The seventeen magisterial district judges and two centralized magisterial district courts in Berks County are under the supervision and administrative control of the President Judge. Each magisterial district judge is elected to serve within his/her magisterial district for a six-year term. The Berks County Central Arraignment Court and Reading Central Court are the two centralized courts established within the minor judiciary system. The Berks County Central Arraignment Court, located on the 1st floor of the Berks County Courthouse, serves as an after-hours emergency duty court insuring the availability of at least one issuing authority in the Twenty-third Judicial District. The Reading Central Court, also located on the 1st floor of the Berks County Courthouse, was established to efficiently dispose of preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases filed in any of the five magisterial districts within the City of Reading.

Magisterial district judges are included in Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. Magisterial district judges have jurisdiction over civil claims where the disputed amount is less than $12,000.00, landlord/tenant disputes, summary offenses (traffic and non-traffic offenses), and hold preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony cases. They grant emergency relief under the Protection From Abuse Act and the Older Adult Protective Service Act. Additionally, magisterial district judges issue arrest warrants, conduct preliminary arraignments, set and accept bail, issue search warrants, and perform marriage ceremonies.

Magisterial district courts are connected to the statewide-automated Magisterial District Judge System, which came online in 1992. This records management system assists the courts in case processing and financial accounting.

Special Courts Administration provides administrative support to the magisterial district judges by preparing the Magisterial District Judge System's operating budget, administering facility and equipment needs, assisting in personnel management, providing staff training and professional development, and assisting with case management.

By clicking on the appropriate link above, you may access a map of Berks County ("County Map") or the City of Reading ("City Map"), which shows the physical areas of the magisterial districts within Berks County. By clicking on "MDJ Listing", you will find information specific to each magisterial district court.    For information regarding boundaries and magisterial district court offices throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, please click the following link AOPC Public Locator Map (arcgis.com) 

Forms for filing actions in the district courts can be found on the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's web site at Forms | Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (pacourts.us)