It has been a long and controversial few years for the District Magisterial Judges (District Magistrates) in Chester County PA. The district magistrates are an important part of the Chester County Judicial system, not only for small claims court, landlord-tenant court and traffic court, but also as the “gate keepers” of misdemeanor and felony charges.
District Magistrates responsibilities include but are not limited to the signing off of a criminal complaint filed by the police, the summons of a defendant to court, the determination of bail, the ordering of fingerprints, and the ruling of whether the Commonwealth has established a prima facie of evidence at the preliminary hearing.
Until recently, there were nineteen (19) Magisterial Districts through towns in Chester County PA including, Oxford, Avondale, Kennett Square, Parkesburg, Coatesville (2), Honey Brook, Thorndale, Downingtown, Pottstown, Exton, Lionville, West Chester (4), Paoli, Phoenixville, Chesterbrook and Devon.
Recently, the Chester County Court System, by petition of the President Judge, reduced the number of Magisterial Districts from nineteen to eighteen, eliminating the Thorndale Court and in the process redistricted two magisterial districts which have been in the news because of their respective magistrates.
The Petition calls for the redistricting of the Thorndale Court into Downingtown Court with the Thorndale Magistrate (Valocchi) assuming responsibility; and also the redistricting of the main West Chester magisterial district located at the Chester County Judicial Center.
It may be coincidence that the Downingtown Court 15-2-06 and West Chester 15-1-01 have been at the center of controversy caused by accusations made against the magistrates that had been occupying those two districts. In the case of the West Chester district, the allegations have not been resolved and he remains temporarily relieved of his responsibilities where in Downingtown, the magistrate facing criminal charges has been convicted and sentenced and no longer in office.
In any case, the changes will hopefully result in stability for the minor judiciary for 2014 and beyond. Have questions about what a district magistrate judge does or questions about your need for a hearing if you are summoned to court? Contact our experienced legal team to learn more.
Chester County Magisterial Districts
15-1-01
MDJ Harry Farmer*
201 W. Market Street, Suite 1307
West Chester PA 19380-0989
(610) 431-4814 T
(610) 431-4018 F
15-1-02
MDJ Thomas Tartaglio
15 N Devon Boulevard
Devon PA 19333-1596
(610) 254-8072 T
(610) 254-8096
15-1-03
MDJ Gregory Hines
256 E Lincoln Highway
Coatesville PA 19320
(610) 384-3159 T
(610) 384-5163 F
15-1-04
MDJ Gwenn Knapp
530 E. Union Street
West Chester PA 19382-4893
(610) 429-4636 T
(610) 429-4644 F
15-1-05
MDJ Grover Koon
615 Sands Court
Coatesville PA 19320
(610) 380-3325 T
(610) 380-4774 F
15-2-01
MDJ Theodore Michaels
347 Bridge Street
Phoenixville PA 19460-0213
(610) 935-1503 T
(610) 935-7427 F
15-2-03
MDJ William Kraut
601 Westtown Road
West Chester PA 19382-4504
(610) 431-5757 T
(610) 431-5755 F
15-2-05
MDJ Chester Darlington
1572 Paoli Pike
West Chester PA 19380-6123
(610) 430-1966 T
(610) 430-8641 F
15-2-06
MDJ Jeffrey Valocchi*
231 Boot Road
Downingtown PA 19335-3402
(610) 269-5250 T
(610) 269-5017 F
15-2-07
MDJ Lori Donatelli
75 E. Uwchlan Avenue
Exton PA 19341
(610) 524-7456 T
(610) 524-6341 F
15-3-01
MDJ James DeAngelo
1130 Ridge Road
Pottstown PA 19465-8612
(610) 469-1910 T
(610) 469-1913 F
15-3-05
MDJ Scott Massey
305 S. Third Street
Oxford PA 19363-1701
(610) 932-4305 T
(6100 932-7649 F
15-3-06
MDJ Michael Cabry
4824 Horseshoe Pike
Honey Brook PA 19344
(610) 273-3726 T
(610) 273-4392 F
15-3-07
MDJ Nancy Gill
315 W. First Avenue
Parkesburg PA 19365
(610) 857-5547 T
(610) 857-5841 F
15-4-01
MDJ Analisa Sondergaard
500 Chesterbrook Blvd
Wayne PA 19087
(610) 647-6533 T
(610) 647-6535 F
15-4-02
Thorndale Court* office closed and merged into
Downingtown Court 15-2-06
15-4-03
MDJ John Bailey
748 Springdale Drive
Exton PA 19341-2826
(610) 594-7728 T
(610) 594-7896 F
MDJ Matthew Seavey
3 Moxley Lane
Avondale PA 19311-0669
(610) 268-4162 T
(610) 268-2611 F