Sharpsburg Magisterial District Judge Matthew Rudzki made good on one of his campaign promises from last year.

Rudzki implemented a night court option for people seeking an alternative to having to miss work or school to attend court.

“I have high hopes it will be a successful program,” Rudzki said. “The night court was a part of my campaign in increasing accessibility to the court.”

Allegheny County Court approved the new court offering in late January.

The night court is every last Thursday of the month from 3:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Rudzki said there are 65 cases on the docket for this week.

He said an average case load for court is about 30 cases.

“The response has been good and we are helping people,” Rudzki said. “This is for the working class folks who can’t afford to lose a day’s wages.”

Additionally, Rudzki said students won’t have to miss school and can schedule a night court appearance.

“I taught school for a year and I learned the importance of academic success and being in the classroom,” Rudzki said.

A lifelong Sharpsburg resident, Rudzki taught English in Austria for a year on a Fulbright fellowship.

Rudzki said the night court handles truancy and delinquency hearings and traffic cases.

Currently, only one other Allegheny County magistrate, Judge Dan Konieczka of Shaler, offers a night court option.

“I think if people see it being done they may want to expand it into their court,” Rudzki said.

Rudzki’s office along Main Street hears cases that include some felonies, small claims, traffic violations and truancy and delinquency cases.

Rudzki, a Fox Chapel Area High School alumnus, served as Mayor of Sharpsburg before seeking a higher office.

His office serves six municipalities that include Blawnox, Fox Chapel, Indiana Township, O’Hara, Sharpsburg and Aspinwall.

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