Contact info
Magisterial District Judge:
CHRISTOPHER E. O’NEILL
567 Newtown Road
Warminster, PA 18974
(215) 672-5853
(215) 672-8013
Driving directions
Maybe you have to appear in court because you allegedly committed an offense such as driving with a suspended license. Or you got a summons for allegedly running a red light. If so, you will need a lawyer on your side.
If you or a family member has a court date in a Bucks County Magisterial District Court, you probably feel anxious as your court date draws closer. When you are charged with a traffic or criminal offense, it’s important to have an experienced attorney you can turn to who will answer your questions and provide effective guidance.
Fienman Defense has handled cases in Pennsylvania’s Magisterial Courts hundreds of times, providing clients with a caring and tenacious defense.
If you received a notification to appear in Bucks County Magisterial District Court 07-1-09 in Warminster or got a summons for a traffic citation, preliminary arraignment, preliminary hearing, bench warrant or non-jury trial in this court, you will appear before Magisterial District Judge, CHRISTOPHER E. O’NEILL.
Magisterial District Court 07-1-09 is located in Warminster. The election districts covered within this Magisterial District Court are: Ivyland Borough and Warminster Township.
Magisterial District Courts are minor courts responsible for deciding all traffic and non-traffic citations. Bucks County Magisterial District Courts handle preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings for criminal cases, landlord/tenant disputes up to $8,000 and civil cases with smaller damage claims.
Magisterial District Courts in Bucks County, Pennsylvania
There are 20 Magisterial District Courts throughout Bucks County. Criminal cases start in these courts before working their way up to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.
Every year Bucks County district courts handle approximately 130,000 cases, including approximately 10,000 criminal cases.
Bucks County criminal cases begin in Magisterial District Court. Misdemeanor and felony case start with preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings. The next step in the court system for misdemeanor and felony cases is the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas.
Bucks County Magisterial District Courts decide all summary offenses, Pennsylvania’s least serious offense level. These include offenses such as criminal mischief, harassment, disorderly conduct, underage drinking, driving with a suspended license and first offense retail theft (shoplifting) of items under $150.
Pennsylvania’s Magisterial District Courts are presided over by magisterial judges who can administer oaths and perform marriages.
If you are charged with a traffic or criminal offense in Bucks County, you will need an experienced defense attorney. Depending on the circumstances of your case, there are many defenses that a skilled lawyer can use to help you.
Even minor offenses such as summary offenses can become big headaches for you or a loved one. If you are convicted of a summary offense, you can face up to 90 days in jail and a fine up to $300. With a prior conviction, your punishment might be as many as 180 days in jail.
Why You Need A Lawyer By Your Side In A Warminster Courtroom
At first you may want to plead guilty to a summary offense so you can put the whole experience behind you. Or you may believe you can handle your court case yourself. However, you do need to retain an attorney because the outcome of your case will be critically important to your future.
Not only can you land in jail, which will disrupt your life and can even cost you your job, but you may also be burdened with a criminal record that will have far-reaching implications for you.
It’s important to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney who can defend you against your charges and help you attain a positive outcome. A lawyer who knows their way around a Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court can give you sound advice and will possibly be able to get the charges against you dismissed.
If, for example, you are charged with an offense such as harassment, your attorney will examine defenses such as whether It is possible that a person with a grudge has concocted a story or that someone has made a mistake resulting in unfair claims against you. Your attorney will be able to develop an effective defense strategy for you.
For more information on Bucks County Magisterial District Courts
To find information about your case