Ellwood City District Court 53-3-01: What to Expect

Last updated October 4, 2026.

For people in Ellwood City and the boroughs and townships around it, the district court on Lawrence Avenue is usually the first court they deal with. Many cases begin and end there. Others pass through on their way to New Castle. This page explains what the court handles, what a hearing there looks like, and when a case moves on. The other local facts for the borough are on the page about Ellwood City cases. The county's other courts are on the Lawrence County courts page. My approach to charges filed here is on the main criminal defense page.

Which areas does the court cover?

Lawrence County lists Magisterial District Court 53-3-01 at 607 Lawrence Avenue, Ellwood City, phone (724) 752-1185, covering:

Ellwood City, Ellport, Enon Valley, New Beaver and Wampum Boroughs;
Little Beaver, Perry, Slippery Rock and Wayne Townships.

One exception matters in the borough itself. Part of Ellwood City lies in Beaver County, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania's July 2022 order for Beaver County's courts lists Ellwood City Borough in Beaver County's Magisterial District 36-3-01. An incident in that part of the borough goes to Beaver County's courts, not to Lawrence Avenue. The county describes its district judges as elected to six-year terms and employed by the Commonwealth.

What does the court handle?

The borough describes the office as handling "the actions associated with traffic citations, nontraffic citations, and the filing of criminal complaints," and holding proceedings in civil and landlord-tenant cases seeking up to $12,000. State law sets the same limits: district judges hear summary offenses, landlord-tenant matters and civil claims up to $12,000, and preside at arraignments, set and accept bail and issue warrants (42 Pa.C.S. 1515).

Where each kind of case goes from Ellwood City
Case	Heard at District Court 53-3-01?	Where it goes next
Traffic or non-traffic citation (summary offense)	Yes, plea and summary trial	Appeal for a new trial in the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days
Misdemeanor or felony, including DUI	The complaint is filed here	Preliminary hearing at Central Court, 202 Milton Street, New Castle
Civil claim up to $12,000, including many debt suits	Yes, hearing and judgment	Appeal to the Court of Common Pleas within 30 days
Landlord-tenant possession case	Yes	Residential possession appeals within 10 days
Parking ticket	Not at first: paid at the borough's Utility Office	Complaints go to the police department, per the borough

How does a citation move through the court, step by step?

A traffic or non-traffic citation for a summary offense follows these steps under the court rules:

The citation. It names the section charged, summarizes the facts, and says which district court will receive the original (Rule 403(A)(6), (B)(1)).
Answer within 10 days. You must tell the court by mail or in person whether you plead guilty or not guilty (Rule 407). Sending the fine and costs without marking a plea is recorded as a guilty plea (Rule 403(B)(5)).
A guilty plea. It can be sent in writing with the fine and costs listed on the citation, but the court will not accept a mailed guilty plea when the offense carries mandatory jail (Rule 409(A)(1), (B)(3)(a)).
A not guilty plea. Either send it in writing with collateral equal to the fine and costs on the citation, or $50 if no amount is listed, or appear in person and deposit what the judge requires (Rule 408(A)). The court then sets a trial date and notifies you and the officer (Rule 408(B)).
The summary trial. The judge advises you of the charges and, if jail or probation is reasonably likely, of the right to a lawyer, with one appointed if you cannot afford one (Rule 454(a)). The Commonwealth must prove the offense. The verdict and any sentence are announced at the end of the trial (Rule 454(d)).
An adjudication alternative. For summary offenses other than game law cases, the judge may place you in a supervised program, without a guilty plea, and dismiss the charge when you complete it (42 Pa.C.S. 1520(a), (c)).
The appeal. A conviction or guilty plea can be appealed for a new trial by filing a notice of appeal with the Clerk of Courts in New Castle within 30 days (Rule 460(A)). The appeal puts the sentence on hold, but you must appear for the new trial or the appeal may be dismissed (Rule 454(f)(2)). The county's Clerk of Courts lists $58.50 as the total for an appeal from a district judge, with state costs that vary.

