Pennsylvania district courts handle certain kinds of cases: specifically, they handle summary criminal offenses, municipal code violations, traffic offenses, landlord tenant disputes, and small civil claims that are under $12,000.

There are more district courts than any other type of court throughout Pennsylvania, and each county (including Delaware County) has several district courts that each serve specific townships and boroughs or specific wards within those areas.

Being summoned to district court can seem intimidating, but your experienced attorney can help you understand the process and feel better prepared. Typically, when you are summoned or notified to appear in district court, you will be participating in a traffic hearing, a criminal arraignment, a preliminary criminal hearing, or a non-jury trial. During these proceedings, the elected district court judge (also called a magisterial judge) will determine whether you are guilty of the charges against you and will then determine what penalty or sentence will be assigned to you.

Aldan Borough District Court

District Court 32-1-26 serves Aldan Borough, Clifton Heights, and Lansdowne, all located in Delaware County. The court itself is located in Upper Darby, at the Barclay Square Building on 1550 Garrett Road. To contact the court, call 610-626-6900 (phone) or send a fax to 610-622-2751. There is currently a vacancy for the elected judge who presides over this court.

Generally, district courts see more traffic violations and summary criminal offenses than other claims, so it is likely that you are facing a proceeding in district court for one of those kinds of offenses. Common traffic offense cases heard in district court are: running red lights or stop signs, speeding, failure to yield, certain DUI or DWI offenses, or driving with a suspended license. And common summary criminal offenses heard in district court are: harassment, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, loitering, and shoplifting.

These offenses, though seemingly minor, come with surprisingly steep penalties. You may be facing up to 90 days in jail, or even twice that for a repeat offense, in addition to a steep fine of up to $300. These penalties can be a huge burden on you and your loved ones, because you may not have the funds to pay the fines or be able to handle having you spend time behind bars. To avoid these penalties, please contact one of our experienced attorneys.

Help Is Just a Phone Call Away

Our experienced lawyers have spent years helping people with their district court cases. If you find yourself being summoned to appear before district court, you should call our offices right away, so that you and your attorney have plenty of time to prepare prior to your court date.

Your attorney will work with you on a strong defense to convince the judge that you do not deserve the full extent of the penalties you are facing, or even that you are entirely innocent. We will fight for you every step of the way and make sure you are provided with the best legal representation available to you. Do not wait to give us a call -- it could mean the difference between an enormous penalty or a much more positive result.