News

Supreme Court Establishing Blueprint for Magisterial District Judge Boundaries

News Article

February 26, 2013

The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania has begun issuing orders that reshape magisterial district court boundaries statewide to adapt to changing resources and demographics in the Commonwealth.

The judicial realignment is a statutorily required process that takes place every 10 years to ensure the courts are operating efficiently. The restructuring orders are based on recommendations from each judicial district, which generally follow county boundaries. The City of Philadelphia has no magisterial district judges and does not participate in the process.

An overarching theme in the process was the Supreme Court’s desire to “right size” the number of magisterial district court judgeships statewide — largely through the elimination of existing vacancies or posts scheduled to be unfilled through retirement. Criteria were provided to each county to develop plans that would help achieve a reduction in the Commonwealth’s complement of more than 500 district judges. The right-sizing initiative was driven by financial challenges brought on by years of underfunded operating budgets for the Judiciary.

The Court plans to approve the re-establishment plans on a “rolling” basis or in phases. In some cases the orders will take effect immediately, others may take up to six years.

The first order was issued on Jan. 3, realigning the magisterial district boundaries for Huntingdon County. Other orders are being posted once they are approved on the Minor Courts section of the website. To access all of the orders posted, please check the resources box.

http://www.pacourts.us/courts/minor-courts

###