If you cannot pay a fine at once, the judge may set installment payments (Rule 454(f)(1)). What happens when a citation goes unanswered is covered in what happens if you ignore a citation in Pennsylvania.

Which charges and cases start at this court?

Citations and summary offenses:

Arrests and criminal complaints:

For DUI charges specifically, my approach is on the DUI defense page.

What happens in a criminal or DUI case?

The criminal complaint is filed with the district court, and that court remains the office of origin. The county's Central Court says people should check their hearing date on the statewide UJS Portal "or by calling the district justice for which the case originated." But the preliminary hearing itself is not held on Lawrence Avenue. Lawrence County holds every preliminary hearing at Central Court, 202 Milton Street, New Castle, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday mornings at 9:30. After a warrantless DUI arrest graded no higher than a first-degree misdemeanor, the officer must release a person who poses no immediate danger and is expected to appear, file the complaint within 5 days and let a summons follow (Rule 519(B)). The fingerprinting side of an arrest is local too: the Ellwood City Police Department serves as a regional booking center for the Lawrence County courts. A case held for court continues at the Lawrence County Courthouse in New Castle.

What happens in a civil or debt case?

A civil complaint at the district court must state the amount claimed and the facts, with the date and a description of the transaction for a contract claim (Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 304). If it is not served in time for a hearing within 60 days of filing, the judge dismisses it without prejudice, and the plaintiff may ask to reinstate it (Rule 314(D), (E)). A defendant with a claim of their own against the plaintiff can file a cross-complaint at least five days before the hearing, and the court then hears both together (Rule 315).

Showing up matters. If the defendant does not appear at the hearing, the district judge enters judgment for the plaintiff or continues the case for cause (Rule 319(B)). A money judgment can be appealed within 30 days by filing a notice of appeal with the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas; a residential possession judgment must be appealed within 10 days, with a 30-day window for a tenant who is a victim of domestic violence (Rule 1002). Lawrence County's Prothonotary lists $186.35 to file an appeal from a district judge. Cases above $12,000 go straight to the Court of Common Pleas. How to respond to a collection suit is covered in what to do when a debt collector sues you. My approach is described on the debt defense page. The full district court process for a debt claim, from the Notice of Intent to Defend to the appeal, is walked through in debt suits at a Lawrence County district court.

Where exactly is it?

The district court is at 607 Lawrence Avenue. The borough's Municipal Building is also on Lawrence Avenue, at number 525, and the borough says parking tickets are paid at its Utility Office window or the overnight mailbox on Bell Avenue behind the Municipal Building. Fines, costs and restitution can also be paid online through the UJS Portal, which the county links from its website.

What changes the answer at the district court?

Whether it is a Vehicle Code citation. If you fail to respond to a traffic citation, other than parking, or fail to pay what was imposed, PennDOT suspends your license, but only after the court gives you at least 30 days' written notice that explains installment payments and community service (75 Pa.C.S. 1533(a), (c)). A license is not suspended solely for unpaid fines unless the court finds you able to pay (1533(a.1)(2)).
Whether jail is possible. That decides your right to a lawyer at trial (Rule 454(a)(2)), whether a mailed guilty plea can be accepted (Rule 409(B)(3)), and whether the judge will try the case without you (Rule 455(A)). Driving under a DUI suspension is one such case, explained in driving while your license is suspended for a DUI.
Your record. Accepting an adjudication alternative is counted as a first conviction when deciding whether a later conviction is a second or subsequent one (42 Pa.C.S. 1520(a)). That matters for offenses graded by priors, such as retail theft.
Which county the incident happened in. The Beaver County part of the borough belongs to District 36-3-01, not 53-3-01.
The amount of a civil claim. A plaintiff may give up the part of a claim over $12,000 to stay at the district court, but that waiver is revoked automatically if the defendant appeals (42 Pa.C.S. 1515(a)(3)).
Whether you are the one appealing a civil judgment. A defendant who appeals must file a praecipe asking the Prothonotary to enter a rule requiring the plaintiff to file a complaint within 20 days of being served with it (Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 1004(B)).

