County Clerk's office: perfectly on time for my appointment. Helped with all the various paperwork,…read morefriendly staff even pointed out how I could do some things myself and save significant money. A really polite staff made the experience simple and actually took way less time than I expected.

The main courthouse is centrally located in downtown Somerville on 20 North Bridge Street. There…read moreare plenty of places across the street to grab a sandwich, or get a cup of coffee. The court itself has a new wing and an historic wing. . The Old Historic Wing is just off the main corridor. Once inside you can see all the beauty from yesteryear. There are gold columns, and ornate carvings. There is so much history and character. There are several metered lots to park in. I prefer lot # 7 off of High Street. Make sure you bring plenty of quarters. It's 50 cents per hour. If attending court, it could take hours. I would suggest minimum of 4 hrs. Otherwise,you will have to walk back and put in more money to avoid getting a ticket. I would suggest arriving 15-20 minutes before your court time. There is usually some type of sign in and each floor has seating. I've been coming here for 4 years now, Domestic Violence, Divorce, and Child Support/ Alimony non payments I've had quite a bit of ups and downs because each department is run differently and communication is not the best with each other. Always make a copy of everything you submit to the court. Paperwork gets easily lost. If you mail it send it return receipt . The security personnel are very professional and friendly when asked a question and do a great job! They are very strict with cell phone use, and no photos or taping is allowed. Somerset County Courthouse is very over crowded. There aren't enough judges to hear all the cases and it can take months to get a court date with a judge. Seating in the different courtrooms are packed so sometimes plaintiffs and defendants are seated near each other or out in the halls. If you are handicapped or need assistance please call ahead and make special arrangements. There is also a full time interpreter for people who speak Spanish. The court is very good with this. When it comes to domestic violence there needs to be more training. The staff and the court really don't understand what truly goes on, and in my case really did more harm then good. There should be several domestic violence advocates, and counselors on the premises at all times to help battered women. Judges shouldn't allow the victims to be re-victimized and be put on trial and made to relive the nightmares all over again. There truly needs to be stricter enforcement when both parties sign a settlement agreement which supersedes the court order. If one parent doesn't follow it then there should be swift and immediate action. Otherwise, why bother having a settlement agreement. The only way to correct this is to file a $50 motion for each dispute, and wait for another trial.. Motions are costly and take way too long to get results which leave a lot of mom's helpless , homeless, and broken. If you have any problems at the courthouse contact the Ombudsman . ( In the Judiciary, the ombudsman is a neutral staff person who answers questions, addresses concerns from the public and is responsible for enhancing customer service in the courts. The ombudsman provides a bridge between the courts and the community, to enhance public access and improve customer service.)

To all- My son (8) and myself ( single mother), have been in the community of Abington for 4 years…read morecoming from Texas. we love the area. Recently, in the last year or so my son has told me about a cop friend of his, Officer Dan P. (Will not say his last name fo obvious reasons). i asked him how he knows this officer and he told me that the officer has on several occasions given him a "cool kid patrol ride" after his school activities, typically him and friends play at the park until 630 or so (short distance from the house). Recently his behavior has been reclusive and tempered, when confronted stated "Officer Dan is not who I thought he was, and he no longer thinks of him as a hero as Dan would call himself. Should I escalate this?

Beautiful building for a police department in the middle of the municipal building and the…read morecourthouse. Great guys in this department. Hosted a beef and beer fundraiser for one of their own who developed ALS. We won luxury suite tickets to the flyers game tonight!

Excellent service! They are way ahead than other counties. You can apply online as well and just…read morebring pertinent documents in person. Saves a lot of time if you're a busy bee. The staff are very nice and friendly. I'd like to say thank you and you are truly a public servers.

Went on a *SATURDAY* to get passports for my 3 kids. The lady helping us was on fire! Like a…read moremachine! She sped us through the process and it was so easy. You do have to enter via Orange Street on the weekends and walk down a pathway. But it was such a great experience compared to a post office!

