Berks County Magisterial District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose, MDC 23-03-06, Hamburg, has been recertified for service as a member of the Pennsylvania Judiciary after successfully completing continuing education course work.

Every magisterial district judge must complete the Minor Judiciary Education Board’s continuing education program each year.

According to the news release, the 32-hour instructional program covers a variety of legal topics and practices to help magisterial district judges fairly and efficiently adjudicate cases and manage their magisterial district courts.

Courses in this year’s curriculum include: Pennsylvania Vehicle Code Updates, Civil and Landlord Tenant Law and Procedures, Law for Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse, Truancy, Criminal Law and Procedures, Bail Procedures, Judicial Ethics, MDJS Case Management System, Office Security, Media Relations, Employment Law, Office Administration, Support from Judges Concerned for Judges, Public Access, Sovereign Citizens, Intergovernmental Relations, Interpreters and Court Access, Behavioral Health, and Dog Law.

The annual continuing education course is statutorily required for each of the more than 500 Pennsylvania magisterial district judges.

The week long course requires magisterial district judges to complete a distance education component and attend four days of classes at the Pennsylvania Judicial Center in Harrisburg.

Approximately 50 judges attend each course week during the fall and spring terms.

Magisterial district judges represent the first level of Pennsylvania’s judicial system in all counties other than Philadelphia.

They have jurisdiction over summary criminal cases, traffic citation cases, civil cases under $12,000, and landlord tenant matters.

Magisterial district judges also issue arrest and search warrants, conduct preliminary arraignments, set bail, conduct preliminary hearings, and more.

The MJEB was established by legislative act to administer the continuing education program and certifying courses for magisterial district judges and Philadelphia Arraignment Court Magistrates.

They also conduct a one-week orientation course for newly elected and appointed MDJs.

The MJEB sets the curricula, appoints instructors, establishes course content, administers certification examinations, and issues certificates to successful participants.

Staff from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Court’s Judicial Education Department help to administer these programs.

More information about the MJEB is available on the Unified Judicial System website at pacourts.us.