Montgomery County 38-1-18 Magisterial District Court

You have to appear in Montgomery County Magisterial District Court. The very thought of it brings anxiety. What’s going to happen? How does all this work? Do I have any options for a defense? Getting answers to these questions will help lower your anxiety.

The Law Offices of Amato Sanita is here to help you through this trying time. We have appeared in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial Courts with hundreds of clients. Our legal team can help answer your questions, offer caring advice, and prepare your defense.

When you receive a summons to appear in Montgomery County Magisterial District Court 38-1-18 in Montgomeryville, you will appear before Magisterial District Judge Andrea Duffy. The judge oversees all sorts of cases ranging from traffic citations, criminal arraignment, preliminary hearings on criminal charges, bench warrants, and non-jury trials.

The Magisterial District Court 38-1-18 is located in Montgomeryville, about 30 miles outside of central Philadelphia. This Court covers the following election districts: Montgomery Township and Hatfield Township’s Voting Districts 1-1, 1-2, 5-1, and 5-2.

Pennsylvania designates Magisterial District Court 38-1-18 as a minor court with the oversight of all traffic and non-traffic citations. This court in Montgomery County also handles the preliminary arraignment and hearings for all criminal charges. The judge also decides landlord-tenant disputes, as well as civil cases with claims under $12,000.

Montgomery County Magisterial District Courts

Magisterial District Courts in Montgomery County decide any summary offense charges that come up in the district. Common examples of a summary offense charge include underage drinking, harassment, criminal mischief, driving on a suspended license, disorderly conduct, and first offense shoplifting for things under $150.

Magisterial judges preside over all Magisterial District Courts in Pennsylvania. They also have the duty to administer oaths and perform marriages.

Montgomery County has over 30 Magisterial District Courts. The legal process for all criminal charges begins at this level. The judge hears preliminary arraignment and preliminary hearings for all misdemeanor and felony charges. After these initial proceedings, the cases then move on to the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.

If you are facing criminal charges in the Magisterial District Court, you need an experienced criminal defense attorney at your side. The lawyer will review your case and determine which defenses would best suit your case.

Summary offenses are criminal charges. They can cause major problems in your life. If you, or a loved one, is convicted of a summary offense, you could be facing up to 90 days in jail for a first offense. A second offense can carry up to 180 days. You could also facing up to $300 in fines.

Why You Need An Attorney With You in a Montgomery County Courtroom

Pleading guilty to a summary offense may sound like a decent idea. Get it over with and move on. The reality is a lot different. Pleading guilty will not be good for your future.

You could go to jail. While in jail, you could lose your job. Your family may not have the means to pay the bills. You might get kicked out of your present residence. With a criminal conviction on your record, you may have trouble finding another job or finding a decent place to live.

Don’t gamble with your future or your family’s well-being. You need to talk with a criminal defense attorney before you go to court. The lawyer knows how to get around the Pennsylvania Magisterial District Courts. The attorney can offer sound advice, and, in some cases, get the charges lessened or dismissed.

Let’s say you were charged with underage drinking. The attorney could examine whether the drink actually contained alcohol. If it didn’t, your lawyer can bring forward evidence or witness testimony to prove it.

Call The Law Offices of Amato Sanita today. You need an attorney at your side that knows how the criminal justice system works in Pennsylvania. We will help you prepare a defense and represent you in court.