This imposing marble structure, dating back to 1872, is the County Seat of Delaware County, the…read moresecond version since the Eastern part of the old Chester County was carved out into its own Delaware County in 1784 and 24 years since the county seat of Delaware County was transfered from Chester to the newly created Borough of Media. Entering this building is a step back in the history of the United States. The earliest European settlements in the area were not English, but Swedish, back to the 1640s. And the history of the area is vividly displayed in the exhibits and pictures in the courthouse as well as the many statues surrounding the expansive grounds. Much of the historical statuary in the area is devoted to the Civil War, which claimed an inordinate number of patriots from Delaware County fighting to maintain our country as one union. Other than the mandatory security screening at the entrance, the building is very accessible, one scant block from the 101 SEPTA Trolley and four blocks from the Media train station. Parking on the other hand, is a hassle and meter only.

Sentenced me to 35 years in prison. The trial was fast though. So I got that going for meread more

Well here we go again…read more.. Still NO negatives...and one is TRULY needed here. I am not sure where to begin... ....other then if I wasn't living it, I would NOT BELIEVE IT or was I in a John Grisham novel!!! It's is a circus here, they don't listen...they just respond.... They have NO idea how they are affecting people's lives....toying with their emotions, their future...their monies..... ...they are just there for a pay check.... JUSTICE ....the moral principle determining just conduct.... MORAL-of, relating to, or concerned with the principles or rules of right conduct or the distinction between right and wrong; ethical: moral attitudes.. PRINCIPLES -an accepted or professed rule of action or conduct: a person of good moral principles... INTEGRITY -adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty... These words above are not RECOGNIZED or UNDERSTOOD in this courthouse... I do not feel safe walking around inside there alone anymore...just don't know who I might bump into. They have made me feel fearfully and unsafe WHEN being inside CHESTER COUNTY COURT HOUSE. And that's just dealing with them in a family law matter, I can't imagine having to deal with them on a complicated issue. THINK LONG and HARD, CAUSE YOUR BEST INTEREST CERTAINLY isn't THEIRS....

It was a surprisingly PLEASANT experience. I was here a couple of days ago with my friend. She was…read morethere to contest a speeding ticket and we were both concerned that it would be this HUGE ordeal. It was raining, we were kinda running late. We arrived 5 mins before her appointment at 2:30pm, walked in, went through the metal detectors, everyone was friendly and greeted us, gave us directions to exactly where we needed to go... my friend spoke to a woman and told her the situation, she then spoke to a judge, signed a paper, paid her ticket and we were done. From the moment we walked in, handled the ticket, paid and walk back out... I would say it took no more than ten minutes... I would lean more towards eight minutes. Everyone was super friendly and the place was just about empty. It was appreciated.

Surprisingly, things went really well. No drama, no chaos, everyone followed instructions, judge…read morecame out quickly and got right to dealing with your tickets. The judge in courtroom A (white older guy with a blonde toupee) was fair, funny and allowed you to explain what happened. Both tickets ($122 each) for not signing my registration card and allegedly making an "illegal" U turn were dismissed. They said I owed $75 bucks from 2003?!?! Really? I was advised to write the administrative judge to get that thrown out. Oh, if you ever get pulled over by a very very nasty officer like I did, google their full name and district, you'll be surprise what comes up about them. Typically where there is smoke, there is fire!! Remember to do everything with a big SMILE, it irritates people and can turn a bad situation around!

I know! I know!! Jury Duty sometimes feels like a setup, but it's your civic duty. Make sure you…read moreget there early because the lines to get in are always super long, especially because cases are ACTUALLY occurring while you're going through the juror selection process. Make sure you are early enough to stop and get something to eat because they no longer offer food other than from a vending machine. Once in the juror selection room, make sure you pay attention to all instructions. Watch the little video and fill out the questionnaire honestly. The staff that I've interacted with have always been kind and courteous as long as you are the same. It sucks to sit there for hours, but there is a bright side. Your JUROR badge gets you a 10% discount at any of the shops in Reading Terminal Market. One tip I've always found works: if you really don't want to be selected for jury duty, act like you do want to be there! This particular occasion, I wasn't selected, received my $9 check and was on my way.

