Delaware County 32-2-49 Magisterial District Court

You may need to appear before Delaware County Magisterial District Court 32-2-49 if you’ve been charged with offenses such as disorderly conduct, drunk driving, or speeding. You may represent yourself at your court hearing, but the likelihood of getting a beneficial outcome will be significantly higher if you have a trained legal professional by your side.

At Fienman Defense, we’ve helped countless people just like you get the results they wanted at their Pennsylvania magisterial court appearances. If you’ve been charged with an offense, call a Delaware County criminal defense lawyer today at (610) 565-4761.

What Is the Role of Magisterial District Courts?

Magisterial courts handle cases that do not require a jury. Instead of the verdict being decided by a group of citizens, a special judge—called a magistrate—will hear the evidence and decide the case. These magistrates handle low-level criminal cases and also attend to some civil law matters. You may need to appear in one of Pennsylvania’s Magisterial courts for any of the following reasons:

• A summons for a traffic citation
• An arraignment for a felony or misdemeanor case
• A dispute between a landlord and tenant
• A civil case involving less than $12,000 of damages
• A bench warrant
• A non-jury trial for a summary offense

Regardless of the reason for your appearance before the magisterial court, having a skilled and experienced Delaware County lawyer by your side will improve your chances of success. Anytime you appear before a court, you have important rights that must be afforded to you. Your lawyer will ensure that these rights get respected and help you frame your case in the best way possible.

Magisterial District Court 32-2-49 is located at 485 Baltimore Pike in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, and handles cases for the Bethel, Concord, Thornbury, and Chadds Ford townships. The magistrate for this court is the Honorable Wendy B. Roberts, Esq. There are several Magisterial District Courts operating in Delaware County and its surrounding municipalities, so you should double check your court summons to make sure you appear in the right court.

Defending Summary Offense Cases in Magisterial District Court 32-2-49

Delaware County Magisterial District Courts often handle summary offense cases, which involve Pennsylvania’s least serious types of criminal offenses. Common Pennsylvania summary offenses include driving with a suspended license, committing criminal mischief, harassment, disorderly conduct, or shoplifting of items worth under $150.

Unlike most criminal trials, summary offense trials do not involve juries. Instead, your lawyer will argue your case to a magistrate. Magistrates may not be as susceptible to emotional appeals as juries, so you will need a competent criminal defense attorney to present your case.

Summary offenses may not involve serious crimes, but a conviction can still have a serious impact on your life. The maximum sentence for a Philadelphia summary offense is 90 days incarceration and fines of up to $300. Repeat offenders may receive an enhanced sentence of 180 days. An effective criminal defense lawyer will increase your chances of avoiding harsher consequences.

Handling a Preliminary Appearance for a Misdemeanor or Felony Charge

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony offense in Delaware County, your preliminary court hearing, called an arraignment, will be held in one of the county’s Magisterial District Courts. During your arraignment, you will be informed of the nature of the charges against you and asked to enter a plea of guilty, not guilty, or no contest.

If you plead guilty, your sentencing hearing will occur at a later time. If you plead not guilty, your trial will be scheduled in one of the Delaware County courts. You may think you only need an attorney once your trial starts, but good legal advice early in the criminal justice process can improve your odds of a good outcome. For example, your lawyer can look at the evidence against you and determine whether it’s best to enter a plea of not guilty, or to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecutor.

Your lawyer will also ensure that your rights are respected as you face the criminal justice system. In some cases where your rights are violated, you may even obtain a dismissal of your charges. For example, if the police obtained evidence against you by conducting an illegal search or traffic stop, that evidence cannot be used in your trial. If the prosecutor doesn’t have incriminating evidence against you, it’s not worth the court’s time to hear your case.

How a Delaware County Criminal Defense Lawyer from Fienman Defense Can Help

You can and should fight any criminal charges you face—even for offenses that are not considered serious. It’s also wise to contest your speeding tickets and traffic citations, which can result in a suspended driver’s license and increased auto insurance premiums. Don’t try to go up against the law by yourself when your finances, freedom, and reputation hang in the balance. Hire a professional to get the best results.

At Fienman Defense, we’ve defended hundreds of cases in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Courts. Our clients know they can count on us to treat them with compassion and to advocate aggressively on their behalf.

If you’ve been summoned to appear in Delaware County Magisterial District Court 32-2-49, call Fienman Defense today for a free and confidential consultation with a Delaware County criminal defense lawyer.