About Magisterial District Courts

These courts are the first tier of the Unified Judicial System of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There are more than 550 courts operating in local jurisdictions to provide service to local constituents. Magisterial

District Judges in these courts have authority to do the following.

• Conduct non-jury trials in:
  • Summary traffic, non-traffic, ordinance cases
  • Landlord tenant actions
  • Civil cases $12,000.00 and under
• Conduct preliminary arraignments and set bail
• Preside over preliminary hearings
• Issue arrest warrants and search warrants
• Issue Emergency Protection From Abuse orders (Emergency PFA’s)
• Perform weddings

The minor courts, also called special courts or courts of limited jurisdiction, constitute the “grass roots” level of Pennsylvania’s court system. For many Pennsylvanians these are the first, and often the only, courts they will ever encounter.

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