The Pennsylvania court system is divided up into different types of courts, the most common type being the district courts or magisterial courts. There are often dozens of district courts in each county in Pennsylvania, including Montgomery County, and each district court is intended to serve a certain number of voting districts within the county.
District courts in Pennsylvania handle certain kinds of cases. The cases they most often handle are traffic offenses, summary criminal offenses, and municipal court violations. They also handle landlord tenant disputes and small claims of less than $12,000. Depending on the offense that you have been charged with, you will likely be notified or summoned to attend a preliminary hearing, an arraignment, or a non-jury trial in district court following the issuance of your citation or your arrest. Take careful note of the court date that you have been assigned to, as well as what court you are expected to attend. Hold on to all of this information so that you may have it available when you and your attorney begin preparing your defense before your court date.
Blue Bell District Court
District Court 38-1-21 is located at 653 Skippack Pike, Suite 101 in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania. The court can be contacted by phone at 215-646-8201 or by fax at 215-646-4156.
District Court 38-1-21 serves the following areas: North Wales Borough, Lower Gwynedd Township, Upper Gwynedd Township, and Whitpain Township. This district court is presided over by the Honorable Judge Robert M. Sobeck. If you have been summoned to appear in Judge Sobeck’s court, it is likely because you have been charged with a summary criminal offense or a traffic violation. Examples of these kinds of offenses include: driving with a suspended license, driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, underage drinking, speeding, running a stop light or sign, failure to yield, harassment, disorderly conduct, loitering, or shoplifting.
Although the kind of proceeding you have been summoned for will depend on where you are in the process and what offense you were charged with, you should take your hearing seriously. Judge Sobeck’s job is to determine your guilt or innocence and to determine what penalty or sentence you will be required to face as a result of your conviction. And even a conviction for a summary criminal offense may mean that you will have to pay hundreds of dollars in fines or face up to three months in jail, if not more if you are a repeat offender. This can be extremely upsetting and cause problems for you and your family, so it is a good idea to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as you receive your notice or summons so that you and your attorney can begin preparing a solid defense.
Our Experienced District Court Attorneys
Our attorneys have dealt with hundreds of cases, like yours, in district courts throughout Montgomery County just like the district court in Blue Bell. We know the process that you will need to follow and will be able to help you prepare a strong and legally sound defense, that can help convince Judge Sobeck to reduce your penalty or sentence, or even dismiss your charges. Give us a call as soon as possible so that you have plenty of time to prepare before your court date.