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Montgomery County Courthouse
2 E. Airy Street, Norristown, PA | Court of Common Pleas, 38th Judicial District
The Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown is home to the Court of Common Pleas, where criminal cases go after they leave the district courts.
This guide covers department contacts, juror parking, how criminal cases move through the court, direct bail payment rules and how the courthouse differs from the county jail.
Center City Bail Bonds is a private company and does not operate from the courthouse.
Court of Common PleasClerk of CourtsNorristown
Inside the Norristown Courthouse
The courthouse sits in downtown Norristown, the county seat. It houses the Court of Common Pleas of the 38th Judicial District along with offices such as the Clerk of Courts, Court Administration and the Public Defender.
Most criminal cases start at one of the county's 29 Magisterial District Courts. Felony and misdemeanor cases that are held for court then move here for formal arraignment, pretrial hearings, trial and sentencing.
Contact & Visiting Information
Visitor Address
Courthouse
- 2 E. Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19401
- Mailing: P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404-0311
Departments
Phone Lines
- Court Administration: 610-278-3224
- Clerk of Courts: 610-278-3346
- County main line: 610-278-3000
Jurors
Juror Parking
- Jurors must park in the Main Street Garage
- 20 E. Main Street, Norristown, PA
Hours differ by department. The Clerk of Courts accepts bail payments weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the county's general offices list 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Call the department before you visit.
Official sources:Official Courthouse Page(opens in a new tab)Clerk of Courts(opens in a new tab)
Criminal Court Proceedings
Preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings usually happen at a Magisterial District Court, not automatically at the courthouse. A typical adult case then follows these stages:
- 1Preliminary arraignment before a district judge, where bail is typically set.
- 2Preliminary hearing at the district court on whether the case is held for court.
- 3Formal arraignment in the Court of Common Pleas.
- 4Pretrial conferences and motions, then a plea, bench trial or jury trial.
- 5Sentencing, if there is a conviction.
- 6Post-sentence motions and appeals, which go to the Pennsylvania Superior Court.
Bail & Release Information
Whether someone is eligible for bail, and on what conditions, is decided by the judge. The defense can ask the court to change bail. Whoever posts bail is relying on the defendant attending every court date.
Court-ordered monetary bail is set by the court. Direct cash payment goes to the county under its official payment rules. A commercial surety premium, where legally available, is a separate private-company fee, not a county cash-bail payment. Financing, collateral and any other fees depend on separately agreed terms.
- Clerk of Courts: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays.
- In-person payments are cash only.
- A valid photo ID is required, and the payer must be at least 18.
- After hours, cash bail for a person held at Montgomery County Correctional Facility may be paid at that facility.
- Wire transfers can take one to two business days or longer.
No calculator estimate is shown while Center City’s Montgomery County service authorization and commercial terms remain unconfirmed. Confirm the required cash amount and any court-authorized deposit directly with the Clerk of Courts. No premium, financing or collateral quote is provided here; payment does not guarantee release.
Official sources:County Bail Instructions(opens in a new tab)
Court Records & Docket Searches
Public criminal dockets are searchable on the Pennsylvania UJS portal. The Clerk of Courts handles requests for copies of Common Pleas criminal records. Always confirm hearing details with the court.
- Search by name, docket number or police incident number.
- Restricted, sealed and juvenile records are not released through public search.
Courthouse Versus County Jail
Court Building
Montgomery County Courthouse
2 E. Airy Street, Norristown. Holds hearings. Its Plaza-level detention area is temporary holding for people waiting for court that day, not a county jail.
County Jail
Montgomery County Correctional Facility
60 Eagleville Road, Eagleville. Where adults are held before trial or while serving county sentences.
Getting to the Courthouse
The courthouse is at 2 E. Airy Street in downtown Norristown. The county's only published parking instruction is for jurors, who must use the Main Street Garage at 20 E. Main Street. Check parking and transit options with their operators before you travel.
Courthouse FAQs
Answers about visiting and dealing with the Norristown courthouse.
2 E. Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19401.
The Court of Common Pleas of the 38th Judicial District, which handles criminal cases held for court as well as civil, family and orphans' court matters.
The county says jurors must park in the Main Street Garage at 20 E. Main Street, Norristown. It does not publish parking rules for other visitors.
The Clerk of Courts bail line, 610-278-3346. For court operations and hearing lists, contact Court Administration.
Yes. The Clerk of Courts accepts cash bail weekdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., excluding holidays. You need a photo ID and must be at least 18.
No. The county says cash is the only form of payment accepted for in-person bail. Wire transfers are accepted separately and may take one to two business days to complete; processing can take longer if the office or banks are closed for a holiday.
Usually not. Preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings normally take place at a Magisterial District Court.
Search the UJS portal by name or docket number and confirm the date with the court. Common Pleas criminal dockets begin with CP-46-CR.
Release happens at the facility holding the person after it processes the paperwork. Holds or detainers from other cases can delay it.
No. It has temporary holding cells for people waiting for court. The county jail is the Correctional Facility at 60 Eagleville Road, Eagleville.
The judge can issue a bench warrant and forfeit bail. Call the court and your attorney as soon as possible.
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