The Court Administrator’s Office has been able to ease the Civil Court calendar through the implementation of the Arbitration Program. In accordance with Section 7361 of the Judicial Code, 42 Pa. CS 7361, civil cases involving an amount totaling $50,000 or less, are certified for arbitration prior to being scheduled on a trial list. A Board of Arbitrators, which consists of three attorneys, conducts a hearing and reviews pertinent information associated with the case in order to determine an award or ruling in favor of the plaintiff or defendant. Either party may appeal the arbitrators’ decision to the Court of Common Pleas if they are dissatisfied with the decision of the Board of Arbitrators. During 2007, the Board of Arbitrators heard 221cases.

Court Divisions & Operations