In Philadelphia county, if you are charged with only misdemeanors your case is heard in the Muncipal Court of Philadelphia. In the Municipal Court of Philadelphia you do not have the option to have a jury trial, but the federal constitution of the United States of America guarantees you a trial by a jury of your peers. Therefore, if you are unhappy with the outcome of your case in the Municipal Court of Philadelphia, you can take a de novo appeal to the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia and start over entirely.
Additionally, if you think the judge in the Municipal Court case made a mistake as a matter of law, you can file a writ of certiorari in Common Pleas Court and ask the Common Pleas judge to review the Municipal Court ruling.
