Montgomery County 38-1-08 Magisterial District Court

Getting in trouble with the law is a whole new experience for most people. It feels overwhelming, scary, and confusing. You don’t know what to expect, what to do, or what might happen if you say the wrong thing.

Still, there are a lot of people who are charged with a criminal or traffic offense every day, just like you.

The feelings you are experiencing are more than normal, and there is a lot to be concerned about. If you or someone you love has to appear in a Montgomery County Magisterial District court, then it might be a good idea to talk to an experienced attorney who can help clarify the cloud of confusion hanging over your head.

Part of a lawyers job is to defend by questioning weak evidence and coming up with a winning argument, but the other part is to put your mind at ease. This means the lawyer is going to be there to answer any and all your questions until you feel more in control.

Those who do receive a summons to appear in this county’s court are going to be appearing in front of Judge, Katherine E. McGill Magid, who is the district judge here at the 38-1-08 Montgomery County district court. This court may be small, but it does deal with traffic citations, preliminary arraignments or hearings as well as non-jury trials. The court also deals with bench warrants.

The court you have been summoned to is between Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy, which you may have passed numerous times while you were in Oreland. The court deals mostly with Springfield Township, so if you are in this township, then you are probably going to this court.

This court is here to deal with smaller cases, such as traffic citations and non-traffic violations. The district court will handle preliminary cases for both criminal cases as well as arraignments.

Civil cases are handled here, but they have to be small ones where the claim does not exceed $12,000. People who have trouble with their landlords or tenants also bring their disputes to this court.

District Courts in Montgomery County

All summary offenses committed in this county pass through here. A summary offense is one that Pennsylvania considers to be quite minor.

Now, just because they are minor does not mean they aren’t serious. Some of the offenses considered minor include underage drinking, disorderly conduct, harassment, criminal mischief, stealing less than $150 worth of goods, and that is just some of the offences.

The judges in these courts also perform a legal oath or marriages.

Montgomery County has a grand total of 30 district courts like this one, and that may sound like a lot, but it’s not. Crime happens even if people don’t want to hear about it.

Still, the bigger crimes like misdemeanors and felony cases aren’t tried in these courts. The preliminary hearing and arraignment are the only things dealt with here for serious crimes, which are meant to be taken care of by the County Court of Common Pleas.

Those charged know they are facing an uphill battle, but the right lawyer can help you overcome the oncoming obstacles. An experienced lawyer will know what to look for in these types of cases and should be able to provide informed advise. The right lawyer has formed relationships with judges and prosecutors that could end up giving you a few points in your favor.

You need all the help you could get because small offenses are still punishable, and they can still affect your life. The time served for some of these crimes could be anywhere between 90 days to a full six months, depending on your case.

The fines associated with these crimes could be as high as $300, not to mention all this could go on your record.

Why is a Lawyer What You Need Right Now?

You need a lawyer because you might be in more trouble than you need to be without one. Because pleading guilty could end up making it hard for you to get a job or even an apartment later. You’d be surprised how often a person will plead guilty to make all of this go away or because they are afraid of what could happen if they fight it.

A good lawyer knows what is at stake and will help you understand as well. This individual is going to work to ensure you get out of this or at least try to lessen the punishment.