Pennsylvania § 3321 - Establishment of community courts.
Full text of Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 3321 — Establishment of community courts., with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 3321. Establishment of community courts.
(a) General rule.--In a judicial district which establishes a community court, a person serving as a magisterial district judge at such time:
(1) may complete his term exercising the jurisdiction provided or prescribed by law and with the compensation provided by or pursuant to statute; and
(2) upon completion of his term, his office is abolished and no judicial function of the kind theretofore exercised by a magisterial district judge shall thereafter be exercised other than by the community court.
(b) Philadelphia.--If a community court is established in the City and County of Philadelphia:
(1) The judges of the Philadelphia Municipal Court shall become judges of the Community Court of Philadelphia County and their tenure shall not be otherwise affected.
(2) The office of judge of the Traffic Court of Philadelphia is abolished effective upon the establishment of the community court.
(3) No jurisdiction of the kind theretofore exercised exclusively by the municipal and traffic courts shall thereafter be exercised other than by the community court.
(Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days)
2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (a). See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law.
Traffic Court of Philadelphia. Section 22 of Act 142 of 1976 provided that, in the event of the establishment of a community court in the City and County of Philadelphia prior to the expiration of the current term of office of a judge of the Traffic Court of Philadelphia holding office on the effective date of Act 142, the status of such judge shall be determined under subsection (z) of section 16, Schedule to Article V of the Constitution of Pennsylvania, adopted April 23, 1968, and not by the provisions of section 3321(b).
References in Text. The Traffic Court of Philadelphia, referred to in subsec. (b)(2), was abolished by Joint Resolution No.2 of 2016.
Cross References. Section 3321 is referred to in sections 1102, 3131 of this title.
Source: official Pennsylvania text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania § 3321
What does Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 3321 cover?
Section 3321 ("Establishment of community courts.") is part of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, the codified statutory law of Pennsylvania. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Pennsylvania § 3321?
A common citation format is "Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 3321" (Pennsylvania). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Pennsylvania law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Pennsylvania official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
How does Pennsylvania § 3321 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Pennsylvania.