The Pennsylvania court system has many layers, with each different type of court handling different kinds of cases. District courts, for example, exclusively handle traffic offenses, summary criminal offenses, landlord tenant disputes, small civil claims that are under $12,000, and municipal code violations.
Because these kinds of offenses are so common, the district courts are located all across the state. Most counties have several district courts in their boundaries, and some townships and boroughs are even served by two or more district courts, depending on their population. It is important to know which district court you need to appear in, so if you have any questions, you can contact your attorney or call the Administrative Office for Magisterial District Judges at 610-565-6990.
If you have been arrested or have received a citation or ticket in Delaware County, don’t wait to reach out to an attorney as soon as possible who can help you with your case. Depending on where you are in the process, you could be facing an arraignment, a preliminary criminal hearing, a traffic hearing, or a non-jury trial. In order to feel prepared before going in for your court date, give us a call.
Prospect Park District Court
District Court 32-2-44 is located in Prospect Park in Delaware County. This court serves both Prospect Park and Ridley Park Borough, and the address of the court is 1028 Lincoln Avenue in Prospect Park. If you need to contact the court for any reason, the phone number is 610-534-5627 and the fax number is 610-534-5610.
The Honorable Judge Jack D. Lippart presides over this district court. Judge Lippart’s courtroom most commonly handles traffic violations (such as speeding, failure to yield, running a stop sign or a red light, driving with a suspended license, or particular cases of DUI), as well as summary criminal offenses (such as shoplifting, underage drinking, harassment, disorderly conduct, loitering, and criminal mischief). Consequently, if you have been arrested or given a citation for any of these offenses, you will be expected to appear in Judge Lippart’s courtroom for your proceeding.
The stakes can be surprisingly high in district court. Even for these seemingly minor offenses, the punishments are high. For example, you may have to spend up to 90 days in prison for a first offense, and it can go up as high as 180 days for a second or third offense. And on top of the prison sentence, you may also have to pay a fine that can be as high as $300.
An Experienced Attorney Can Help
If these penalties are more than you and your family can handle, give us a call right away. Our lawyers have spent years handling these specific kinds of offenses in district courts across the state, and we are prepared to lend our experience and knowledge to your case. Let us help you develop a strong, persuasive defense to show Judge Lippart that you do not deserve the full extent of the penalty for your offense, or even that you are innocent and should have the case dismissed. Give us a call as soon as possible to provide for ample time to prepare before your scheduled court date.