In Pennsylvania, the district courts are the first courts to hear certain kinds of cases, including summary criminal offenses, traffic violations, municipal code violations, landlord tenant suits, and small claims under $12,000. If you have received a citation or have been arrested for one of these offenses, you will need to appear in district court.
The proceedings in district court will ultimately decide whether you will be convicted, and if you are convicted, what kind of sentence or punishment you will have to face as a result. Consequently, these proceedings are extremely important and should be taken very seriously, so that you and your family will not have to face a harsh penalty as a result of your conviction.
Prior to your court date, give our offices a call. Your experienced attorney will work with you to develop a defense to present in district court, and will help you feel calm and confident when you go into your hearing.

Chester District Courts
Most counties, including Delaware County, have numerous district courts that cover specific voting districts within the county. One of the district courts in Chester, District Court 32-1-20, specifically serves the City of Chester, Wards 1 and 2.
The court is located at 160 East Seventh Street in Chester. The phone number for the court is 610-876-2151, and the fax number is 610-874-7864. The court is presided over by the Honorable Wilden Horace Davis.
If you have been summoned to district court, you are likely facing charges of a traffic violation or a summary criminal offense. Common traffic violations handled in district court are speeding, running stop signs or red lights, driving with a suspended license, and failing to yield. Common summary criminal offenses handled in district court can include harassment, disorderly conduct, shoplifting, loitering, drinking underage, or DUI.
Yet even these offenses, which may seem minor, can come with extensive and burdensome penalties. A summary criminal offense can result in hundreds of dollars in fines, as well as weeks or even months in prison. Obviously, these penalties can place an enormous burden on you and your loved ones, which is why you need to make sure you go into your hearing prepared and confident.
A strong, convincing defense is the best way to show Judge Davis that you deserve to have your penalties reduced, or even to have your charges entirely dropped. But this can be a challenge if you do not have the help of an experienced lawyer. As soon as you know your court date, you should give our offices a call and get in touch with an experienced district court attorney.
Your lawyer will spend the time leading up to your hearing in district court to develop a strong defense and to help you prepare for your hearing. By going into your traffic hearing, arraignment, preliminary criminal hearing, or non-jury trial feeling calm and prepared, you have a much better chance at a lower penalty or even a dismissal. Don’t wait to give us a call after you have been charged with a traffic violation or a summary criminal offense.