Welcome To Courts Office

Welcome To Courts Office

23rd Judicial District of PennsylvaniaCoat of Arms

Mission Statement

The 23rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania, located in the County of Berks, shall administer justice according to the law equally to all people, while providing independent and accessible forums for the fair and prompt resolution of disputes.

Overview

The Courts of Common Pleas are the general trial courts of Pennsylvania. They are organized into 60 judicial districts. Most districts follow the geographic boundaries of counties, but seven of the districts are comprised of two counties. Each district has from one to 93 judges and has a president judge and a court administrator. 

Court Offices

Office of Court Administration

Provide administrative services and technical assistance to Court of Common Pleas judges and magisterial district judges and more.

Adult Probation & Parole Office

Dedicated to providing supervision & services aimed at rehabilitating the offender by utilizing evidence-based practices and data.

Court Reporters

Stenographically record all proceedings presided over by the Court of Common Pleas Judges and provide verbatim transcripts of proceedings as requested.

Domestic Relations

Establish, modify and enforce orders of support and provide support collection services for children and families in an effective and efficient manner.

Family Court

Family Court includes Custody, Divorce and Protection from Abuse cases.

Jury Services

Supporting the right of defendants to receive an impartial trial.

Juvenile Probation Office

An arm of the Juvenile Court of the 23rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania. 

Law Library

Serving the Judges, County personnel, and ​members of the bar and as an informational resource​ for the public.

Magisterial District Judges

Seventeen magisterial district judges and two centralized magisterial district courts are under the supervision and administrative control of the President Judge.

Treatment Courts

Drug, DUI, Mental Health, and Veterans Treatment Courts are established to promote public safety, individual responsibility, and reduction of recidivism.

Court Schedules and Information

General Information and Resources

Informational Documents

Berks County Court implemented a mandatory electronic notification system designed to send out automatic electronic reminders to defendants of upcoming criminal court dates.  Effective July 1, 2019, these reminders will be sent via text message or email as a courtesy and will not be considered official notice of any upcoming court date.  The Administrative Order establishing this program can be found here.  The Berks County Notification Intake Form is to be completed at the time of arraignment or waiver of arraignment. Texts will come from the following number:
    484-339-0003

Emails will come from Berkscourtalert@countyofberks.com.

Featured Links

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) complies with Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which provides that “no qualified individual with a disability shall, by reason of such disability, be excluded from participation in or be denied the benefits of the services, programs, or activities of a public entity, or be subjected to discrimination by any such entity”.
All transcripts of official court proceedings shall be prepared only upon written authorization or order of Court. No transcript of any official court proceeding may be prepared without the written consent of the Common Pleas Court judge assigned to the respective case. In the event that the assigned judge cannot be contacted by all exhaustive means, the authorization must be made by the respective Administrative Judge or the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas.
The mission of the Berks County Bar Association is to support the legal profession by promoting professional excellence, encouraging collegiality and exercising advocacy on its behalf. The Association also strives to support the community by publishing the Berks County Law Journal, providing educational programs for the public, assuring access to justice and protecting the integrity of the legal system in Berks County.

How To Pay Court Fines

Follow the link below to learn more about how to pay your fines and cost in Berks County.

Understanding the Courts

Learn how the Pennsylvania Courts operate and the Judicial branch of government from the Minor Courts up to the Supreme Court.

Public access to criminal dockets

The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal provides the public with access to various aspects of court information and calendar events.