Judge of Municipal Court

The Philadelphia Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction, made up of 27 judges. It is organized into three divisions:

1. The Criminal Division is responsible for trying adult criminal cases carrying a maximum sentence of incarceration of five (5) years or less. The Municipal Court also has initial jurisdiction in processing every criminal arrest in Philadelphia and conducts misdemeanor trials and preliminary hearings for all felony cases. 

2. The Civil Division is the jurisdiction for civil cases where the amount in controversy is $12,000 or less for Small Claims; unlimited dollar amount for Landlord and Tenant Cases and $15,000 in real estate and school tax cases.

3. The Traffic Division adjudicates traffic violations.

Learn more on the Philadelphia Courts website.

Make sure your vote is informed. The Philadelphia Bar Association Judicial Commission makes nonpartisan recommendations on candidates' ability, integrity, and judgment. See those recommendations here.

Candidates for Election

Voters will be told to choose not more than four.

• Amanda Davidson (Democratic)
• Sherrie Cohen (Democratic)
• Cortez Patton (Democratic)
• Michael Parkinson (Democratic)

Candidates for Retention

After serving initial 6-year terms, jurists who seek reelection do so through "retention elections." Retention is designed to keep judges out of the "political fray" while at the same time holding them accountable to the voters. 

Voters are asked to vote "yes" or "no" on whether to reelect each judge seeking retention. The names of the candidates are listed on a separate area of the ballot, apart from individuals running for executive and legislative offices. No political affiliation is listed for retention candidates. (Description provided by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.)

• David Conroy
• Jacquelyn Frazier-Lyde
• Henry Lewandowski
• Wendy Pew
• T. Francis Shields