Judicial Services Report 2016, 225th Anniversary Edition

Criminal cases are initiated at the Magisterial District Court level of the Lancaster County Court system. There are nine- teen Magisterial District Court Judges in Lancaster County. During 2015, the Court of Common Pleas held forty-two weeks of criminal court with the eight Criminal Court of Common Pleas Judges. Each of these weeks had two to four judges presid- ing. When a defendant is arrested by the police for alleged criminal offenses, he/she is brought before the Magisterial Dis- trict Judge who has jurisdiction over the geographical area in which the crime was allegedly committed. The Magisterial District Judge holds a preliminary arraignment during which the defendant is informed of his/her constitutional rights and the charges; the defendant receives a copy of the complaint filed and the amount of bail is determined. At this time, a date is set for the preliminary hearing. The purpose of a preliminary hearing is to determine the existence of a prima facie case against the defendant. If a pri- ma facie case has been established, or if the defendant waives his right to a preliminary hearing, the case is bound over to the Court of Common Pleas where an arraignment is held. Additionally, Magisterial District Judges determine if a case is to be dismissed and may accept a guilty plea if the case is classified as a misdemeanor of the third degree. Once the case has made it to the Common Pleas level, the defendant is scheduled for a formal arraignment. At this time, the defendant enters a plea of guilty or not guilty. If the defendant chooses to plead guilty, a guilty plea date is scheduled. If a defendant pleads not guilty, the case is moved to a pre-trial hearing where specific issues can be addressed prior to scheduling the case for trial. At a trial, a defendant may have his/her case decided by jurors or a judge. The trial process determines if a defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charges brought against him/her. If the defendant is found not guilty, the case is dismissed. If the defendant is found guilty, a sentencing is scheduled by the Court.