AVAILABLE 24/7
Magisterial District Court 38‑1‑16
Norristown, Montgomery County, PA | 38th Judicial District | 610-279-6226
Magisterial District Court 38-1-16, at 601 DeKalb Street, Suite 200 in Norristown, serves part of the Municipality of Norristown. Find court contact details, hours, hearing resources and local bail information.
Center City Bail Bonds is a private company. It does not operate this court, has no office there and is not affiliated with Montgomery County or the Pennsylvania courts.
Court 38-1-16Norristown38th Judicial District
About District Court 38-1-16
Magisterial District Court 38-1-16 is one of 29 district courts in Montgomery County, part of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System. It serves part of the Municipality of Norristown from Suite 200 at 601 DeKalb Street, one floor below Court 38-1-15 in Suite 300. It is not the main Montgomery County Courthouse.
District courts handle preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings in criminal cases, summary offenses, traffic citations, local ordinance violations and smaller civil claims such as landlord-tenant disputes. Most felony and misdemeanor cases do not end here: when charges are held for court, the case moves to the Court of Common Pleas in Norristown.
Court Number
38-1-16
Use this number when calling the court or searching dockets.
Location
Norristown
601 DeKalb Street, Suite 200, Norristown, PA 19401
Judicial District
38th District
Montgomery County's judicial district.
Service Area
Norristown (part)
Municipality of Norristown (part)
Court Contact & Office Hours
These details come from the county's official district court list, effective January 5, 2026. District courts keep business hours and are not open around the clock.
Office Address
Court 38-1-16
- 601 DeKalb Street, Suite 200
- Norristown, PA 19401
Court Contact
Phone, Fax & Email
- Primary Telephone
- 610-279-6226
- Secondary Telephone
- 610-279-9255
- Fax
- 610-279-2423
- Official Court Email
- DC38116@montgomerycountypa.gov
Hours
Weekdays
- Office hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM
- Public hours: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
Check holiday closings, hearing times and whether a hearing is in person or by video with the court before you travel. Hours can change.
Official sources:County District Court List (Jan. 5, 2026)(opens in a new tab)Magisterial District Courts(opens in a new tab)
Areas Served by Magisterial District Court 38-1-16
The Municipality of Norristown is split among three district courts in the same building at 601 DeKalb Street: 38-1-15 (Suite 300), 38-1-16 (Suite 200) and 38-2-09 (Suite 100). The county's court lists still call it "Norristown Borough."
The county's district-boundary page assigns Norristown voting districts 2-3, 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3 to Court 38-1-16. Recheck precinct detail before relying on it; that page may predate the 2026 list.
This Court
38-1-16, Suite 200
Norristown voting districts 2-3, 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3 (county boundary page).
Same Building
38-1-15, Suite 300
Norristown voting districts 1-1, 1-2, 1-3 and 2-1.
Same Building
38-2-09, Suite 100
Norristown voting districts 2-2, 3-1, 3-2 and 3-3.
Check the district number and suite on your docket or court notice (MJ-38116 for this court). Going to the wrong suite in the building can make you late for a hearing.
Official sources:County District Court List (Jan. 5, 2026)(opens in a new tab)County District Boundaries Page(opens in a new tab)
Criminal Court Proceedings
Pennsylvania criminal cases usually begin at a district court. Schedules, hearing formats and judicial decisions vary from case to case.
- 1Arrest and complaint: police file a criminal complaint, or a summons is mailed for some lower-level charges.
- 2Preliminary arraignment: the defendant is told the charges and rights, often by video and sometimes before an on-call issuing authority after hours.
- 3Initial bail decision: the issuing authority decides release conditions. Monetary bail or immediate release is never guaranteed.
- 4Preliminary hearing: usually held at Court 38-1-16. The judge decides whether the prosecution has shown enough evidence to hold the charges for court.
- 5Held for court: the case moves to the Court of Common Pleas in Norristown for formal arraignment, pretrial matters and trial.
Bail Procedures at Magisterial District Court 38-1-16
Bail is a judicial decision based on the charges, the person's history, ties to the community and the risk of missing court. Pennsylvania options include release on recognizance, unsecured bail (no money paid up front) and monetary bail, which may be posted in cash or through a surety where the law allows. Judges can add conditions such as no-contact orders or reporting requirements, and can later change bail on request.
For arrests in this part of Norristown, the preliminary arraignment may be by video or before an on-call issuing authority after hours. Setting bail is the court's role; paying it is a separate step. Montgomery County publishes direct-payment rules through the Clerk of Courts on weekdays and at the correctional facility after hours when the person is held there. Do not assume cash bail can be paid at the district court office.
After release, the defendant must attend every hearing and follow every condition. Missing court can lead to a bench warrant and forfeited bail.
Court Records & Docket Information
District court dockets are public through the Pennsylvania UJS portal. Search by name or docket number; dockets from Court 38-1-16 begin with MJ-38116.
- A docket is not an inmate locator. It does not show whether someone is in custody now.
- Hearing dates can change. Confirm with the court office named on the docket.
- Sealed, juvenile and some other records are restricted and do not appear in public search.
- Ask court staff about procedure for a specific case; they cannot give legal advice.
Directions to District Court 38-1-16
Court 38-1-16 is in Suite 200 at 601 DeKalb Street, Norristown. Suite 300 is Court 38-1-15 and Suite 100 is Court 38-2-09. The main courthouse is a separate building at 2 E. Airy Street.
We have not verified parking arrangements at this office, so none are listed. Check posted signs on arrival and allow extra time.
Court Address
District Court 38-1-16
- 601 DeKalb Street, Suite 200
- Norristown, PA 19401
- Phone: 610-279-6226
Related Courts & Local Resources
Courthouses Directory
Search all 29 Montgomery County district courts.
Montgomery County Courthouse
Court of Common Pleas, Clerk of Courts and bail payment details.
Montgomery County Bail Bonds
County overview, jail information and bail steps.
Correctional Facility
The county's adult jail in Eagleville.
UJS Case Search
Official statewide docket search.
Magisterial District Courts
County district court instructions and forms.
District Court 38-1-16 FAQs
Short answers about Magisterial District Court 38-1-16.
601 DeKalb Street, Suite 200, Norristown, PA 19401.
The primary phone is 610-279-6226. The county also publishes 610-279-9255. The fax is 610-279-2423, and the email is DC38116@montgomerycountypa.gov.
Voting districts 2-3, 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3, according to the county boundary page. Not the whole municipality.
Same building, different suite (200 vs 300), phone numbers and voting districts.
Yes. Court 38-2-09 is in Suite 100.
Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM and public hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM on weekdays.
Your docket or court notice will name the district; docket numbers from this court begin with MJ-38116.
Yes, as an issuing authority. Release, any amount and any conditions are judicial decisions and are never guaranteed.
The county lists the Clerk of Courts at 2 E. Airy Street on weekdays and the correctional facility after hours when the person is held there.
Call the Montgomery County Correctional Facility at 610-635-7100. A court docket shows the case, not custody status. Our Montgomery County jails guide lists every county facility.
No. It is a district court office. The Court of Common Pleas is at the courthouse on 2 E. Airy Street.
The court can issue a bench warrant and bail may be forfeited. Contact the court right away.
Court Location & Directions
Magisterial District Court 38-1-16 is a court facility. Center City Bail Bonds is a private company with no office at this building.
Magisterial District Court 38-1-16
601 DeKalb Street, Suite 200
Norristown, PA 19401
Directions open in Google Maps even if the embedded map below does not load.
Visit Our Philadelphia Office
Center City Bail Bonds
1238 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
24/7 bail assistance