(a) General rule.--In each year following that in which the Federal decennial census is officially reported as required by Federal law the court shall reestablish the number, boundaries and classes of magisterial districts within each judicial district except:

(1) The first judicial district.

(2) Any judicial district where a community court has been established and not discontinued.

The number, boundaries and classes of magisterial districts within each judicial district may be revised from time to time as required for the efficient administration of justice within each magisterial district.

(b) Discontinuance of community court.--The court upon the discontinuance of a community court shall establish the number, boundaries and classes of magisterial districts within the judicial district embracing such discontinued community court. Such action shall be completed prior to the first Monday of January of the odd-numbered year next following the primary election at which the discontinuance of the community court is approved.

(c) Standards for establishment of magisterial districts.--In the case of a political subdivision containing within its boundaries two or more magisterial districts, the court shall divide the political subdivision into magisterial districts as nearly equal as possible in population and area, and the court may presume that the population density of each part of a political subdivision is the same population density as for the whole political subdivision. The court in establishing the number and boundaries of magisterial districts shall not subdivide political subdivisions unless either:

(1) the political subdivision contains two or more noncontiguous parts; or

(2) the political subdivision contains within its boundaries two or more magisterial districts, in which case wards or other election districts of the political subdivision shall not be subdivided.

(d) Compensation of magisterial district judge.--When a magisterial district is reestablished the compensation of a magisterial district judge serving therein shall not be diminished for any reason during the magisterial district judge's term or during any term to which the magisterial district judge is reelected while serving in such reestablished district.

(Apr. 28, 1978, P.L.202, No.53, eff. 60 days; Dec. 5, 1980, P.L.1104, No.189, eff. imd.; Nov. 30, 2004, P.L.1618, No.207, eff. 60 days)

2004 Amendment. Act 207 amended subsec. (d). See section 29 of Act 207 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to construction of law.

1978 Amendment. Act 53 amended subsec. (a).

Cross References. Section 1503 is referred to in sections 1102, 3152 of this title.