HARRISBURG – Magisterial District Judge Raymond F. Zydonik was again certified for service as a member of Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System after successful completion recently of continuing legal education course work. Conducted by the Minor Judiciary Education Board (MJEB) and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC), the educational program for Magisterial District Judges is held in Harrisburg, PA.

The week-long instructional program is designed to ensure that Magisterial District Judges remain current in a variety of legal topics and management techniques required to fairly adjudicate cases and effectively supervise a district court office. Included in this year’s curriculum are updates on SharePoint, IT Security, MDJS Update, Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code Update, Civil Law Update, Landlord/Tenant Law Update, Granting Possession to the Executor of a Will for Property, Tobacco Enforcement, Human Trafficking, AOPC Litigation Update: Pro Se Litigants, Immigration Status, Sovereign Citizens, Bankruptcy Law, Employment Law, Collections and Consumer Law/Ethical Bankruptcy from the Creditor, Non-Payment of Fines and Costs and Incarceration on Summary Cases, Judicial Ethics, Criminal Law Update, Judicial Security, How Being Trauma Informed Improves Judicial Decision Making, Criminal Procedure, Evidentiary and Emoji Law, Vicarious Trauma, Bail and PFA.

Continuing education course work is required by statute of each of the more than 500 Pennsylvania Magisterial District Judges, with approximately 50 Magisterial Judges attending one of 13 such classes during each academic year.

Magisterial District Judges represent the “grass roots” level of Pennsylvania’s judicial system. In counties other than Philadelphia, Magisterial District Judges have jurisdiction over summary, criminal and motor vehicle cases; landlord/tenant matters; and other civil actions where the amount claimed does not exceed $12,000. Magisterial District Judges may also accept guilty pleas in misdemeanor cases of the third degree under certain circumstances. Magisterial District Judges also have jurisdiction to issue arrest and search warrants and to hold arraignments and preliminary hearings in criminal cases.

Established by Constitution, the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provides support to the Supreme Court in exercising its supervisory duties over each of the other state courts. The Minor Judiciary Education Board was established by legislative act to administer the continuing legal education program for Magisterial District Judges, Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division Hearing Officers and Philadelphia Arraignment Court Magistrates (formerly Bail Commissioners), as well as certifying courses for Magisterial District Judges, Philadelphia Municipal Court Traffic Division Hearing Officers, Arraignment Court Magistrates and other initial jurisdiction court judges.