Pennsylvania Legal Overview: Harrisburg-Carlisle The Harrisburg–Carlisle metropolitan area in Pennsylvania is defined by the Census Bureau as covering Cumberland, Dauphin and Perry counties. The Harrisburg–Carlisle, PA MSA is a part of the larger four-county Harrisburg–Carlisle–Lebanon combined statistical area, or CSA. Apart from the three counties in the MSA, the CSA additionally includes the Lebanon metropolitan area, which covers Lebanon County. The court of common pleas in each county is the main trial court. The main cities and towns in the Harrisburg–Carlisle metro area are listed below.
Top Pennsylvania cities for Legal Issues: Harrisburg
1. Dauphin County is served by the 12th Judicial District, with the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas located in Harrisburg as the main trial court with general jurisdiction. This court hears everything from felony cases to family law issues and civil lawsuits exceeding $12,000. There are limited jurisdiction magisterial district courts in each ward in the capital, which handle misdemeanors, traffic and city code violations, arraignments, and civil cases not exceeding $12,000. Other cities, boroughs and townships in the county have their own magisterial courts.
Trending Legal Topics: Cumberland County similarly has the court of common pleas in Carlisle as the main trial court, with additional limited jurisdiction magisterial district courts in all the boroughs and townships. Appeals against trial court verdicts in all three counties in the Harrisburg–Carlisle metro area must be filed with the Pennsylvania Superior Court. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is the court of last resort. Federal cases must be filed with the Harrisburg Division of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. |