Perry County Court of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania's county trial courts are Courts of Common Pleas. Perry County is in Pennsylvania's 41st Judicial District, which it shares administratively with Juniata County. The Perry County Court of Common Pleas is the trial court of general jurisdiction for the county. It handles the county's larger civil cases, criminal cases after preliminary proceedings, family matters, divorce, custody, protection-from-abuse cases, and Orphans' Court matters.
The county's official Perry County Courts page identifies the District Court Administrator office as the local court-administration contact. Christina L. Zook is District Court Administrator, email czook@perryco.org, phone 717-582-5143 option 5, fax 717-582-5144, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. That office handles administrative functions, not clerk copy requests for every case type.
Perry County Courthouse
2 East Main Street
New Bloomfield, PA 17068
District Court Administrator: Christina L. Zook
717-582-5143 option 5
Fax: 717-582-5144
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Perry County Trial and MDJ Courts
The Court of Common Pleas is the primary trial court, while Perry County's three Magisterial District Judges serve as the first level of judicial authority for many residents. MDJs hear traffic cases and minor criminal matters, handle civil claims up to $12,000, set bail, and conduct preliminary hearings to decide whether misdemeanor and felony charges move to Common Pleas.
| Court | Type | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Court of Common Pleas | Primary trial court | 2 East Main Street, New Bloomfield, PA 17068 | 717-582-5143 option 5 |
| 41-3-03, Hon. Richard C. Gibney | Magisterial District Court | 3351 Susquehanna Trail, Duncannon, PA 17020 | 717-834-4990 |
| 41-3-04, Hon. Fredrick Cabell Jr. | Magisterial District Court | 133 South Fifth Street, Newport, PA 17074 | 717-567-6365 |
| 41-3-05, Hon. Traci D. Wilt | Magisterial District Court | 3553 Shermans Valley Road, Loysville, PA 17047 | 717-789-4117 |
Note: The 41st Judicial District also includes Juniata County, but the MDJ rows above are the Perry County offices captured in the official research.
Common Pleas vs MDJ Court
Perry County court records depend on the level of court that created the case. A traffic citation, landlord-tenant claim, or preliminary criminal matter may begin at a Magisterial District Court. A larger civil case, divorce, custody case, PFA matter, or criminal case held for court moves through the Court of Common Pleas and the correct county clerk office.
| Feature | Court of Common Pleas | Magisterial District Court |
|---|---|---|
| Civil work | Larger civil cases, judgments, liens, divorce, custody, PFA, appeals from MDJ civil cases | Civil claims up to $12,000 and landlord-tenant matters |
| Criminal work | Misdemeanor and felony cases after preliminary proceedings, pleas, trials, sentencing, appeals | Minor criminal matters, preliminary arraignments, bail, preliminary hearings |
| Traffic work | Appeals or related criminal matters when moved higher | Traffic cases and summary proceedings |
| Clerk office | Prothonotary, Clerk of Courts, or Orphans' Court depending on case type | MDJ office and statewide docket sheets |
Perry County Case Flow
Criminal cases often begin before an MDJ, then move to Common Pleas if held for court. Civil cases may start in MDJ court when the claim is within the minor civil limit, but larger civil suits and many family matters begin directly in Common Pleas. Once a matter reaches Common Pleas, the record office depends on the case type.
Criminal flow: Complaint or arrest › MDJ preliminary arraignment and bail › preliminary hearing › held for court › Common Pleas arraignment, motions, plea or trial › sentencing › appeal.
Civil and family flow: Complaint or petition filed › service and response › motions or hearings › order, judgment, decree, or settlement › appeal where allowed.
Probate flow: Estate or guardianship petition › will or supporting papers filed › letters, notices, inventory, accounting, or decree › distribution or continued supervision.
Perry County Court Record Offices
Perry County uses a split clerk structure. The Perry County Prothonotary is the civil clerk and keeper of civil records. The Prothonotary handles civil suits, custody, divorce, District Justice appeals, driver's license suspension appeals, judgments, mechanic liens, name changes, PFA records, and federal or state tax liens. Its office is at 2 East Main Street, PO Box 325, New Bloomfield, PA 17068, phone 717-582-2131, fax 717-582-5167, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
The Clerk of Courts is the criminal and juvenile records office and is also held by Zoe Burd. That office handles criminal and juvenile records, bail, bench warrants, prison commitments, summary appeals, appellate processing, costs, fines, and private detective licensing. Orphans' Court / Register and Recorder functions cover marriage, estates, guardianship, adoption, and birth or death record functions where historically held or described by the office.
Perry County Court Administration
The District Court Administrator office was created in 1974 to reduce administrative burdens on Common Pleas judges. In Perry County, the office provides technical assistance and administrative support to Magisterial District Courts and Common Pleas departments. It also manages personnel, budget support, jury management, scheduling, public relations, and court liaison functions.
The court page links ADA Policy Forms, the UJS Non-Discrimination Policy, Language Access Plan, Language Access Complaint, and interpreter request forms for criminal, civil, family, and MDJ matters. It also links a Dress Code document. Those resources are useful for people attending hearings, requesting interpretation, asking about accessibility, or preparing to visit court in New Bloomfield.
Search Perry County Common Pleas Records
The main online search channel is Pennsylvania UJS Case Search. It is the statewide public portal for Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court docket sheets. Searchers can usually narrow by court type, county, participant name, docket number, police incident number, complaint number, attorney, or organization depending on the search mode.
UJS docket sheets generally show docket number, court, caption, filing date, case status, judge or judicial officer when public, parties, attorneys, docket entries, charges for criminal or traffic cases, hearing events, payments, and dispositions. Full filings are not uniformly downloadable from public search. If a docket exists online but the document image does not, the next step is a clerk request, not a new internet search.
Visit Perry County Courthouse
The primary courthouse address is 2 East Main Street, New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania 17068. The clerk pages use the mailing format 2 East Main Street, PO Box 325, New Bloomfield, PA 17068 for the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts. Major access corridors include US 22/322 along the Susquehanna side of the county, PA 34 through New Bloomfield, and PA 274 across the county.
Official county research did not identify detailed parking rates, transit stops, drop-off zones, locker policy, or a prohibited-items list. Visitors should confirm parking, entry, dress code, interpreter needs, and accessibility questions with the court or relevant clerk before a hearing or filing deadline. Court administration can handle administrative questions, but case-file copies and filing questions should go to the office that keeps the record.