Located in the Chester County Justice Center, the Chester County Court Reporters is responsible for providing a word for word account of municipal and common pleas court proceedings. It is also responsible for maintaining all exhibits admitted into those proceedings, and it must provide a record of those proceedings upon request. William Handy is the chief court reporter.
Covering the muncipalities of West Goshen, Westtown and Thornbury Townships, Judge William D. Kraut exercises jurisdiction over traffic violations, summary criminal cases, preliminary felony and misdemeanor cases, civil cases, small claims cases up to $8,000, truancy and Township ordinance violations. District Court 15-2-03 is headquartered in the Government Services Center on Westtown Road.
Chester County Contracts and Purchasing is housed in the Historic Courthouse, suite 145. The office of contracts and purchasing manages all procurement for the county. This includes managing and overseeing contract bids for county construction projects as well as purchasing land for the county. The department basically manages all contracts private institutions have with the county.
Patricia Norwood-Foden oversees the Chester County Court Administration, which is responsible for all non-judicial functions of the court. The administration manages personnel, budgets, scheduling and information systems. It is also responsible for public information, jury management and interacting with various groups and agencies.
Chester County District Court 15-2-05 is responsible for processing motor vehicle violations, summary offenses and local ordinance violations. Landlord-tenant matters and civil claims that do not exceed $8,000 are also processed. Criminal cases are filed at the appropriate District Court for arraignments and preliminary hearings. The judge for District 15-2-05 is Chester F. Darlington. The Court covers the Borough of Malvern and the townships of Willistown, East Goshen and East Whiteland.
The Clerk of Orphans' Court located in the Chester County Justice Center, Suite 2200, accepts fillings for adoptions, guardians of minors and incapacitated persons. This office is are also responsible for issuing marriage licenses. The Clerk of the Orphans' Court is Paula Gowen.
District Judge Thomas P. Caulfield, located in Forest Hills, serves Edgewood Borough, Forest Hills, Churchill and Wilkins Township. Traffic tickets, civil complaints, drunk driving cases and retail theft cases all are handled at this court level for these municipalities.