{{Short description|Court in Pennsylvania, United States}} {{Multiple issues| {{Notability|1=Companies|date=December 2022}} {{Primary sources|date=December 2022}} }} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox court | court_name = {{nowrap|Philadelphia Municipal Court}} | image = Seal of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.svg | imagesize = 150px | established = | location = Philadelphia | coordinates = | type = Partisanly elected and retained | authority = Pennsylvania Constitution | appealsto = Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas | terms = | positions = 28 | website = [http://www.courts.phila.gov/municipal/ www.courts.phila.gov] | chiefjudgetitle = President Judge | chiefjudgename = Hon. T. Francis Shields | termstart = January 2019 | termend = <!-- year term for current chief as chief ends, if applicable--> | termend2 = <!-- year term of current chief ends if applicable--> }}
The '''Philadelphia Municipal Court''' is a trial court of limited jurisdiction seated in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It has 27 judges elected by the voters of Philadelphia.<ref name='Municipal Court'>{{cite web|url=http://www.courts.phila.gov/municipal/ |title= Municipal Court |accessdate=2019-02-20| work=The Philadelphia Courts, First Judicial District of Pennsylvania }}</ref> The Municipal Court has three divisions: the Criminal Division, the Civil Division, and the Traffic Division.<ref name ='Municipal Court' /> Within the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, it serves as a substitute for the magisterial district courts that serve the rest of the Commonwealth. It is a part of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania.
The Criminal Division hears trials for misdemeanors and summary offenses.<ref name ='Municipal Court' /> It also hears preliminary matters in felony cases before they are transferred to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.<ref name ='Municipal Court' /> The Criminal Division is seated at the Justice Juanita Kidd Stout Center for Criminal Justice.<ref name ='Municipal Court' />
The Civil Division has jurisdiction over small claims, landlord tenant evictions, and civil enforcement claims by the City of Philadelphia for violations of the Philadelphia Code. The maximum principal amount allowed to be filed for in most cases is $12,000.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.courts.phila.gov/municipal/civil/|title=Municipal Court - Civil Division @ The Philadelphia Courts - First Judicial District of Pennsylvania|website=www.courts.phila.gov}}</ref> However, the City of Philadelphia may seek up to $15,000 in delinquent real estate tax debt and up to $12,500 in other delinquent taxes or utilities debt. There is also no limit for landlord tenant evictions in cases that leave the landlord with back rent and damages.<ref name ='Municipal Court' /> The Civil Division is seated at the Widener Building at 1339 Chestnut Street (adjoining One South Broad).<ref name ='Municipal Court' />
The Traffic Division of Municipal Court was established by Act 17 of 2013 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly which abolished the former Philadelphia Traffic Court and transferred its jurisdiction to the Municipal Court.<ref>{{cite web|title=Municipal Court - Traffic Division|accessdate=18 January 2015|url=http://www.courts.phila.gov/traffic/|quote=The Traffic Division of the Municipal Court adjudicates violations of the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code arising in the City of Philadelphia. The Traffic Division of Municipal Court was established by Act 17 of 2013 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, which abolished the former Philadelphia Traffic Court and transferred its jurisdiction to the Municipal Court.}}</ref> The Traffic Division is seated at the Traffic Court's former facilities at 800 Spring Garden Street, making it the only courthouse in Philadelphia outside Center City (at least by some definitions).<ref name ='Municipal Court' />
== See also == * Judiciary of Pennsylvania * Supreme Court of Pennsylvania * City court
==External links== * [http://www.courts.phila.gov/municipal/ Philadelphia Municipal Court Homepage]
==References== {{Reflist}}
Category:Government of Philadelphia Category:Pennsylvania state courts Category:Municipal courts in the United States Category:Courts and tribunals with year of establishment missing