Chester County Magisterial District Courts

There is a chance that defendants who've acquired criminal charges in Chester County will get them adjudicated in a magisterial district court. There are 17 magisterial courts scattered throughout Chester County. In each courtroom presides an elected district judge.

Magisterial district courts are courts of limited jurisdiction. In Chester County, these courts are responsible for deciding summary offenses - the least severe grade of criminal offenses in Pennsylvania. Cases involving crimes like disorderly conduct, loitering, harassment, and low-level retail theft (shoplifting), for example, will be held before a magisterial district court.

Aside from criminal offenses, Chester County magisterial district courts also handle small civil actions and tenant/landlord disputes.

The following table lists the magisterial district courts that are located in Chester County:

Court	Judge	City	Address	Contact
15-1-01	Bret Binder	West Chester	201 West Market Street Suite 1307	610-431-4812 Fax: 610-431-4018
15-1-02	Thomas Tartaglio	West Chester	1572 Paoli Pike	610-430-1966 Fax: 610-430-8641
15-1-03	Gregory Hines	Coatesville	One City Hall Place Suite 200	610-384-3159 Fax: 610-384-5163
15-1-04	Marian T. Vito	West Chester	21 West Market Street Suite 100	610-344-6622 Fax: 610-429-4644
15-1-05	Grover E. Koon	Coatesville	615 Sands Court	610-380-3325 Fax: 610-380-4774
15-2-01	VACANT	Phoenixville	347 Bridge Street	610-935-1503 Fax: 610-935-7427
15-2-03	William Kraut	West Chester	601 Westtown Road Suite 110	610-436-5757 Fax: 610-431-5755
15-2-07	Lori Donatelli	Exton	75 East Uwchlan Avenue Suite 110	610-524-7456 Fax: 610-524-6341
15-3-01	John Hipple	Pottstown	1101 Ridge Road Suite B	610-469-1910 Fax: 610-469-1913
15-3-04	Albert Lacocca	Kennett Square	916 West Cypress Street	610-444-6330 Fax: 610-444-6429
15-3-05	Scott A. Massey	Oxford	305 South Third Street	610-932-4305 Fax: 610-932-7649
15-3-06	Michael J. Cabry	Honey Brook	4824 Horseshoe Pike	610-273-3736 Fax: 610-273-4392
15-3-07	Nancy A. Gill	Parkesburg	315 First Avenue Building 3	610-857-5547 Fax: 610-857-5841
15-4-01	Analisa Sondergaard	Wayne	950 West Valley Road Suite 3100	610-971-1680 Fax: 610-971-1685
15-4-02	Jeffrey Valocchi	Downingtown	213 Boot Road	610-269-5250 Fax: 610-269-5017
15-4-03	John R. Bailey	Exton	748 Springdale Drive Suite 110	610-594-7728 Fax: 610-594-7896
15-4-04	Matthew Seavey	Kennett Square	914 West Cypress Street	610-444-6338 Fax: 610-444-4368

For more information about the county's magisterial district courts and their whereabouts, visit the county website.

The Role Of An Attorney

Magisterial district courts don't solely decide upon summary offenses in Chester County. Preliminary hearings and sometimes arraignments are held before these courts, becoming the conception point of the vast majority of criminal cases. These are the initial stages of criminal procedures, and critically influence the outcome of defendant cases. This is why the presence of an attorney throughout the entire process is vital.

A preliminary hearing is the initial and one of the most important steps in the criminal prosecution process. It will be held at any of the magisterial district court locations listed above, depending on your location and the court's jurisdiction. A preliminary hearing is scheduled once a defendant receives notice of it through a formal document in the mail. This hearing is intended to achieve one ultimate goal: to determine whether or not there is sufficient evidence to put a defendant on trial. Defendants are usually sent a notice within 10 days of an arrest. Even though it may be difficult to retain an attorney it such short notice, it would pay off to do so. A legal professional can maximize your chances of a favorable outcome at this stage in the process.

Following the preliminary hearing is an arraignment. It will be scheduled for 30 to 60 days after the hearing in a Chester County magisterial district court. At an arraignment, several events will take place. The court will detail a defendant's charges and any possible additional charges, an amount for bail will 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 prosecution process, the end goal for every defendant is to avoid the creation of a criminal record or to avoid adding any more charges and/or a conviction to their existing record. Crime on a person's criminal record comes with collateral consequences that will make post-conviction life increasingly difficult. Landing a job, getting government assistance, gaining residency, and flexing certain rights is much more difficult, if not impossible with a criminal record.

This is why it's important for you to consider retaining a Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney as soon as possible. An experienced legal professional will know the ins and outs of the magisterial district system and will be able to bring valuable insight into your case. Familiarity with the courts and major players in the court system has its perks, as an attorney has the experience and skill to 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 Chester County, you should consult with an experienced criminal defense attorney to discuss your options. Attorney Joseph D. Lento has helped numerous clients with misdemeanor and felony charges get their sentence reduced, and even get their charges dismissed. For more about his representation or case evaluation, contact him online or by phone at (215) 535-5353 today.