Judicial Services Report 2016, 225th Anniversary Edition

Magisterial District Courts are the first level of judicial authority in Pennsylvania and are the courts where most people experience the judicial system for the first time. Magisterial District Judges handle all traffic cases, minor criminal cases, landlord/tenant cases, and civil cases involving amounts up to $12,000. Magisterial District Judges also preside at arraign- ments, set bail, and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases to determine if the cases should be dismissed or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings.

There are 19 Magisterial District Judges located in offices throughout Lancaster County. They are elected to six-year terms and, as officers of the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, may administer oaths and affirmations and take acknowl- edgements. They also have authority to perform marriages.

The Magisterial District Courts in Lancaster have an annual budget of approximately $4.5 million and represent 14% of the overall Court budget. They have 94 employees, process 90,000 cases each year, and generate annual revenue of ap- proximately $10.7 million, of which $2.5 million is turned over to the county. Recently, the Magisterial District Courts transi- tioned to the PaEpay system for the payment of fines and costs at all of the Magisterial District Courts. This allows an individ- ual to pay fines, costs, restitution, or collateral online from any internet-connected computer, or from the lobby of any Mag- isterial District Court. The Office of District Court Administration, through the Deputy Court Administrator, provides administrative support to the Magisterial District Judges by preparing the Magisterial District Court’s operating budget, administering facility and equipment needs, assisting in personnel management and case management, providing staff training and professional de- velopment, and attending all audit conferences. Administrative assistance is provided to the Magisterial District Judges through preparation of court orders for on-call, vacation, continuing education, illness, recusal hearing assignments, consol- idation and reassignment of cases.