New Court Location Coming For Hatboro-Horsham

HATBORO / HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA —With one District Justice now representing Hatboro and Horsham Township, there isn't the need for as many courts for the two towns.

So while the main court is housed in Horsham under former state representative and new Judge Todd Stephens, Hatboro no longer needs the building right below the Loller Academy on York Road.

Officials said at Monday night's council meeting that the borough would probably sell the building it owns just below Loller Academy on York Road.

Council President George Bollendorf said that a lease the borough has with Montgomery County is expected to expire at the end of February.

"Our intention is to try and sell the property," Bollendorf said. "All items are on the table. We don't want to be in the landlord business."

Borough Manager Diane Hegele told Patch that the county is using the facility for storage.

Stephens took over as district justice at the start of the month after winning election to the post in the Nov. 7 general election. He served as state representative for 12 years before losing the election in the 151st Legislative District to Melissa Cerrato.

He replaced Judges Paul Leo in Hatboro and Harry Nesbitt in Horsham. Nesbitt was recently honored in Horsham with a proclamation for his years of service.

Patch was the first to report in October that Montgomery County would consolidate the Hatboro and Horsham courts.

The consolidation was part of a county magisterial district realignment that eliminated the Hatboro court.

The plan stated that Montgomery County has 30 Magisterial Districts while others such as Bucks, Delaware, Chester, and Lancaster counties average 21 districts.

The plan called for boundary realignment of 12 districts while 17 others remained the same with the Hatboro court being eliminated.

The current court for Hatboro and Horsham is located at 903 Sheehy Dr.

But that location will change as well.

Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker said the new court location would be in the Babylon Business Campus at 955 Horsham Rd.

Walker said that the Montgomery County Court rents the space from Joe Heffernan, owner of the Babylon Business Campus.

A move-in date for the new court location has not been determined, Walker said.