My research aims to shed light on the practices, procedures, and outcomes of Pennsylvania's Magisterial District Courts (MDJ) system. The work presented in this poster focuses on my initial question: Are case appeal rates in the MDJ system affected by income level, population density, or any other factors? While learning about appeal rates, factors that influence the MDJ system, and MDJ procedure, I interviewed judges and judicial officials and analyzed requested and public data. Although it was quickly clear that the data suggests that there is no correlation between rates of appeals, income level, and population density, my exploration of the MDJ system raised more questions than it answered. My work has shown me how complicated judicial systems can be, how inaccessible crucial data can be, and the impact one court appearance can have on a life.

The goal of this poster is to introduce the reader to the lower court system in Pennsylvania, display relevant data, and encourage further questions about an often misunderstood system.