Lawrence County Traffic Court Records
Lawrence County traffic court records are filed and maintained through the courts of the 53rd Judicial District in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The county seat is New Castle, and all court functions are handled at the Lawrence County Government Center on Court Street. Magisterial District Judge courts first hear traffic citations in Lawrence County. You can search Lawrence County traffic court records through the statewide UJS Web Portal at no cost. The combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office manages all case files for the Court of Common Pleas.
Lawrence County Quick Facts
How to Search Lawrence County Traffic Court Records
The primary way to search Lawrence County traffic court records online is through the UJS Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. This statewide system covers all Pennsylvania courts, including the Magisterial District Courts in Lawrence County. You can search by defendant name, docket number, or citation number. Results show the case status, charges, hearing dates, and payment history. The search is free to use at any time.
The Pennsylvania Courts website for Lawrence County provides additional contact details and links to the 53rd Judicial District. Civil dockets for the Court of Common Pleas are part of the INFOCON system, which requires a paid subscription for online access. For traffic citations handled by MDJ courts, the UJS Portal is the best starting point for free online lookup.
In-person access is available at the Lawrence County Government Center. The combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office is located at 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101. You can view records at the counter during business hours. Staff can help you locate a specific case file or docket sheet.
Note: Written record requests sent by mail should include the full defendant name, docket number if known, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for the response.
Lawrence County Court Structure and Judicial District
Lawrence County is part of the 53rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas serves as the main trial court for the county. It handles civil, criminal, family, and orphans' court matters. Traffic citations do not start at the Court of Common Pleas. They go first to a Magisterial District Judge court.
The Pennsylvania Courts system organizes all county courts under a unified judicial structure. Each MDJ in Lawrence County has a defined territory. When a driver receives a traffic citation anywhere in the county, the case goes to the MDJ whose territory covers that location. The MDJ holds hearings and enters a verdict. If the driver disagrees with the outcome, the next step is an appeal to the Court of Common Pleas.
The image above is from the Pennsylvania Courts page for Lawrence County, which lists contact information for the 53rd Judicial District. This page is a useful starting point when looking for court contacts or judicial information in Lawrence County.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1515, Magisterial District Judges have jurisdiction over summary traffic offenses across Pennsylvania. Lawrence County MDJ courts follow these statewide rules when handling traffic citations.
Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts in Lawrence County
Lawrence County has a combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office. Jodi Esoldo serves as Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts. This single office manages both civil records (through the Prothonotary function) and criminal records (through the Clerk of Courts function). Traffic appeal cases filed at the Court of Common Pleas level go through this office.
| Office | Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Official | Jodi Esoldo |
| Address | Lawrence County Government Center 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101 |
| Phone | 724-656-2143 |
| Fax | 724-656-1988 |
| jesoldo@co.lawrence.pa.us |
The Prothonotary phone for civil records is 724-656-2126. This number is useful if you need to reach the civil side of the office for records related to appeals or civil case filings. The combined structure means one visit to the Government Center covers both functions.
Note: The Lawrence Law Journal publishes civil trial lists every Monday. This weekly publication covers case listings from the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas.
Traffic Citation Appeals in Lawrence County
When a driver loses a traffic case before a Magisterial District Judge in Lawrence County, they have the right to appeal. The appeal goes to the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas. You must file the appeal within 30 days of the MDJ's decision. The Notice of Appeal is filed with the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office at 430 Court Street.
The appeal hearing is a de novo proceeding. This means the case starts over from the beginning. The Court of Common Pleas does not review what the MDJ decided. Instead, both sides present their case fresh before a Common Pleas judge. Under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 1302, the traffic court jurisdiction framework in Pennsylvania applies to all counties, including Lawrence. Drivers in Lawrence County follow the same appeal procedures as anywhere else in the state.
A filing fee applies when you submit the appeal. Check with the Clerk of Courts office at 724-656-2143 for the current fee schedule. Each citation requires a separate appeal filing if multiple citations were issued during the same stop.
Traffic Court Docket Sheets and Record Contents
Traffic court dockets in Lawrence County are public records. A docket sheet shows the full history of a traffic case. It lists the original charges, the hearing dates, any continuances, the verdict, and payment information. If the case was appealed, the docket reflects that as well.
You can access MDJ-level dockets through the UJS Web Portal. The portal gives you a PDF view of the docket sheet for each case. These are the same documents used by the courts. Common Pleas dockets for traffic appeals are also searchable through the same portal. The Pennsylvania Vehicle Code under Title 75 defines the traffic offenses that appear as charges on these dockets.
Records are kept for set periods under Pennsylvania court rules. Traffic citation records are generally retained for several years after the final disposition. Contact the Lawrence County Government Center for details on retention schedules for specific case types.
Note: Sealed records and records involving minors are not available to the public and will not appear in a standard docket search.
PennDOT Records and Lawrence County Convictions
Every traffic conviction from a Lawrence County court is reported to PennDOT. The state records the conviction on the driver's official driving record. Points are added based on the type of violation. A driver with too many points may face a hearing with PennDOT or a license suspension.
You can check your driving record online through the PennDOT driver records portal. This tool shows all convictions on your Pennsylvania driving record, including those from Lawrence County traffic court. Employers and insurance companies may request a certified copy of your record from PennDOT separately. Traffic court records from Lawrence County MDJ courts and the Court of Common Pleas both feed into the statewide PennDOT system when a conviction occurs.
Nearby Counties
Lawrence County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. If your citation was issued near a county line, check where the stop occurred to confirm which court has your case.