IMPORTANT: BRIDGEPORT DISTRICT COURT IS SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED!
IMPORTANT:
BRIDGEPORT DISTRICT COURT IS SCHEDULED TO BE CLOSED!
The decision was made recently to close Magisterial District Court #38-1-25 (MDC 38-1-25), which is the courthouse located in Bridgeport, at the end of 2025 in response to the retirement of District Justice James P. Gallagher. The current plan involves folding all of Bridgeport's cases and workload into the courthouse in King of Prussia. There are a number of reasons why this decision will have a negative impact on the Bridgeport community and our residents.
Bridgeport residents would lose the convenient access to a local judge and courthouse, should the closure take place. Our local cases would now go before a district justice with limited familiarity of the borough and its people, rather than a local judge who has historically had roots within the Bridgeport community. Folks with limited access to transportation would now be faced with the challenge of getting themselves to the next town over, when they used to just have to come to the corner of 4th and Mill Streets.
But here is what you can do to oppose the closure and support keeping Magisterial District Court 38-1-25 open and in Bridgeport.
Prior to the closure of MDC 38-1-25 being made official, there is a time period where the public will be allowed to comment. While the intent to close MDC 38-1-25 has not yet been posted, residents and community stakeholders that wish to support keeping our courthouse open and in Bridgeport are encouraged to express their support in a letter. For those interested, here are a few talking points to consider including in a letter of support to keep MDC 38-1-25 open:
1. Typically, court closures and changes are limited to the year after a census. However, the county can petition on other years based on "extraordinary circumstances". In this case, Judge Gallagher's retirement gives the county an opportunity to close the court, avoid appointing a new judge, and send everything to other court(s). The justification will be economics (one less lease) and caseload. The claim will be that this court does not have work load numbers to justify maintaining the court.
2. As to the economics, the county has eliminated seven (7) district court leases in the last ten years by merging facilities (29 judges now in 22 courthouses). If anything, the county has a surplus when it comes to paying for leases and court maintenance. Also, it is almost certain that all of the court staff will be dispersed to other courts in the county, so there would not truly be much savings with regard to salaries.
3. As for equitable workload, the Bridgeport/Upper Merion court actually had the 3rd highest caseload in 2024 due in large part to having all Interstate traffic violations in the court. However, even with all those offenses being moved to two other courts, the Bridgeport/Upper Merion court would still have a higher caseload than eleven (11) other courts. Not to mention the immense burden shifted to the King of Prussia court, or any other court.
4. And then there is the "promotion of judicial access" aspect, which is one of the goals of having local courts. This should not be downplayed. Bridgeport has a 16.7% poverty rate, which makes traveling out of town to King Of Prussia, Norristown, or Plymouth for hearings even more difficult for Bridgeport residents. These are non-statistical interactions that matter most, and county leaders should be cognizant of this.
5. Removing a judge and a local court from a community, or diluting the judicial effect on a population can have negative implications and a substantial impact on the community. From 2010 to 2020, the Bridgeport/Upper Merion demographic area has actually had the largest population increase in terms of percentage than any other county court.
6. Meanwhile, there are plans to add two more Common Pleas judges to the County Court House. If case numbers are down, and District Courts are being targeted for closure, then logic would dictate that the same would hold true for Common Pleas judges. Particularly, as many Common Pleas court cases originate from the local District Courts.
7. The 2020 Census reported Bridgeport to have a population of 5,015. Additionally, the River Pointe Development when completed will add another 360 houses and 250 apartment units to the community, increasing Bridgeport's population by roughly 25% with a conservative estimate. Bridgeport is a community experiencing commercial and residential growth, relative to its size, unlike any other municipality in the region. An effort to reduce county services in a community experiencing such growth seems to run counter to what logic would dictate.
Letters of support, comments, and questions can be sent to:
Mike Kehs, Esq., Court Administrator
Montgomery County Court House
P.O. Box 311
Norristown, Pa 19404-0311
Phone #610-278-3224
Email: mike.kehs@montgomerycountypa.gov
John Savoth, Esq.
Deputy Court Administrator, Special Courts
One Montgomery Plaza, 9th Floor
P.O. Box 311
Norristown, Pa 19404-0311
Phone #610-278-3058
Email: john.savoth@montgomerycountypa.gov
Honorable Carolyn T. Carluccio
Montgomery County Court House
2 East Airy St.
P.O. Box 311
Norristown, Pa 19404-0311
Phone #610-278-3450
Email: judge.carluccio@montgomerycountypa.gov
Copies of your letters of support can also be delivered to Bridgeport Borough Hall, 63 W. 4th Street, Bridgeport, PA 19405. The borough will ensure that our residents' opinions on the matter are seen!
Thank you for your attention in this matter.