Bucks County Magisterial District Courts

If you've been charged with a criminal offense in Bucks County, your charges may be adjudicated in a Magisterial District Court. Bucks County is home to a total of 18 magisterial courts. In each courtroom there presides an elected district judge.

Magisterial District Courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. Nevertheless, they are responsible for preliminary hearings, arraignments, and summary offenses - the least serious grade of criminal charges in Pennsylvania. Cases involving traffic offenses, disorderly conduct, loitering, harassment, and low-level retail theft (shoplifting), for example, are summary offenses that are commonly held before Magisterial District Courts.

Aside from criminal offenses, Bucks County Magisterial District Court also handle small civil actions.

The following table lists Magisterial District Courts that are located in Bucks County:

Court	Judge	City	Address	Contact
07-1-01	Michael W Gallagher	Bensalem	2404 Byberry Road	215-638-1040 Fax: 215-638-0135
07-1-02	Frank W. Peranteau Sr.	Bristol	501 Bath Street	215-785-3521 Fax: 215-785-0816
07-1-03	Senior MDJ	Bristol	3030 Bath Road	215-788-5561 Fax: 215-788-5568
07-1-04	Robert L. Wagner Jr.	Levittown	7325 New Falls Road	215-943-9414 Fax: 215-943-9454
07-1-07	Daniel Baranoski	Penndel	142 Centre Street	215-757-6761 Fax: 215-757-2284
07-1-08	John J. Kelly Jr.	Levittown	2661 Trenton Road	215-946-5450 Fax: 215-946-5459
07-1-09	Daniel J. Finello Jr.	Warminster	567 Newtown Road	215-672-5853 Fax: 215-672-8013
07-1-10	Jan Vislosky	Fallsington	9187 New Falls Road	215-736-0231 Fax: 215-736-0809
07-1-11	Senior MDJ Official MDJ TBD	Morrisville	31 E. Cleveland Avenue	215-736-1121 Fax: 215-736-0835
07-1-12	Joseph P. Falcone	Bensalem	3237 Bristol Road Suite 100-101	215-741-3501 Fax: 215-741-3503
07-2-01	William J. Benz	Richboro	60 Township Road	215-322-0144 Fax: 215-322-7371
07-2-02	Mark D. Douple	Warrington	1277 Almshouse Road	215-343-7961 Fax: 215-343-7964
07-2-05	Lisa J. Gaier	Quakertown	281 California Road	215-536-9650 Fax: 215-536-6966
07-2-07	Michael W. Petrucci	Newtown	28 North State Street	215-968-1657 Fax: 215-968-5886
07-2-08	Regina Armitage	New Britain	962 Town Center	215-230-7265 Fax: 215-230-7276
07-3-01	Maggie Snow	Doylestown	4001 Durham Road	215-345-7516 Fax: 215-345-7527
07-3-02	Jean Seaman	Jamison	1720 Kendarbren Drive	215-343-0627 Fax: 215-343-0629
07-3-03	Gary Gambardella	Ottsville	276 Tabor Road	610-847-5164 Fax: 610-847-8497

For more information about the Bucks County Magisterial District Courts and their locations, visit the county website.

The Role Of An Attorney

Although Bucks County Magisterial District Courts decide upon summary offenses, that's not all these courts do. Most serious offenses involving misdemeanor and felony charges are conceived in these courts. Therefore, the vast majority of Bucks County defendants will be required to attend preliminary hearings and arraignments in Magisterial District Courts. It is the initial stages of criminal procedure that are most important for defendants, as they will influence the outcome of their case. This is why the presence of an attorney throughout the entire process is important.

The first and most critical step in the criminal prosecution process is the preliminary hearing. A preliminary hearing in Bucks County will be held at any of the Magisterial District Court locations above, depending on your location and the court's jurisdiction. Defendants are sent a notice within 10 days of an arrest that details the date and time of their first mandatory court hearing. At this hearing, it will be determined whether or not there is sufficient evidence to put a defendant on trial. An attorney can help you maximize your chances of a favorable outcome at this stage in the process.

An arraignment will be scheduled 30 to 60 days after a preliminary hearing in a Bucks County Magisterial District Court. At an arraignment, several events will take place: the court will detail a defendant's charges, an amount for bail be set, and a defendant and their representation will be asked to enter a plea. A plea is one of the single most important factors in how your case will play out. Only an experienced attorney will be able to decide which course of action is best for your case.

In the criminal process, the ultimate goal for every defendant is to avoid the creation of a criminal record, or to avoid adding additional charges and/or a conviction to their existing record. Crime on a person's record comes with collateral consequences that will make things like landing a job, getting government assistance, gaining residency, and flexing certain rights difficult.

This is why it's important for you to consider retaining a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney. An experienced legal professional will know the ins and outs of the magisterial district will be able to bring valuable insight into your case. Familiarity with the courts and major players has its perks, as an attorney can properly assess the chances of reducing your charges or even dismissing your case.

Pennsylvania Criminal Defense Attorney

If you've been arrested and charged with a criminal offense in Bucks County, you should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss your options. The Criminal Defense Team at LLF Law Firm has helped numerous clients with a misdemeanor and felony charges get their sentence reduced, and even get their charges dismissed. For more information, contact the LLF Law Firm online or by phone at (888) 535-8636 today.