Magisterial District Courts are the first tier of Bucks County’s judicial system. An elected Judge runs the court in each of the 18 “district courts” spread throughout the county. These courts are located conveniently across the county, within the communities they serve.
MDJ’s, as they are known, handle a wide range of issues. According to the Bucks County official website, their MDJs “are responsible for adjudicating all traffic and non-traffic citations as well as processing criminal and private criminal complaints inclusive of arraignments and preliminary hearings, the handling of civil and landlord tenant complaints up to a jurisdictional limit of $12,000.”
For criminal matters, ranging from parking violations through the initial phases of murder charges, defendants are afforded the opportunity for a preliminary hearing. Charges at these can be dismissed, waived to court or held for court and referred to the Court of Common Pleas (located at 100 N Main St, Doylestown, PA 18901).
QUICK LINKS: MDJ Offices in Surrounding Counties: Montgomery County
These courts are spread throughout the County to provide the public easier access.
Source: Bucks County Official Website
Individuals may represent themselves for matters at the MDJ level. In some cases, for example criminal preliminary hearings, individuals may even waive their right to a hearing at this level and proceed to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.
While within the rights of the individual to take either self-representation or waiving these hearings, it is not suggested to forego having an experienced lawyer involved and present.
CONTACT AMS Law: Free Consultations for all Preliminary Hearing Matters
Particularly in criminal matters, Preliminary Hearings can provide a chance to have charges dismissed or reduced. Further, the hearing itself can be a crucial opportunity for you attorney to meet with the county prosecutors and get on-the-record statements from police officers which can significantly improve a defendant’s prospects if a case moves forward to the Court of Common Pleas.
As a guide, here is a list of MDJ Offices listed by regional code.(Note: This information was up to date as of a January 1, 2018 official release by the Bucks County Administrative Court).
Bensalem: Magistrate Hon. Michael W. Gallagher, District 07-1-01
District Includes: Parts of Bensalem (Lower East, Lower West, Lower Middle, Upper West)
