Magistrates (Board of)

[Record group 27]

Agency Function

Unavailable

Agency History

Office instituted by the Pennsylvania Constitution of 1874, replacing the office of alderman which was then abolished in Philadelphia. Magistrates were popularly elected to a five-year term (increased to six years in 1909) and provided with the aldermen's former criminal and civil jurisdiction (i.e., civil cases involving $100 or less). Each was empowered to select from the constables in commission in the City no more than three to perform the necessary writ service and attendance upon his court. The Magistrates' Court Act of 1927 formed the magistrates into a board and established the office of Chief Magistrate, appointed by the Governor from among the members of the Board, as the administrative head of the magistrates' courts. The Board itself met quarterly to consider matters relating to their administration of criminal justice, to receive and investigate complaints, and to provide for their rotation among different court sites. Under the Court Reorganization Act of 1968, the Board of Magistrates was abolished: its criminal responsibilites assumed by the Court of Common Pleas and its automotive law responsibilities assumed by the newly-established Traffic Court.

Archival Records

27.1 Annual Report

27.2 Board of Magistrates' Counsel, Papers (1946-1958)

27.3 Magistrate's Courts Nos. 1-27. Accounts of Fines for Cruelty to Animals (1911-1915)

27.4 Magistrate's Court No. 5. Criminal Docket. (1909-1912, 1941-1942)

27.5 Magistrate's Court No. 5. Bail Bond Docket (1938-1939)

27.6 Magistrate's Court No. 5. House of Correction Docket. (1885-1890)

27.7 Magistrate's Court No. 5. Intoxication Docket (1875-1876)

27.8 Magistrate's Court No. 5. Landlord and Tenant Docket (1885-1890)

27.9 Magistrate's Court No. 6. Warrant Register (1913-1928)

27.10 Magistrate's Court No. 6. Civil Docket (1920-1923)

27.11 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Criminal Docket (1930-1940)

27.12 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Police Docket (1933-1938)

27.13 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Hearing Lists (1950-1955)

27.14 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Fairmount Park Case Docket (1940)

27.15 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Bail Bond Docket. (1931-1955)

27.16 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Warrants (1954-1959)

27.17 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Warrant Docket (1928-1945)

27.18 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Warrant Stub Book (1933-1957)

27.19 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Civil Docket (1927-1945)

27.20 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Summonses (1954-1957)

27.21 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Summons Stub Books (1934-1958)

27.22 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Marriage Register (1935-1959)

27.23 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Returns to City Treasurer. (1933-1944)

27.24 Magistrate's Court No. 8. School Truancy Docket (1938-1939)

27.25 Magistrate's Court No. 8. Marriage Report Stubs (1930-1931)

27.25a Magistrate's Court No. 8. Copy of Charge (December 1953 - May 1959)

27.25b Magistrate's Court No. 8. Bail Bond Receipts (June 1929 - December 1933; March 1952 - November 1956)

27.26 Magistrate's Court No. 9. Marriage Record. (1880-1908)

27.27 Magistrate's Court No. 9. Receipts Summary (1884-1885)

27.28 Magistrate's Court No. 11. Criminal Docket (1952-1961)

27.29 Magistrate's Court No. 11. Bail Bond Docket (1954-1959)

27.30 Magistrate's Court No. 11. Civil Docket (1957-1962)

27.31 Magistrate's Court No. 11. Receipts Day Book (1958-1961)

27.32 Magistrate's Court No. 12. Criminal Docket (1933-1942)

27.33 Magistrate's Court No. 12. Bail Bond Docket (1931-1942)

27.34 Magistrate's Court No. 12. Civil Docket (1937-1946)

27.35 Magistrate's Court No. 12. Landlord and Tenant Docket (1940-1946)

27.36 Magistrate's Court No. 12. Receipts Ledger (1944-1950)

27.37 Magistrate's Court No. 14. Civil Docket (1881-1888)

27.38 Magistrate's Court No. 14. Landlord and Tenant Docket (1878-1897)

27.39 Magistrate's Court No. 16. Criminal Docket (1886-1902)

27.40 Magistrate's Court No. 16. Civil Docket (1881-1888)

27.41 Magistrate's Court No. 16. Landlord and Tenant Docket (1882-1902)

27.42 Magistrate's Court No. 20. Civil Docket (1895-1900)

27.43 Magistrate's Court No. 20. Landlord and Tenant Docket (1885-1908)

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Last updated on November 8, 2000