Magisterial District Judge Courts

Magisterial District Judges (MDJ) preside over MDJC in all counties but Philadelphia. They have authority to: 

• conduct trials for criminal summary matters not involving acts that are considered delinquent 
• conduct trials for civil claims where the amount does not exceed $8,000, in the following types of cases:
• landlord-tenant actions
• assumpsit actions unless they involve a contract where the title to real estate may be in question
• trespass actions
• fines and penalties by any government agency
•  preside over preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings
• set and accept bail.  In cases involving murder of the first and second degree, which potentially carry a life sentence, there is no bail
  issue arrest warrants
•  accept guilty pleas to the charge of Driving Under the Influence so long as:
• it is a first offense,
• no personal injury occurred to a third party other than the defendant’s immediate family,
• property damage to any third party is less than $500 and
• the defendant is not a juvenile
• preside over non-jury trials involving all offenses under Title 34 (Game Commission Laws).