The District Court, which was established by the Michigan Legislature in 1968 pursuant to constitutional mandate, has more citizen contact than any other court in our judicial system.

     The 73B District has one district court judge: David B. Herrington; and a support staff of 10 full and part-time employees. The court is comprised of four divisions including:

• Civil Division handles cases that involve money or damage claims, and landlord/tenant disputes.

• Criminal Division processes paperwork from police departments, state law and ordinance prosecutors. Cases involve misdemeanor offenses, both traffic and non-traffic.

• Traffic Division and Magistrate Court deals with citations written by police departments, informal hearings, and weddings.

• Probation Division conducts pre-sentence investigations, alcohol assessments, probation supervision, and probation violation hearings.

     Also located at the 73B District Court, but not a division of the district court, is the office of Community Corrections.

• Community Corrections which oversees defendants after a finding of guilt or a plea of guilt

Civil Division

The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of civil matters involving claims not exceeding $25,000 in the following areas:

·        controversy,

·        landlord/tenant eviction proceedings,

·        land contract forfeitures,

·        garnishments and executions, and other related proceedings.

Criminal Division

The District Court has the exclusive jurisdiction over all criminal matters in which the maximum penalty does not exceed one year in jail. It also conducts preliminary examinations in all felony cases in which the penalty exceeds one year in jail. The preliminary exam is conducted to determine whether or not the prosecution has sufficient evidence to show probable cause that the defendant committed the crime charged. If the District Judge decides there is probable cause, the matter is bound over to Circuit Court for trial.

Traffic Division and Magistrate Division

The District Court also has the responsibility for all traffic violations involving civil infractions and misdemeanors such as speeding, careless driving, and reckless driving. 

For civil infraction tickets (violation of state statute or local ordinance which imposes no jail time) the Magistrate Division takes pleas of responsible, not responsible, or responsible with explanation.  The Magistrate Division of the District Court also handles all informal hearings, small claims hearings, approves or denies search warrants, arrest warrants, and may hold arraignments. 

Probation Division

Probation, which is granted by the judge, is a sentence that allows the offender to live in the community under the supervision of a probation officer. The 73B District Court has a Probation Officer, Jesse Osentoski, who oversees all matters dealing with probationers.

We do accept payments for fines & costs and bonds by credit card:

Visit www.officialpayments.com - enter jurisdiction code 7068