Each court serves a unique function. At the lowest level, eight district magistrates, or justices, serve Cumberland County. They are elected and serve six-year terms. In criminal cases, they set bail, handle preliminary arraignments and hold preliminary hearings to determine if there is sufficient evidence to refer the cases to the court of common pleas. They also issue search and arrest warrants and handle ordinance violations and various summary offenses such as violations of the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and public drunkenness.
Ordinances are laws passed by local governments and address issues such as noise and weeds.
Summary offenses are minor criminal offenses for which the maximum penalty is less than three months in jail. Cumberland County's district justice system is administered by Special Court Administrator Ronald Johnson and headed by President Judge George Hoffer. Mt. Holly Springs and the townships of Middlesex, Cooke, Dickinson and South Middleton. Upper Allen and Monroe townships and Mechanicsburg. The second court level is handled by five elected judges in county court.