A worked example

For example, take a hypothetical case, not a real one. A driver is cited in Ellwood City for a summary Vehicle Code offense, with the fine and costs listed. Within 10 days she mails a not guilty plea with collateral equal to that amount (Rule 408(A)(2)), and the court sets a trial date. At trial, the officer does not appear, but in a Vehicle Code case that alone is not a reason to dismiss the charge (Rule 454(b)); the judge decides on the evidence presented. She is found guilty, the verdict is announced at the end of the hearing, and her collateral is applied to the fine and costs. She has 30 days to appeal to the Clerk of Courts in New Castle ($58.50 listed total), and the new trial in the Court of Common Pleas starts from the beginning. Had she done nothing at all, the court could have issued a warrant, and after at least 30 days' written notice PennDOT could have suspended her license until she responded or arranged to pay (Rule 403(B)(4); 75 Pa.C.S. 1533).

Common mistakes at the district court

Sending money without a plea. Payment with no plea marked is recorded as a guilty plea (Rule 403(B)(5)).
Mailing a not guilty plea with partial collateral. A plea by mail must come with the full amount; if you cannot afford it, appear in person to enter the plea (Rule 408, Comment).
Counting on the officer not showing up. In Vehicle Code cases the officer does not have to testify, and absence alone does not end the case (Rule 454(b)).
Ignoring a 10-day default notice. After a missed payment, the court mails a notice to pay or appear within 10 days, and a warrant may follow (Rule 456(B)). If you see a default coming, you can tell the court first and ask for a hearing on your ability to pay (Rule 456(A)).
Going to Lawrence Avenue for a preliminary hearing. Those hearings are held at Central Court in New Castle.
Losing a civil appeal on paperwork. The appellant must serve the notice of appeal on the other side and the district judge and file proof of service with the Prothonotary within 10 days, or the appeal can be stricken (Pa.R.Civ.P.M.D.J. 1005, 1006).

What to do this week

Find the issuance date on the citation and count 10 days.
Decide on a plea; if jail is possible or the charge affects your license, talk to a lawyer before you mail anything.
Keep copies of the citation, the plea and any check or receipt.
For a civil complaint, note the hearing date and plan to attend.
If you have your own claim against the plaintiff, file it at least five days before the hearing.
Check the case on the UJS Portal, or call the court at (724) 752-1185.
If a judgment or conviction is entered, write down the date: most appeal windows are 30 days, and 10 days for a residential eviction.

Frequently asked questions

What if I miss my summary trial?

The trial is generally held without you, unless jail is likely or there is other good cause, in which case the judge may issue a warrant (Rule 455(A)). If you are found guilty, the court mails notice of the sentence and of the 30-day appeal right, and if your collateral does not cover the amount due you have 10 days to pay or appear before a warrant may issue (Rule 455(D), (F)).

Can I ask for ARD on a summary citation?

The citation itself tells you that you may appear before the district judge to ask to be considered for ARD (Rule 403(B)(2)(c)). Whether a program is offered depends on the case.

Can I pay my fine in installments?

Yes, when you cannot pay in one payment, the judge may set installments with a due date for each (Rules 409(C)(5), 454(f)(1)). Payments can also be made online through the UJS Portal.

Is a parking ticket handled by the district court?

Not at first. The borough says parking tickets are paid at its Utility Office window or the overnight mailbox behind the Municipal Building, and complaints go to the police department. If a parking citation goes unanswered, the rules call for a summons rather than an arrest warrant (Rule 403(B)(4)(a)), and parking is excluded from the license suspension for unanswered citations (75 Pa.C.S. 1533(a)).

Can I file a claim against the company suing me?

Yes, if it is within the district judge's limits. A cross-complaint filed at least five days before the hearing is heard together with the original claim, and the rule's note says there is no fee for filing it (Rule 315).

If you have a citation, a complaint or a civil case at the Ellwood City district court, I can tell you what the hearing is for and what to bring. You can read more about my practice, and the first consultation is always free and confidential.

What to expect at the Ellwood City district court (53-3-01)