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. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has over a decade of experience in handling cases that that are tried in Montgomery County Magisterial District Court jurisdictions. For a leg up in your case, contact him today at 215-535-5353.
