Understanding the different levels of the Pennsylvania court system can seem tricky until you understand how they work. The most common kinds of courts in Pennsylvania are the district courts, or the magisterial courts, which can be found in every county throughout the state. In fact, most counties have dozens of district courts, because each court is intended to serve a certain number of voting districts or wards.

District courts only hear certain kinds of cases, but those cases are often the most common kinds of cases handled in the Pennsylvania court system. These include traffic violations, summary or minor criminal offenses, municipal code violations, landlord tenant disputes, and small civil claims (under $12,000). If you have been arrested or have received a ticket or citation for one of these offenses, you will be expected to appear in your local district court for your court proceedings. During these proceedings, the elected judge who presides over the district court will determine whether you are guilty, and if so, what penalty or sentence you will have to face.

By getting in touch with an experienced lawyer, you can go into your proceeding well prepared, and you will have a much greater chance at getting your penalty or sentence reduced, or even having your charges dismissed by the judge.

Collingdale District Court

The district court in Collingdale, Pennsylvania, designated District Court 32-1-23, serves the entirety of the borough of Collingdale within Delaware County. The address of the court is 100 Clifton Avenue in Collingdale, and you may contact the court by phone at 610-534-3443 or by fax at 610-534-5978. The court is presided over by the Honorable Judge Gregory J. Loftus.

Because district courts only hear specific types of cases, you will be summoned to the Collingdale district court if you have been charged with one or more of the kinds of offenses handled in Pennsylvania district courts. Traffic offenses and summary criminal offenses are the most common types. They can include speeding, underage drinking, running a red light or a stop sign, disorderly conduct, failure to yield, harassment, driving with a suspended license, loitering, driving while intoxicated, or shoplifting.

Unfortunately, these offenses can come with quite serious penalties, usually involving expensive fines or even jail time. Your fine could be as high as $300, and your time in jail could reach 90 days for a first offense or even 180 days for a second offense.

It is therefore in your best interest to contact one of our experienced attorneys as soon as possible before your district court proceeding, whether you are at the arraignment stage or are facing a hearing or non-jury trial. Your attorney, who has handled cases just like yours in district courts in Pennsylvania, can help you develop a strong defense that will convince Judge Loftus to reduce your sentence or penalty, or even to dismiss your case entirely and find you innocent. As soon as you receive your notice or summons to appear in district court, give our offices a call today to ensure that you have plenty of time to prepare and that you feel calm and confident going into your proceeding.