Judicial Plan Eliminates One Chesco Magistrate, Reorganizes Others

Just as legislative districts are shuffled after the census, so are judicial districts, and a plan for Chester County would completely eliminate one magistrate and result in changes for others.

Magisterial District 15-2-05, which is located in Malvern and covers East Goshen Township, East Whiteland Wards 3, 4, 5 and 6, Malvern Borough and Willistown Township, will be eliminated completely as per the draft plan. A district that currently covers Tredyffrin will pick up East Goshen, Willistown and Malvern, while the other magisterial district covering Tredyffrin will pick up the East Whiteland wards.

Closer to home, Phoenixville’s district court would also see some shuffling in the draft plan. East Pikeland Township is currently in , which has its office at 347 Bridge St. in Phoenixville, but under the draft plan that will be moved to a different district and lumped with East Coventry, East Nantmeal, East Vincent, North Coventry, Spring City, Warwick and West Vincent.

Other municipalities in the county will see similar shifts, with a Coatesville voting ward, Birmingham Township and Sadsbury Township listed as moving to different judicial districts.

Attached to the plan is a letter from Chester F. Darlington, who currently serves as the magistrate in the district set to be eliminated under the plan. Darlington states in the letter, which is addressed to Chester County President Judge James P. MacElree II, that he will retire after 24 years on the bench.

In the letter, Darlington writes that he met with Chester County Court Administrator Patricia Norwood-Foden after the general election to discuss redistricting.

The letter says that Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald Castille mandated President Judges in the Commonwealth to reduce 10 percent of the district courts across Pennsylvania.

Darlington wrote that Chester County is one of the fastest growing counties in the state, stating that “an argument could surely be made to redistrict but keep all of our district courts when compared to neighboring counties such as Delaware County.”

However, Darlington wrote that he would retired after his commission expires in 2014 as it would “be in the best interest of all.”

Darlington has served for four terms, and will not seek re-election after 24 years on the bench.

“Eliminating District Court 15-2-05 as it is now will save the state and county money, while meeting the Chief Justice’s directive,” Darlington’s letter states. “I support the plan being submitted and recommend it be accepted. I do not believe it will impact on the present quality of district court services offered by Chester County.”

A judicial re-establishment review process looks at population, case load, case types, case filings and geographical location of each district, according to a document released by Chester County Court of Common Pleas.

The re-establishment plan is still in draft stage and the comment period is open until March 6. All comments on the draft plan must be submitted in writing. For more information on commenting or to see the re-establishment plan in its entirety, visit the county’s website.