Newark Court Docket
The Newark court docket runs through the Newark Alderman's Court for local violations, JP Court 9 in Middletown for state criminal and civil matters, and the New Castle County courts in Wilmington for bigger cases. Newark is the third-largest city in Delaware and home to the University of Delaware. Most Newark cases are filed in or near the city. Civil case info is open on CourtConnect.
Newark Overview
Newark Alderman's Court Docket
The Newark Alderman's Court is designated as Court No. 40. The court is at 220 South Main Street, Newark, DE 19711. Phone (302) 366-7000. Fax (302) 366-7062. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, with walk-ins until 3:00 PM.
The court hears building code, animal code, alcohol, disorderly conduct, parking, and traffic cases inside the city limits. It is not part of the Delaware judicial system but operates under the Newark municipal code. The Alderman is nominated by the governor and confirmed by the state senate.
See the full list of services on the Newark Alderman's Court page.
The Newark page has a plea agreement form, a records request form, and online payment links for parking and traffic tickets. In 2022, the court issued 8,876 citations and finalized 2,367 cases.
To plead not guilty in Newark, submit the Prior Plea Agreement form 10 days before the arraignment date. You can send it by fax, mail, or in person. Certified dispositions cost $15 for traffic or criminal records. Pay by cash, check, or money order.
Appeals from the Alderman's Court go to the Court of Common Pleas. File within 15 days of the ruling. Post a $500 bond. A parking ticket threshold of $75 triggers vehicle booting; after 3 days unpaid, the vehicle is seized. A 30-day limit doubles the fine with a late fee.
Newark JP Court 9 Docket
JP Court 9 covers Newark, Middletown, and western New Castle County. It handles both civil and criminal cases. The court is at 757 North Broad Street, Middletown, DE 19709. Phone (302) 378-5221. Fax (302) 378-5220. Email JPCourt09@delaware.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
The court's civil side takes landlord-tenant cases, debt collection, and small claims up to $25,000 for Newark residents and businesses. The criminal side hears minor offenses, traffic cases, and bail hearings.
JP Court 9 case info is on CourtConnect. Submit Form MISC35 for a certified copy or a docket from the court. Standard fees apply: $7 disposition record, $10 certified civil copy, $0.25 per page civil docket, $25 audio recording CD.
Note: A JP Court is a court not of record under 10 Del. C. § 1301. Appeals go to the Court of Common Pleas for a new trial.
Newark Court Docket and University of Delaware
The Newark Alderman's Court posts a guide for University of Delaware students who get cited by local police. Common student charges are alcohol violations, disorderly conduct, parking, and noise. Students can request certified dispositions for school-related purposes through the Alderman's Court Clerk's office.
A conviction in Newark may trigger disciplinary action at the University. The court's FAQ page also has info on record expungement. For a full state expungement, file with the Prothonotary at 500 N. King Street, Wilmington. The fee is $75.
The Newark Police Department handles arrests in the city. The PD is at 1 E. Park Place, Newark, DE 19711. Phone (302) 366-7100. Arrest records go to the Alderman's Court for ordinance cases or to the JP Court for state crimes.
New Castle County Courts for Newark Cases
Newark cases that exceed the Alderman's Court or JP Court jurisdiction go to the New Castle County courts in Wilmington. The Leonard L. Williams Justice Center at 500 N. King Street holds the Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, Family Court, and Court of Chancery offices.
Main phone lines for Newark residents:
- Superior Court: (302) 255-0800
- Court of Common Pleas: (302) 255-0900
- Family Court: (302) 255-0300
- Prothonotary: (302) 255-0735
The Superior Court Prothonotary keeps the civil court docket for New Castle County. Submit Form ADM_ADM_03_A for a record request. Certified copies cost $15 for the first three pages. Older cases may carry a $25 retrieval fee. Cash or check only.
Civil case info is on CourtConnect. The civil case search page at courts.delaware.gov/docket.aspx is another entry point. Federal cases tied to Newark are on the PACER system.
Newark Municipal Code and Parking
The Newark Municipal Code covers all local ordinances enforced by the Alderman's Court. Common code sections include Chapter 50 (Alcoholic Beverages), Chapter 54 (Animals), Chapter 78 (Buildings), Chapter 98 (Disorderly Conduct), Chapter 110 (Fire Prevention), Chapter 150 (Noise Control), and Chapter 190 (Zoning).
To dispute a Newark parking ticket, contact the Alderman's Court to set a hearing. Online payment is also available for parking and moving violations. Parking ticket records are kept by the Alderman's Court clerk.
DMV Reporting: Moving traffic convictions from the Newark Alderman's Court go to the state Division of Motor Vehicles within 10 days of disposition. Those become part of the driver's official record.
Newark Court Docket Retention
Delaware courts keep records on a set retention schedule. Serious felony cases, like murder and rape, are kept forever. Other felonies run 20 years after final disposition. Misdemeanors are kept 10 years. Civil cases with judgments are held 20 years from the date of judgment.
JP Court civil files are kept 5 years. Criminal cases there run 5 to 7 years. Traffic cases are 3 years. Landlord-tenant cases are 3 years. Alderman's Court records follow local rules, but dockets are kept permanently.
Under 10 Del. C. § 1911, the courts must keep records open during regular business hours. The law allows the courts to charge a fee for copies. You do not need to give a reason when you ask for a file.
A Newark court docket entry from the Alderman's Court may be needed for school, housing, or licensing. Certified dispositions are $15. Pay by cash, check, or money order. The Newark Alderman's Court clerk can print and seal the record while you wait.
Newark Court Docket Search Tips
Use CourtConnect when you know a party's name and a rough filing year. The system covers Superior Court, Court of Common Pleas, and JP Court cases. Basic case info is free. Family Court cases are restricted.
For an Alderman's Court case, go through the Newark city website or contact the court clerk. The Alderman's Court is not on CourtConnect. Records for that court are kept locally at 220 South Main Street.
The records access policy page at the Delaware Courts website has the full rules on what is public and what is sealed. Basic case lookups do not require any fee on CourtConnect.
Nearby Cities in New Castle County
Newark sits in the southwestern part of New Castle County. Other cities nearby use the same county courts.
See the New Castle County court docket page for the full court list.