Montgomery County 38-1-02 Magisterial District Court

Going to court on a criminal or traffic charge is never easy – there are always things to worry about and consider. If you or a family member has to appear in a Montgomery County Magisterial District Court, you will need to have an experienced attorney by your side to answer your questions and represent you effectively.

Fienman Defense has appeared 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 Montgomery County Magisterial District Court 38-1-02 in Elkins Park 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, Elizabeth McHugh.

Magisterial District Court 38-1-02 is located in Elkins Park, about 9 miles from Center City, Philadelphia. The election districts covered within this Magisterial District Court are Jenkintown Borough and Cheltenham Township’s Voting Districts 5-1, 5-2, 5-3, 5-4, 6-1, 6-2, 6-3, 7-1, 7-2 and 7-3.

There are two Magisterial District Courts in Elkins Park, 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 Elkins Park is a minor court responsible for deciding all traffic and non-traffic citations. Montgomery 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 Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Montgomery 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 30 Magisterial District Courts throughout Montgomery 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 Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.

If you are charged with a traffic or criminal offense in Montgomery County, you will need an experienced defense attorney. Depending on the circumstances of your case, there are many defenses that a skilled 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 A Lawyer By Your Side In An Elkins Park 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 summary offense 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, depending on the circumstances, be able to get the charges against you lessened or even dismissed.

If, for example, you are faced with an offense such as retail theft (shoplifting), you may have mistakenly or accidentally left a store with merchandise. Shoplifting is one of the most common offenses in the Philadelphia area. You do have options, and an experienced attorney can help you.

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