President Judge Louis J. Presenza, a respected jurist in this most progressive court for over 16 years, was first elected President Judge by his peers in January 1999. Universally viewed within the legal community as a hardworking, consensus-building, fair jurist, Judge Presenza was the previous supervising judge for the criminal division where he instituted the first Treatment Court in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Having been elected to a second five-year term in January 2004, Judge Presenza continues in the leadership role overseeing the operation of the Philadelphia Municipal Court. Judge Presenza's chambers are located in the Criminal Justice Center, Room 1303. He and his staff can be reached by phone at (215) 683-7200/7201 or by FAX at (215) 683-7203.

In addition to the President Judge, Municipal Court has two Supervising Judges. Judge Ronald B. Merriweather has been appointed to supervise the Criminal Division and Judge Bradley K. Moss has been appointed to handle all matters related to the supervision of the Civil Division.

Civil Court Administration is located in Suite 540, 34 South 11th Street. The Civil Deputy Court Administrator, Patricia R. McDermott can be reached by phone at (215) 686-2910 and FAX at (215) 569-9254. Criminal Court Administration is located in the Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street, Suite 208. The Criminal Deputy Court Administrator, Kathleen M. Rapone, can be reached by phone at (215) 683-7290 and FAX at (215) 683-7293.

As part of the First Judicial District, an Automated Answering System can guide you through the Criminal and Civil Divisions of the Court and their many departments. This answering system can be reached by dialing (215) 686-7000 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Philadelphia Municipal Court is a court of limited jurisdiction with 25 law-trained Judges, and as such is responsible for trying criminal offenses carrying maximum sentences of incarceration of five years or less, civil cases where the amount in controversy is $10,000 or less for Small Claims; unlimited dollar amounts in Landlord and Tenant cases; and $15,000 in real estate and school tax cases. Municipal Court has initial jurisdiction in processing every adult criminal arrest in Philadelphia, and conducts preliminary hearings for most adult felony cases. Because, by statute, an individual does not have the right to a jury trial in Municipal Court, cases may be appealed to the Court of Common Pleas for a trial de novo. The current appeal rate averages approximately 3% or less. The Philadelphia Municipal Court has experienced many changes since its inception. The Court continues its growth towards its goal of excellence in providing timely and equal justice to all persons who have contact with the Court.

Many programs are offered to the community, which enhance the Court's operational efficiency while preserving its accessibility to the people. The court-annexed mediation program was one of the first established in the country, in 1969, for the resolution of landlord & tenant cases and small claims. The tax court program generates revenue for the city of Philadelphia through its collection enforcement efforts. Diversion programs are offered to first-time summary offenders to expedite certain summary offenses. The Court's educational programs for its judges have been recognized on the national level. Its participation in justice training programs has maintained it as one of the most innovative courts in the country.

As a further example of its innovative initiative, the Philadelphia Municipal Court has established the Philadelphia Treatment Court, the first of its kind in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It represents a collaborative effort with the Court of Common Pleas, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, the Defender Association of Philadelphia, the Health Department, the Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia Prison System. In addressing the drug involvement of the criminal justice population it is premised on the notion that the courts need to deal with some of the root cases of criminal activity. The Treatment Court is designed as an alternative to and/or supplement to normal case processing to provide treatment to substance abusing defendants. The Treatment Court incorporates the dual aim of reducing a defendant's involvement in crime and their return to the criminal caseload and of increasing the chances that they can function more productively as citizens. The Treatment Court model represents a new treatment structure which draws on a network of treatment services to respond to the clinically determined needs of participants and features a new and central role for the Treatment Court Judge. This court serves as a hub for delivery of treatment and other supportive services to more fully address the range of treatment, health, housing, literacy, educational, and other social service needs presented by drug-involved defendants.

The Municipal Court complies with the Americans With Disabilities Act, which requires that all court services and facilities be accessible to persons with disabilities on an equal basis to those without disabilities. if you have a disability, and require reasonable accommodations to file a claim, participate in a Municipal Court proceeding, or use any service provided by the court, please call (215) 686-7986. Requests for reasonable accommodations must be made at least three business days before any hearing, or within three business days after service (delivery) of the notice of hearing, whichever is later.