Montgomery County 38-2-09 Magisterial District Court

Whether you’ve been cited with driving under the influence, engaging in disorderly conduct, or committing a traffic infraction, your appearance before a Montgomery County Magisterial District Court is a serious matter. For this reason, you should hire a skilled and experienced attorney to represent your interests and maximize your chances of a beneficial outcome. With a proven track record of defending hundreds of cases before Pennsylvania’s Magisterial Courts, Fienman Defense is ready to help you face your criminal charges today.

What are Magisterial District Courts?

You may find yourself having to appear before Montgomery County Magisterial District Court 38-2-09 in Norristown for any of the following reasons:

• A summons for a traffic citation
• An arraignment
• A preliminary hearing for a criminal case
• A landlord / tenant dispute
• A civil case involving damages of less than $12,000
• A bench warrant
• A non-jury trial for a summary offense

No matter the reason for your appearance, you will have the right to an attorney and will benefit from important protections from the US constitution. Your attorney will ensure that your rights are fully respected as you pass through the court.

Magisterial District Court 38-2-09 is located in Norristown, the county seat of Montgomery County. With several Magisterial District Courts operating in Norristown, it’s important to closely review your summons to make sure you appear in the right court. The election districts covered within this Magisterial District Court are Norristown Borough and districts 2-2, 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3. The magistrate who will hear your case is Honorable Todd N. Barnes.

Summary Offense Cases in Magisterial District Courts

Montgomery County Magisterial District Courts handle cases involving summary offenses, which are Pennsylvania’s least serious class of criminal offense. If you get charged with criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, harassment, driving with a suspended license or shoplifting items worth under $150, you will need to appear before a magistrate.

Cases that go before Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Courts are not decided by juries. Instead, a magisterial judge hears the evidence and has the responsibility of determining the verdict. There are both benefits and disadvantages to this sort of trial, which depend largely on the specific facts of your case.

Even if summary offenses are not as serious as other crimes, you should hire an experienced Philadelphia criminal defense attorney to handle your case. A conviction for a summary offense may result in a maximum penalty of 90 days in jail and a fine of $300. If you have prior conviction, your punishment might increase to 180 days in jail.

Preliminary Appearances for Misdemeanors and Felonies

If you’ve been charged with a misdemeanor or a felony in Montgomery County, your preliminary court hearing—called an arraignment—will take place in one of 30 Magisterial District Courts in the county. After your arraignment, your trial or sentencing will take place in the county court.

You should have the benefit of a skilled criminal defense attorney by your side at these preliminary hearings, because they represent the first step in what may be a long trek through the criminal justice system. Ensuring that your case is handled properly from the start will give you a better chance of avoiding a conviction and save you time and money.

As soon as your lawyer takes on your case, he or she will begin formulating the best defense strategy possible based on the available evidence. Your lawyer will also ensure that your constitutional rights were respected during the investigation and arrest that led to your charges. If not, your lawyer may be able to obtain the dismissal of your case.

How Fienman Defense Can Help

You may feel that a summary offense charge is not serious enough to fight. Or maybe you think you can defend your case on your own. But when your finances, freedom, and reputation are on the line, you owe it to yourself to give yourself the best chances possible—and that means hiring a criminal defense attorney.

With experience successfully defending hundreds of cases in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Courts, Fienman Defense is a top choice for people facing summary offense charges in Montgomery county. Our goal is to provide our clients with personalized attention and a winning case strategy that will allow them to focus on getting their lives back on track. If you need a Montgomery County criminal defense attorney, call Fienman Defense today for a free and confidential consultation of your case.