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of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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    Court and Legal Support

    Overview of Pennsylvania Courts

    Your Rights as a Victim
    Find Help Near You

    The Court Process

    If you’ve been a victim of a crime, you might need to navigate the court system if the perpetrator is identified and charged. This process can be challenging for many.

    This walkthrough will explain what to expect during the Court Process.

    The Lower Courts: Magisterial District Judge Courts (MDJC)

    Magisterial District Judge Courts (MDJC) make up the first level of Pennsylvania’s court system. Additional courts include the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Municipal Courts and Philadelphia Traffic Court.

    The following steps are not exhaustive. Some cases will be simple, and others may include many more steps. Please be sure to consult with your local VSP or District Attorney’s Victim Witness office for more information about your case.

    Magisterial District Judges (MDJ) preside over MDJC in all counties but Philadelphia.

    Magisterial District Judges in Pennsylvania play a crucial role in the state's judicial system. They are responsible for hearing and deciding cases in the minor judiciary, which includes criminal and summary offenses, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. Magisterial District Judges have the authority to preside over preliminary hearings in setting bail, criminal cases, issue arrest and search warrants, handle traffic citations and local ordinance violations, and impose fines, probation, and imprisonment for certain offenses.

    Of the two minor courts in Philadelphia County (Municipal Court and Traffic Court), Municipal Court is Pennsylvania’s only court at the minor courts level. Its judges have the same jurisdiction as Magisterial District Judges with the following exceptions:   

    • Jurisdiction includes all criminal offenses, except summary traffic offenses, that are punishable by a term of imprisonment not exceeding five years.
    • They may enter judgments in civil claims where the amount does not exceed $10,000.

    Philadelphia Traffic Court’s jurisdiction covers all summary offenses under the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code as well as any related Philadelphia City ordinances.

    The Pittsburgh Municipal Court has a criminal division, a traffic division and a non-traffic division.  Its judges preside over preliminary hearings on all homicide cases in Allegheny County. The judges also preside over matters within the City of Pittsburgh, including non-traffic summary offenses; traffic offenses, except parking citations issued by the Pittsburgh Parking Authority; all violations of City of Pittsburgh ordinances and preliminary hearings on all misdemeanor and felony criminal cases.

    The Upper Courts: Court of Common Pleas, or County Courts

    Common Pleas courts are Pennsylvania’s courts for general trials. They have control over all cases not assigned to another court and can hear appeals over decisions from the MDJCs. They also hear appeals from certain state and local government agencies.

    The courts are organized into 60 districts, which generally follow the boundaries of the Commonwealth’s counties; however, seven of the districts are comprised of two counties. They are Perry-Juniata, Snyder-Union, Franklin-Fulton, Wyoming-Sullivan, Columbia-Montour, Warren-Forest and Elk-Cameron.