The Municipal Court
Welcome to the Philadelphia Municipal Court. Our court handles criminal, civil, and traffic cases. You can see more details below. If you are looking for information on a case in Common Pleas Court, please visit the Court of Common Pleas.
Divisions of the Municipal Court
Find where your case belongs and take your next step
Civil Division
The Civil Division deals with civil cases. Civil cases involve a conflict between people or organizations such as businesses. Personal injury, and contract disputes are a few examples of civil cases. In the Civil Division, the Municipal Court deals with Landlord and Tenant cases, Small Claims cases up to $12,000, and Code Enforcement cases up to $15,000.
Criminal Division
The Criminal Division of Municipal Court processes all arrests in Philadelphia County. Summary and misdemeanor trials are held in the Municipal Court, as well as felony case preliminary hearings. After the preliminary hearings in the Municipal Court, many felony cases move on to the Common Pleas Court for trial.
Traffic Division
The Traffic Division of the Municipal Court deals with city vehicle laws. Vehicle laws involve things like speeding or driving with a broken headlight. The Traffic Division does not deal with parking tickets. It also does not deal with more serious crimes like driving under the influence (DUIs) or red-light camera tickets.
Legal Language 101
Learn common court words and legal terms with this short video
Legal Language 101
Learn common court words and legal terms with this short video
About the Municipal Court
The Philadelphia Municipal Court has 27 law trained judges that deal with criminal cases, civil cases involving Landlord and Tenant cases, Small Claims cases up to $12,000 dollars and Code Enforcement cases up to $15,000, and traffic cases.
The Philadelphia Municipal Court’s Administrative Judge is Joffie C. Pittman, III. He was elected as Administrative Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court in January 2024.
The Philadelphia Municipal Court's President Judge is Judge T. Francis Shields. He was elected as President Judge of the Philadelphia Municipal Court in January 2024.
Contact
- Municipal Court Civil Division
- 1339 Chestnut St Phila., PA 19107
- mcclaimssupport@courts.phila.gov
- 215 686-2910
- Municipal Court Criminal Division
- 1301 Filbert Street, Room 208 The Stout Center for Criminal Justice Philadelphia, PA 19107
- MCCriminal@courts.phila.gov
- 215 686-7000
- Municipal Court Traffic Division
- 800 Spring Garden Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19123-2690
- tcsupport@courts.phila.gov
- 855 868-1675
Business Hours
- Monday-Friday: 8am to 5pm
- Saturday: Closed
- Sunday: Closed
The First Judicial District (FJD) of Pennsylvania is composed of two courts which make up the Philadelphia County Court System: the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court.
- NOTICE: View the EMERGENCY JUDGE ASSIGNMENT for the Week of Friday, May 10, 2024, through Friday, May 17, 20245/9/2024
- Notice To The Bar: Passage of Act 61 – Establishing a Right to Counsel in All Guardianship Proceedings5/2/2024
- NOTICE: View the EMERGENCY JUDGE ASSIGNMENT for the Week of Friday, May 3, 2024, through Friday, May 10, 20245/2/2024
- NOTICE: View the EMERGENCY JUDGE ASSIGNMENT for the Week of Friday, April 26, 2024, through Friday, May 3, 20244/25/2024
Phone: 215-686-7000
Website: www.courts.phila.gov
Email: Contact Us
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