My stepdad has long drilled it into my head that jury duty is a civic responsibility, and I have to…read moresay I agree with him. As much as I still dread to see the jury duty slip come through the mail slot, I accept the call to action. Maybe it's my easygoing attitude that keeps landing me in the jury box! I just completed my second stint as a juror on a criminal case (first time in Philly - the other case was when I was a NJ resident). I have to say, I found the whole thing fascinating, if a bit time consuming. There are inconveniences involved for sure. The expense of getting to and from, not to mention lunches out each day. But probably the worst is giving up your cell phone the moment you get into the court room. They take this so seriously, even though they send you home with all the Internet access in the world each night. I don't understand it and I suspect it has more to do with not trusting people to have their phone on airplane mode or off in the courtroom, than it does with having Internet access. Pro-tips for potential jurors: serving on jury duty even for just a day will get you discounts at nearby restaurants and some Reading Terminal Market vendors. Be sure to ask about the discount! Also, you can bring coffee or other beverages into the building, but not in glass or aluminum containers. We had a laid-back judge who also allowed us to bring beverages into the courtroom. Trust me, you're gonna need a steady infusion of coffee if you get selected. Overall, my experience was interesting and fairly pleasant, but I'm off the hook for the next three years and not sad about it. I'm sure I'll be back at some point, hopefully in the distant future.

Very clean facility. All staff our polite with no attitude…read moregiven Was there for jury duty You must goto market street side to access building with less aggravation

Served Federal jury duty here, the jury clerks were very nice. Judge was very nice. Nice facility…read moreoverall and very close to the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and visitor's center.

Philadelphia, PA - this is a review for the City Hall Tower Tour. I'm irresistibly attracted to…read moreobservation decks and old towers, so when I discovered that Philadelphia's City Hall doesn't just offer building tours but also a panoramic Tower Tour from atop its clock tower, I didn't question whether I really NEED to see the bird's eye view of yet another city. Located just a short walk from my hotel and something I can squeeze in before check-out, well that sealed it. The tour is very intimate, as each group maxes out at four people, owing to the tower's narrow dimensions, so you're basically on a private tour. There are plenty of time slots however, as the tour departs every 15 minutes, but booking in advance is highly recommended if not imperative (isn't everything these days!). It is only available Monday-Friday from 10am-2:45pm cos, government building. The experience was wonderful from top to bottom. The ladies in the visitor center were so nice and chatted with us as we waited for the tour to begin, and even gave my kiddo a pair of binoculars which he clutched onto with excitement and didn't put down for the rest of the day. Our guide Kim was genuinely warm, enthusiastic, and knowledgeable. She took our photos, kept things interesting, and capped it all off with an awesome list of insidery tips about what to do and see - places I hadn't even known about. I've done several dozen observation towers around the world and they never get old. This one's a departure from the usual glossy skyscraper presentation with a slick immersive elevator ride (in fact the elevator ride's pretty rickety), but if you like history and high places, and the luxury of zero crowds, this is a cool hidden gem.

Philadelphia City Hall has become a must-visit for me whenever I am in the city for running events…read morelike the Independence Blue Cross Broad Street Run or the Philadelphia Distance Run. My trips just don't feel complete without stopping by to take in its architecture. I remember the 2022 Broad Street Run vividly, falling in love with the building's design around mile five of the course. Being near it, I must say, it has an astonishing presence. I learned that it was designed by Scottish-born architect John McArthur Jr. and Thomas Ustick Walter in the French Second Empire style, with construction spanning from 1871 to 1901. The exterior tower was completed by 1894, although the interior was not finished until 1901. At the very top stands a 37-foot bronze statue of William Penn, the founder of Philadelphia. At 548 feet, this made it the tallest habitable building in the world from 1894 to 1908. City Hall sits on one of the five original urban park squares laid out by William Penn. Geometrically, it is the center of the other four squares within Center City--an area fittingly renamed Penn Square. If you are planning a trip to Philadelphia, I highly recommend including a walk around this iconic landmark on your itinerary, though it is bound to catch your eye unexpectedly while you are downtown. One of my favorite sculptures on the outer perimeter is of Octavius Catto, a trailblazing civil rights leader, educator, and athlete whose contributions to racial equality in 19th-century America remain profound. ~ Be obsessively grateful ~ Thomas G