County looking at new building for Mill Hall area District Justice office

LOCK HAVEN, PA – Clinton County government is looking at a new building to replace the present Magisterial District Court building at 385 Beech Creek Avenue in Mill Hall. County commissioner/board chairman Miles Kessinger indicated at Monday’s board work session that the present structure, some 50 years old, is in need of replacement. He said the county is looking at acquiring an abutting property on which to locate a new structure.

County Court Administrator Don Powers said the planning for a new structure is in its early stages, the hope there can be a new home by the summer of 2024. Powers said the Mill Hall office, given its proximity to Interstate 80, is the busiest of the three DJ offices in the county. He said total cases for 2021 amounted to 8,379, the traffic total of that amount 7,510, primarily for the interstate.

The office presently houses District Judge John Maggs and four clerks. Powers said the district judge recently gave up his office to make room for a newly added fourth clerk. He told The Record the number of traffic citations alone keeps two clerks busy.

According to the court administrator, the plan is to purchase a home to the rear of the current office and build a new structure, move the staff there, tear down the old office and make additional parking.