Altoona County Court

Altoona County Court cases in Blair County, Altoona, PA

Blair County Magisterial District Court in Altoona, PA, is a Pennsylvania Magisterial District Court (limited-jurisdiction minor trial court) and the first level of the Unified Judicial System. Within its assigned district in Blair County, it handles criminal matters at the preliminary stage (preliminary arraignments and hearings, issuing arrest and search warrants, and setting bail); summary offenses and traffic citations; and civil matters including small claims up to $12,000 and landlord-tenant cases (possession and rent), as well as local code violations. It may also issue certain emergency orders as authorized by law. Matters outside its authority proceed to the Blair County Court of Common Pleas.

Altoona County Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Altoona County Court

Blair County Magisterial District Courts are the community's first level of judicial service. They handle:

- Case filings: traffic and non-traffic citations; summary criminal offenses; civil/small claims up to $12,000; landlord-tenant (evictions/possession); municipal code and truancy matters.
- Criminal process: receiving criminal complaints, preliminary arraignments, setting/modifying bail, preliminary hearings, and issuing summonses, subpoenas, arrest and search warrants.
- Protective orders: after-hours emergency Protection From Abuse (PFA) requests; final PFAs proceed in the Court of Common Pleas.
- Hearings and outcomes: bench trials for summary offenses and civil/landlord-tenant cases; orders for fines, costs, restitution; payment processing and plans.
- Public services: scheduling, case information, and certified copies upon request.

Jury services and jury trials are not conducted in Magisterial District Court; those are handled by the Blair County Court of Common Pleas.