Before your scheduled hearing in district court, you may be confused or unsure about how the process works. Our lawyers want to help. We know the system can seem complex and intimidating, and we are available to lend our years of experience to assisting you with your own case.

In Pennsylvania, the district courts are the most common type of court. In fact, Delaware County alone has thirty two district courts within its boundaries, and some of the larger townships or boroughs are served by multiple district courts themselves.

District courts hear only specific types of offenses. Traffic violations are one common kind of offense handled in district court, and these frequently include running red lights or stop signs, failing to yield, speeding, driving without a valid license, and some instances of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Summary criminal offenses are another common type of offenses handled in district court. These commonly include criminal mischief, loitering, disorderly conduct, harassment, underage drinking, and shoplifting. Finally, district courts also handle municipal code violations, landlord tenant disputes, and small civil claims with values less than $12,000.

These offenses may sometimes be referred to as minor offenses, but it is important to know that they can come with surprisingly steep penalties. You may be facing as many as 90 days in jail for a first offense, and as many as 180 days in jail if you are a repeat offender. You may also be required to pay a fine that can cost you hundreds of dollars. In order to ensure that your best interests are represented in your district court proceeding, give our offices a call right away.

Media District Courts

The Media, Pennsylvania area in Delaware County is served by a few district courts. Specifically, District Court 32-2-46 serves Rose Valley and Upper Providence. The court itself is located at 939 North Providence Road in Media, and it can be contacted by phone at 610-566-3495 or by fax at 610-566-7016.

This court is presided over by the Honorable Judge Nicholas S. Lippincott, Esquire. Judge Lippincott is responsible for overseeing all of the proceedings in district court, whether you are scheduled for an arraignment, a traffic hearing, a preliminary criminal hearing, or even a non-jury trial. His evaluation will be what determines whether you will be found guilty, and if you are, what type of penalty or sentence you will face as a result.

Because the penalties are extremely steep for the kinds of offenses handled in district court, you should reach out to one of our attorneys as soon as you receive your summons or notice to appear in district court. This way, we will have plenty of time to help you prepare before your court date and are not up against a fast deadline.

Our experienced lawyers have handled hundreds of district courts cases and will know exactly how to best prepare your defense and have your sentence reduced, or even have your case entirely dismissed. Reach out to us right away so that we can best help you through the process and so you can be confident going into your court date.