Trial & Major Felony Unit

All pre-trial motions and trials take place in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas in Media, PA. The first court date in the Court of Common Pleas courthouse in Media is the arraignment. At this hearing, a court-appointed master, or a judge, formally informs the accused of the charges. At the arraignment the case will be assigned to a trial judge and listed for a pre-trial conference.  

An Assistant Public Defender will be assigned to each case after arraignment, before the pre-trial conference. In most cases this is a different attorney from the one who was assigned to the case at the Magisterial District Court . The attorney will contact the client prior to the pre-trial conference, file / litigate appropriate motions and represent the client at trial. Throughout this representation, the attorneys may work with investigators, social service advocates and other administrative staff to achieve the best possible outcome for each client.

Attorneys in the major felony unit provide vertical representation from arrest through trial in the Magisterial District Courts and Court of Common Pleas in serious felony cases. Vertical representation means that, absent unforeseen disruptions, you will be represented by the same lawyer during all stages of the case: arraignment, hearings, trial, and sentencing.