Criminal Law Team has over a decade of experience in handling cases that are tried in Montgomery County Magisterial District Court jurisdictions. For a leg up in your case, contact us today at 888-535-3686.