Contact info
Magisterial District Judge:
James J. Merkins
56 Powell Road
Springfield, Pennsylvania 19064
(610) 690-7668
(610) 543-1920
Driving directions
If you or a family member has a court date in a Delaware County Magisterial District Court, you probably feel anxious about what will happen. And you may be confused about what to expect.
When you are charged with a traffic or criminal offense, it’s important to have an experienced attorney you can turn to who will answer your questions and provide effective guidance.
Fienman Defense has handled cases in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial Courts hundreds of times, providing clients with a caring and tenacious defense.
You may have received a notification to appear in Delaware County Magisterial District Court 32-2-54 in Springfield or gotten a summons for a traffic citation, preliminary arraignment, preliminary hearing, bench warrant or non-jury trial in this court. If so, you will appear before Magisterial District Judge, James J. Merkins.
Magisterial District Court 32-2-54 is located in Springfield, a Philadelphia suburb. The election districts covered within this Magisterial District Court are Springfield Township’s Voting Districts 1, 2-1, 2-3, 5 and 6.
There are several Magisterial District Courts in Springfield, so it is important for you to carefully check your paperwork to make certain you appear in the correct court.
The Magisterial District Court in Springfield is a minor court responsible for deciding all traffic and non-traffic citations. Delaware County Magisterial District Courts handle preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings for criminal cases, landlord/tenant disputes and civil cases with damage claims up to $12,000.
Magisterial District Courts in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
Delaware County Magisterial District Courts decide all summary offenses, Pennsylvania’s least serious offense level. These include offenses such as criminal mischief, harassment, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, driving with a suspended license and first offense retail theft (shoplifting) of items under $150.
Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Courts are presided over by magisterial judges who can administer oaths and perform marriages.
There are 33 Magisterial District Courts throughout Delaware County. Criminal cases start in these courts. Misdemeanor and felony cases begin with preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings. The next step in the court system for misdemeanor and felony cases is the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas.
If you are charged with a traffic or criminal offense in Delaware County, you will need an experienced defense attorney. Depending on the circumstances of your case, there are many defenses that a skilled Philadelphia criminal defense lawyer can use to help you.
Even minor offenses such as summary offenses can create major problems for you or a loved one. If you are convicted of a summary offense, you can face up to 90 days in jail and a fine up to $300. With a prior conviction, your punishment might be as many as 180 days in jail.
Why You Need Delaware County Criminal Defense Attorneys By Your Side In A Springfield Courtroom
It may be tempting to plead guilty to a summary offense so you can put the whole experience behind you. You may believe you can handle your court case yourself. However the outcome of your case will be critically important to your future.
Not only can you land in jail, which will disrupt your life and can even cost you your job, but you may also be burdened with a criminal record that will have far-reaching implications for you.
It’s important to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney who can defend you against your charges and help you attain a positive outcome. A lawyer who knows their way around a Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court can give you sound advice and will possibly be able to get the charges against you dismissed.
If, for example, you are faced with an offense such as underage drinking, your attorney will examine every aspect of your case to see what really occurred. If your drink was not alcohol, your lawyer will bring in witnesses or evidence to prove it.
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If you have been charged with a criminal or traffic offense in the Philadelphia area, you need an attorney who thoroughly understands the way Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system works. Fienman Defense has successfully represented people in Magisterial District Courts throughout Delaware County. We have the skills to create the solid defense that, depending on the circumstances of your case, can get the charges against you lessened or even dismissed.