Courts

Christina L. Zook
District Court Administrator
czook@perryco.org

Deputy Court Administrator
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Phone: 717-582-5143, option 5
Fax: 717-582-5144

The office of the District Court Administrator was created in 1974 to reduce the burden of administrative duties of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas. The District Court Administrator’s Office provides technical assistance and administrative support to Magisterial District Courts as well as the various departments of the Court of Common Pleas. Other court business that involves this office includes personnel management, budget, jury management, scheduling, public relations, and liaison functions with various groups and agencies.

Magisterial District Judges

Magisterial District Court is the first level of judicial authority in Pennsylvania and is the court where most people experience the judicial system for the first time. Magisterial District Judges handle all traffic cases, other minor criminal cases and civil cases involving amounts up to $12,000. Magisterial District Judges also set bail and conduct preliminary hearings in misdemeanor and felony criminal cases to determine if the cases should be dismissed or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for further proceedings. There are three Magisterial District Judges located in offices throughout Perry County. They are elected to six-year terms and are employees of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.