Pennsylvania district courts handle certain kinds of cases. These cases involve traffic offenses, summary criminal offenses, landlord tenant disputes, small civil claims of under $12,000 in value, and municipal code violations. Because these are some of the most common offenses dealt with in the Pennsylvania court system, there are several district courts in each county, and sometimes several in each township or borough, to handle these cases.
These broad categories contain some specific offenses that are relatively common in Pennsylvania district courts. Summary criminal offenses under Pennsylvania law include: criminal mischief charges, loitering, shoplifting, harassment, disorderly conduct, and drinking under the age of 21. Traffic offenses that are commonly dealt with in Pennsylvania district courts include: driving with a suspended license, speeding, driving through a red light or stop sign without stopping, failing to yield, and certain DUI or DWI cases.
These charges are sometimes referred to as minor offenses, but if you are convicted of one in district court, the penalties are anything but minor. Your experienced district court attorney will help you create a strong defense to prevent you having to face the full extent of these burdensome punishments for a simple traffic or summary offense. We are only a phone call away, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us.
Aston District Court
Aston, Pennsylvania in Delaware County is the home of District Court 32-2-38. This district court covers Aston Township and Wards 3 and 4 of Upper Chichester, and the court is presided over by the Honorable Judge Diane Holefelder. If you need to contact the court with questions, you can do so by calling 610-558-3520 or by faxing 610-558-3528. The address of the court is Riddle Valley Industrial Park at 1 New Road in Aston.
When you have been arrested for a summary criminal offense or a DUI, or have received a citation for a traffic violation, the next step will be to determine what court date you have been assigned and what proceeding you have been summoned to appear for. Generally, the proceedings in district court include arraignments, preliminary criminal hearings, traffic hearings, or even non-jury trials decided by Judge Holefelder. During these proceedings, if you are found guilty, you may be receiving a punishment of up to $300 in fines and also possibly time in prison -- up to 90 days for your first offense, and up to 180 days if you have been convicted in district court before.
An Experienced District Court Lawyer
What should you do if you do not want to have to face these extremely serious penalties for a minor mistake? Once you receive your notice of your court date and proceeding, call our offices as soon as possible to give yourself plenty of time to prepare.
Our attorneys will be ready to assist you and provide you with their knowledge and experience, derived from years spent handling traffic and summary offenses in district courts throughout Delaware County and Pennsylvania. Give us a call today so that your attorney can give you as much time and assistance as you need before you report for your court date.