Magisterial District Judge
Magisterial District Court is the first level of judicial authority in Pennsylvania and is the court where most people experience the judicial system for the first time. Magisterial District Judges handle all traffic cases, other minor criminal cases and civil cases involving amounts up to $12,000. District Justices also set bail and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases to determine if the cases should be dismissed or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. There are twenty Magisterial District Judges located in offices throughout Lancaster County. They are elected to six year terms and are employees of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
If you decide to file a civil suit in a Magisterial District court, you must decide which Magisterial District Judge has the authority to handle the suit. There are rules which govern where a suit may be filed. Generally, the suit must be filed in the magisterial district where the cause of action arose or where a transaction or occurrence took place which gave rise to the cause of action. In addition, if the defendant is an individual, the suit may also be filed in any other magisterial district where the defendant can be served the suit papers. If the defendant is a corporation, an unincorporated association or a partnership, suit may also be filed in the magisterial district where the defendant regularly conducts business. If you are still unsure where to file, the Magisterial District Judge closest to you can advise you on where to file. Or you can contact the
Court Administration Office at 717-299-8041 for more information.
Downloadable Forms
ALBERT, Scott, Esq. Mag. Dist. 02-3-01
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
424 South Angle Street
Mount Joy PA 17552-2002
(717) 653-4575
FAX (717) 653-0401
BENNER, William E. Jr., Esq Mag. Dist. 02-3-03
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
324 Beaver Valley Pike
Willow Street, PA 17584-9529
(717) 464-4141
FAX (717) 464-2824
CHUDZIK, Brian E., Esq. Mag. Dist. 02-2-05
Office Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 M-F
399 Camp Meeting Road
Landisville PA 17538-1398
(717) 898-2511
FAX (717) 898-3949
COMMINS, Denise B. Mag. Dist. 02-3-02
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
15 Geist Road
Lancaster PA 17601-5993
(717) 656-2191
FAX (717) 656-4425
DUNCAN, Jayne F., Esq. Mag. Dist. 02-3-09
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
920 South Spruce Street
Elizabethtown PA 17022-0511
(717) 367-4330 OR (717) 653-1969
FAX (717) 367-8019
HAMILL, Nancy G. Mag. Dist. 02-3-07
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
2 Cardinal Drive
Stevens PA 17578-9796
(717) 336-2801 OR (717) 738-0082
FAX (717) 336-3394
HARTMAN, Cheryl N. Mag. Dist. 02-1-01
Office Hours: 8:00 - 4:00 M-F
641 Union Street
Lancaster PA 17603-5508
(717) 299-7896
FAX (717) 390-2345
HARTMAN, Rodney H. Mag. Dist. 02-3-06
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
745B East Main Street
New Holland PA 17557-1521
(717) 354-4206
FAX (717) 354-8881
HERMAN, Robert A., Jr. Mag. Dist. 02-1-03
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
Closed 12:30 -1:00 M-F
341 Chestnut Street
Columbia PA 17512-1156
(717) 684-2761
FAX (717) 684-9774
JIMENEZ, Janice Mag Dist. 02-2-04
Office Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 M-F (Closed 11:30 -12:30)
796-A New Holland Ave
Lancaster PA 17602-3011
(717) 299-7966
FAX (717) 390-2344
KELLER, Joshua R. Mag. Dist. 02-2-06
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
841 Stehman Road
Millersville PA 17551-9753
(717) 872-4361
FAX (717) 872-1190
MILLER, David P., Esq. Mag. Dist. 02-1-02
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
2205 Oregon Pike
Lancaster PA 17601-4606
(717) 569-8774
FAX (717) 569-8721
MYLIN , Stuart J. Mag. Dist. 02-3-04
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
25 East State Street
Quarryville PA 17566-1248
(717) 786-7368
FAX (717) 786-2072
ROTH, Bruce A. Esq. Mag. Dist. 02-2-02
Office Hours: 8:00 - 4:30 M-F
150 North Queen Street, Suite 120
Lancaster PA 17603-3789
(717) 295-2000
FAX (717) 209-3031
RUSSELL, Tony S. Mag. Dist. 02-2-07
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
609 E Main St.
Ephrata PA 17522-0242
(717) 733-8688
FAX (717) 733-4330
SIMMS, Richard H. Mag. Dist. 02-2-01
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
123 Locust Street- Rear
Lancaster PA 17602
(717) 299-7974
FAX (717) 299-8375
SPONAUGLE, Mary Mongiovi, Esq. Mag. Dist. 02-2-03
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
1351 Elm Avenue
Lancaster PA 17603-4632
(717) 299-7898
FAX 390-2346
STOLTZFUS, Isaac H. Mag. Dist. 02-3-05
Office Hours: 8:30-4:30 M-F
14 Center Street, PO Box 618
Intercourse PA 17534-0618
(717) 768-3312
FAX (717) 768-3250
TOBIN, Edward A. Mag. Dist. 02-2-08
Office Hours: 8:30 - 4:30 M-F
690 Furnace Hills Pike
Lititz PA 17543-8907
(717) 626-0258
FAX (717) 626-5528
