Mifflin County
Formed in 1789 from sections of Cumberland and Northumberland Counties, Mifflin County is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was named for Thomas Mifflin, Pennsylvania's first governor. Mifflin County boasts an estimated population of almost 46,000, and Lewiston is its county seat.
The trial court system of Mifflin County consists of a court of common pleas, an orphans' court, and magisterial district courts. The Mifflin County Court of Common Pleas, which has the broadest county jurisdiction, exercises original jurisdiction over all civil and criminal cases. It is composed of three divisions, namely:
- The Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Court (Criminal) Division
- The Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary (Civil) Division
- The Mifflin County Orphans' Court
The Common Pleas Court hears cases relating to felonies, lesser-included offenses, domestic relations, juvenile issues, adoptions, some administrative agency appeals, and general civil claims without financial limits. The Mifflin County Orphans' Court handles all probate matters, including wills, trusts, parental rights termination, guardianships, and conservatorships.
The Magisterial District Court Judges in Mifflin County have limited jurisdiction and hear cases relating to Driving Under the Influence (DUI), initial felony hearings, and municipal ordinance violations. They also oversee summary offenses suits, third-degree misdemeanors, landlord-tenant disputes, and civil claims with financial limits. State-filed actions are, however, excluded from their jurisdiction.
Court records in Mifflin County detail court case activities in the county and include such documents as docket sheets, calendars, case transcripts, disposition sheets, and affidavits. These records have varying forms and types, including photographs, microfilms, audio/video recordings, paper, and digital files. Mifflin County residents can access different court records, including:
- Civil records
- Criminal records
- Domestic relations records
- Probate records
In Mifflin County, the Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts and the Clerk of the Orphans' Court are the court records custodians in the county. Under state legislation, Mifflin County court records are open records, and the public has the right to view and make copies of non-confidential records. Requesters can conduct free case lookups online through public terminals at the County Courthouse or the state-maintained case search service. Detailed court records can be accessed via walk-in visits to the Clerk of Courts' Office or the courthouses where the cases were filed.
