Being summoned or notified to appear in Pennsylvania district court (also called magisterial court) can be intimidating, and you may not be sure of the best way to proceed after receiving your notice or summons. The most important thing to remember is that with a well prepared defense, you will be able to approach your court date with confidence.

District courts are the courts that are the first to hear specific kinds of offenses. In particular, district courts handle summary criminal offenses, traffic violations, municipal code violations, small claims under $12,000, and landlord tenant disputes. If you have been summoned to your local district court, it is most likely because of a traffic citation or a charge of a summary criminal offense.

By contacting an experienced attorney, you will be able to go into your hearing prepared and with a strong defense to present to the judge.

Pottstown District Courts

There are two district courts that serve the Pottstown, Pennsylvania area. District Court 38-1-12 serves certain voting districts in Montgomery County: Pottstown Borough (specifically voting districts 1-1, 1-2, 5, 6, 7-1, and 7-2), as well as the voting districts within Lower Pottsgrove Township. This district court is located at 2093 High Street in Pottstown. Its phone number is 610-326-9274, and its fax number is 610-326-8136.

The Honorable Judge Edward C. Kropp, Sr. presides over District Court 38-1-12. Judge Kropp’s courtroom sees cases involving a number of offenses, which generally include: disorderly conduct, harassment, underage drinking, loitering, shoplifting or petty theft, driving with a suspended license, speeding, running red lights or stop signs, and DUIs or DWIs. At the district court stage, you will most likely be facing a preliminary criminal hearing or arraignment, a traffic hearing, or a non-jury trial.

Because these offenses are generally considered to be relatively minor, it may be tempting to ignore your notice or summons, or to not take it very seriously. Unfortunately, this is not in your best interests. Even these seemingly minor offenses can come with steep penalties. You may have to be pay an expensive fine if you are convicted in district court, and you may even have to spend some time in prison. This could be a real hardship for you and your family, which is why it is worth your time to get in touch with an experienced district court attorney who can assist you with your case.

By preparing a strong defense using evidence and sound legal reasoning, you may convince Judge Kropp to lessen your sentence or your penalty, or he may even dismiss the charges against you altogether. But preparing a good defense can be challenging on your own. If you call our offices as soon as possible after receiving your notice or summons, you and your lawyer will have plenty of time before your court date to prepare and practice your defense. Our lawyers have handled hundreds of cases like yours in Pennsylvania district courts, including the Pottstown District Courts, and are only a phone call away. If you are able to go into your hearing or other proceeding with confidence, you have a significantly better chance of winning your case.