Address: 2404 Byberry Road, Bensalem, PA 19020
Phone: 215-638-1040 / Fax: 215-638-0135
Bristol: Magistrate Hon. Frank W. Peranteau, Sr, District 07-1-02
District Includes: Bristol Borough and parts of Bristol Township
Address: 501 Bath Street, Bristol, PA 19007
Phone: 215-785-3521 / Fax: 215-785-0816
Bristol: Magistrate Hon. Joanne V. Kline, District 07-1-03
District Includes: Parts of Bristol Township
Address: 3030 Bath Road, Bristol, PA 19007
Phone: 215-788-5561 / Fax: 215-788-5568
Levittown: Magistrate Hon. Robert L. Wagner, Jr., District 07-1-04
District Includes: Parts of Bristol Township and Tullytown Borough
Address: 7325 New Falls Road, Levittown, PA 19055
Phone: 215-943-9414 / Fax: 215-943-9454
CONTACT AMS Law: Free Consultations for all Preliminary Hearing Matters
Feasterville: District 07-1-06 – CLOSED**
**This court has been closed. All business has been relocated to DC 07-1-7 in Penndel.
Penndel: Magistrate Hon. Daniel Baranoski, District 07-1-07
District Includes: Hulmeville Borough, Langhorne Borough, Langhorne Manor Borough, Lower Southampton Township (formerly 07-1-06), parts of Middletown Township Lower and Upper, Penndel Borough
Address: 142 Centre Street, Penndel, PA 19047
Phone: 215-757-6761 / Fax: 215-757-2284
Levittown: Magistrate Hon. John J. Kelly, Jr., District 07-1-08
District Includes: Parts of Middletown Township
Address: 2661 Trenton Road, Levittown, PA 19056-1491
Phone: 215-946-5450 / Fax: 215-946-5459
Warminster: Magistrate Hon. Daniel J. Finello, Jr., District 07-1-09
District Includes: Ivyland Borough, Warminster Township
Address: 567 Newtown Road, Warminster, PA 18974
Phone: 215-672-5853 / Fax: 215-672-8013
Fallsington: Magistrate Hon. Jan Vislosky, District 07-1-10
District Includes: Falls Township
Address: 9187 New Falls Road, Fallsington, PA 19054
Phone: 215-736-0231 / Fax: 215-736-0809
Morrisville: Magistrate Hon. Senior MDJ, Official MDJ TBD, District 07-1-11
District Includes: Lower Makefield Township, Morrisville Borough, Yardley Borough
Address: 31 E. Cleveland Avenue, Morrisville, PA 19067
Phone: 215-736-1121 / Fax: 215-736-0835
CONTACT AMS Law: Free Consultations for all Preliminary Hearing Matters
Bensalem: Magistrate Hon. Joseph P. Falcone, District 07-1-12
District Includes: Parts of Bensalem Township: parts of Lower East, Upper and Lower Middle
Address: 3237 Bristol Road, Suite 100-101, Bensalem, PA 19020
Phone: 215-741-3501/ Fax: 215-741-3503
Richboro: Magistrate Hon. William J. Benz, District 07-2-01
District Includes: Northampton Township, Upper Southampton Township
Address: 60 Township Road, Richboro, PA 18954
Phone: 215-322-0144 / Fax: 215-322-7371
Warrington: Magistrate Hon. Mark D. Douple, District 07-2-02
District Includes: Doylestown Borough, Doylestown Township
Address: 1277 Almshouse Road, Warrington, PA 18976
Phone: 215-343-7961/ Fax: 215-343-7964
Perkasie: District 07-2-03 – CLOSED****
District Includes: East Rockhill Township, Perkasie Borough, Sellersville Borough, Telford Borough, West Rockhill Township
****All business for this court has been moved to either DC 07-02-05 in Quakertown or DC 07-2-08 in New Britain
Quakertown: Magistrate Hon. Lisa J. Gaier, Esq, District 07-2-05
District Includes: Milford Township, Quakertown Borough, Richland Township, Richlandtown Borough, Trumbauersville Borough
Address: 281 California Road, Quakertown, PA 18951
Phone: 215-536-9650 / Fax; 215-536-6966
Newtown: Magistrate Hon. Michael W. Petrucci, District 07-2-07
District Includes: Newtown Borough, Newtown Township, Upper Makefield Township, Wrightstown Township
Address: 28 North State Street, Newtown, PA 18940
Phone: 215-968-1657 / Fax; 215-968-5886
New Britain: Magistrate Hon. Regina Armitage, District 07-2-08
District Includes: Chalfont Borough, Hilltown Township, New Britain Borough, New Britain Township, Silverdale Borough
Address: 962 Town Center, New Britain, PA 18901
Phone: 215-230-7265 / Fax: 215-230-7276
Doylestown: Magistrate Hon. Maggie Snow, District 07-3-01
District Includes: Buckingham Township, New Hope Borough, Solebury Township
Address: 4001 Durham Road (Rt 413), Doylestown, PA 18902
Phone: 215-345-7516 / Fax: 215-345-7527
CONTACT AMS Law: Free Consultations for all Preliminary Hearing Matters
Jamison: Magistrate Hon. Jean Seaman, District 07-3-02
District Includes: Warrington Township, Warwick Township
Address: 1720 Kendarbren Drive, Suite 711, Jamison, PA 18929
Phone: 215-343-0627/ Fax: 215-343-0629
Ottsville: Magistrate Hon. Gary Gambardella, District 07-3-03
District Includes: Bedminster Township, Bridgeton Township, Dublin Borough, Durham Township, Haycock Township, Nockamixon Township, Plumstead Township, Riegelsville Borough, Springfield Township, Tinicum Township
Address: 276 Tabor Road, Ottsville, PA 18942
Phone: 610-847-5164 / Fax: 610-847-8497
For updated logistical information about the Bucks County MDJs, contact Robert D. Pollock, Deputy Court Adm/Minor Judiciary, located at 100 North Main Street, 2nd Floor, Doylestown, PA 18901.
If you, or a loved one, have a matter at any of these courthouses, call us at (484) 704-7807 or contact us through this website here. We want to fight for you.
