Scranton Court Docket Records Search
Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the judicial center of Pennsylvania's 45th Judicial District. Court docket records for cases filed in Scranton are publicly accessible through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at no cost. The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, located in Scranton, handles major criminal and civil proceedings, while multiple Magisterial District Courts serve the city for preliminary matters and summary offenses. This guide explains how to search Scranton court dockets and how to obtain record copies when needed.
Scranton Quick Facts
Scranton Court Docket Search
Court docket records for Scranton cases are searchable through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. Selecting Lackawanna County as the filter when searching by party name returns all cases associated with that county, including those originating in Scranton. Magisterial District Court dockets for Scranton use the "MJ-45" prefix, and Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas dockets begin with "CP-45."
The portal returns all publicly available docket information including the charges or claim type, parties and attorneys, hearing dates, motions, court orders, and final dispositions. The system updates in near real time as clerks process new filings, so the portal is the most current resource for tracking the status of any pending Scranton court matter.
The UJS Web Portal is free to use and requires no account or subscription to access docket information.
Docket sheets displayed in the portal can be saved as PDF or printed for personal reference without any cost.
Note: Records sealed or expunged by court order are not visible through the public portal and will not appear in name or docket number searches.
Scranton Magisterial District Courts
Scranton is served by multiple Magisterial District Judges within the 45th Judicial District. These courts handle the initial stages of criminal proceedings, including preliminary arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary hearings. They also adjudicate summary offenses such as traffic violations, minor criminal matters, and local ordinance infractions, as well as small civil claims and landlord-tenant disputes.
Each district judge in Scranton and Lackawanna County presides over a defined geographic area. When a serious criminal matter arises in Scranton, the district judge conducts a preliminary hearing to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to hold the defendant for trial in the Court of Common Pleas. That determination is recorded on the Magisterial District Court docket, and if the case is bound over, a new Common Pleas docket is opened referencing the original proceedings.
All Magisterial District Court records for Scranton cases are searchable through the UJS portal. Summary case outcomes, including traffic fines and minor criminal dispositions resolved entirely at the district court level, appear in the portal under the MJ-45 prefix.
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas -- Scranton
The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas is situated in downtown Scranton and serves as the major trial court for the 45th Judicial District. As the county seat courthouse, it handles all felony criminal prosecutions, significant civil disputes, family law proceedings, and orphans' court matters for Lackawanna County. The court is organized into criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court divisions, each governed by local rules that supplement statewide procedural requirements.
The Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary maintain the official records of criminal and civil cases respectively and are the offices to contact for certified copies of court documents. Court administration manages scheduling, judicial assignments, and jury operations. The courthouse in Scranton is accessible to the public during business hours for filing and record requests.
The UJS Case Search provides direct access to Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas dockets, allowing users to retrieve case information for all publicly accessible matters from initial filing through final resolution.
Both active and recently closed cases are accessible through the portal within the coverage period of the digital records system.
Criminal Court Dockets in Scranton
Scranton criminal docket records document each stage of criminal proceedings from initial arrest and charging through sentencing and any post-sentence appeals. A criminal docket for a Scranton case will show the specific charges filed, bail conditions, the outcome of the preliminary hearing before the district judge, any pre-trial motions, the trial proceedings or guilty plea, and the sentence imposed. All publicly accessible portions of the docket are available through the UJS portal.
For cases that were dismissed or where a conviction was later expunged pursuant to a valid court order, the record is removed from the public portal after the expungement order is processed. Pennsylvania's expungement statute allows qualifying individuals to petition for removal of court records, and when granted, the court transmits the order to all relevant agencies to implement the removal.
The public access policy at pacourts.us/public-records governs which portions of Scranton criminal dockets are available for public review and identifies the categories of sensitive information always withheld from public access.
Civil Court Dockets in Scranton Pennsylvania
Scranton civil court dockets cover personal injury claims, property disputes, contract litigation, mortgage foreclosures, and other civil matters filed in Lackawanna County. Cases within the jurisdictional limit of the Magisterial District Court are handled by the district judge for the relevant area of the city. Larger civil matters proceed to the Court of Common Pleas Civil Division in the Scranton courthouse.
The civil docket sheet accessible through the UJS portal reflects the complete chronological record of each case, from the initial complaint filing through final judgment and any enforcement proceedings. Parties and attorneys can monitor case status, confirm the filing of specific documents, and review court orders without visiting the courthouse.
Judgment liens arising from civil court decisions in Lackawanna County are recorded with the prothonotary and are searchable by party name through the UJS portal. Parties seeking to verify whether a civil judgment has been entered against a person or business in the Scranton area can search by name filtered to Lackawanna County.
How to Get Scranton Court Record Copies
Certified copies of Scranton court records are available from the Lackawanna County Clerk of Courts for criminal matters and the Prothonotary for civil matters, both located at the Lackawanna County Courthouse in downtown Scranton. Requests may be submitted in person during business hours or by mail with a written request identifying the docket number and the documents needed.
The per-page copy fee is $0.25, and certification of copies carries an additional fee. For most informational purposes, the docket sheet printed from the UJS portal is sufficient and free of charge. When an official certified copy is required, the clerk's office prepares the document with the court's seal and clerk's signature.
The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides electronic criminal history records for authorized users, which is a distinct service from obtaining individual court docket copies through the clerk's office at the courthouse.
Note: Mail requests to the Lackawanna County clerk's office should include the full docket number, a description of the needed documents, and payment by check or money order for the estimated copy costs.
Public Access Rules for Scranton Court Records
Court records in Scranton are subject to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's uniform public access policy, which applies consistently across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. The policy establishes a presumption of public access to court docket information while protecting specific categories of sensitive information from disclosure to protect individual privacy.
Protected categories include Social Security numbers, financial account identifiers, names of minor victims, mental health evaluation records, and materials placed under seal by court order. Juvenile delinquency records are generally not publicly accessible. Family court records for support and custody matters carry additional restrictions limiting access by non-parties.
The full policy is published at pacourts.us/public-records, and Lackawanna County's Court of Common Pleas has a public access officer who handles formal access requests and disputes about the availability of specific case records.
Lackawanna County Court Docket Records
The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas serves Scranton and all of Lackawanna County from its downtown Scranton courthouse, handling criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court matters for the 45th Judicial District. The Lackawanna County court docket page has more detail on court structure, filing procedures, and record access options.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities search court dockets through the same UJS portal.