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. 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.

Contact Us Today!

Attorney Joseph D. Lento has more than a decade of experience successfully resolving clients' criminal charges in Philadelphia and the Pennsylvania counties. If you are having any uncertainties about what the future may hold for you or a loved one, contact the Lento Law Firm today! Criminal defense attorney Joseph D. Lento will go above and beyond the needs of any client, and will fight until the final bell rings.

This website was created only for general information purposes. It is not intended to be construed as legal advice for any situation. Only a direct consultation with a licensed Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York attorney can provide you with formal legal counsel based on the unique details surrounding your situation. The pages on this website may contain links and contact information for third party organizations - the Lento Law Firm does not necessarily endorse these organizations nor the materials contained on their website. In Pennsylvania, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties, including, but not limited to Philadelphia, Allegheny, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, and York County. In New Jersey, attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New Jersey's 21 counties: Atlantic, Bergen, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Essex, Gloucester, Hudson, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, Union, and Warren County, In New York, Attorney Joseph D. Lento represents clients throughout New York's 62 counties. Outside of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, unless attorney Joseph D. Lento is admitted pro hac vice if needed, his assistance may not constitute legal advice or the practice of law. The decision to hire an attorney in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania counties, New Jersey, New York, or nationwide should not be made solely on the strength of an advertisement. We invite you to contact the Lento Law Firm directly to inquire about our specific qualifications and experience. Communicating with the Lento Law Firm by email, phone, or fax does not create an attorney-client relationship. The Lento Law Firm will serve as your official legal counsel upon a formal agreement from both parties. Any information sent to the Lento Law Firm before an attorney-client relationship is made is done on a non-confidential basis.

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