City Guide
County Courts
County Courts
The area court system is made up of the Washtenaw County Trial Court for the 22nd Judicial Circuit and Judicial District Courts 14A (for cases arising in Washtenaw County except those within the City of Ann Arbor and the Township of Ypsilanti), 14B (cases arising in the Township of Ypsilanti), and 15 (cases arising in the City of Ann Arbor). The Washtenaw County Courthouse is located at 101 E. Huron, at N. Main. courts.ewashtenaw.org
The Twenty-second Circuit Court (222-3270) is composed of the Civil/Criminal Division, which hears civil cases involving claims of more than $25,000 and all felony cases, and the Family Division (includes Juvenile Court, Friend of the Court, and Probate Court). Circuit court judges are: Donald Shelton (Chief Judge), David S. Swartz, Archie Brown, Donald Shelton, Melinda Morris, Timothy Connors, Nancy Francis and Darlene O’Brien. Court administrator: Daniel Dwyer. washtenawtrialcourt.org
Family Division. 222-3001. Handles child custody, support, and visitation; personal protection orders; and cases involving estates, juvenile delinquency, neglect, abuse, and mental health. Also handles divorce cases (parties are required to attend a mediation education session), confirms adoptions, and hears requests for waivers from minors who want to have an abortion without parental consent. Juvenile cases are heard at 2270 Platt (222-6900). Anyone may petition the court to issue a personal protection order to stop or restrain another person from harassing, beating, wounding, stalking, or assaulting. If you are in immediate danger, you may request an ex parte order, which may be signed without a hearing and without notifying the other party; otherwise, a hearing will be scheduled. Forms are available at court services, 101 E. Huron. There is no fee to file a complaint, but the petitioner must pay the cost of serving the order on the restrained party.
Friend of the Court, 101 E. Huron, first floor. 222-3050; automated account information line, 994-9261 (have your case number ready). Case-specific questions can also be emailed to intake@ewashtenaw.org. The Friend of the Court helps the court and parents resolve disputes involving divorce, child custody, parenting time, and support. Mediation is available at no charge for child custody or visitation disputes. The agency also enforces court-ordered child support, spousal support, and parenting time. Support enforcement proceedings may begin automatically if payments fall behind or upon request of the support recipient. Parenting time enforcement requires a written request.
District Courts. In the Ann Arbor area, courts for Judicial Districts 14A and 15 hear civil cases that involve less than $25,000, including most landlord-tenant disputes, and handle criminal misdemeanors and felony preliminary exams and pleas. Disputes of $3,000 or less are small claims, which are heard with no lawyers and no jury and cannot be appealed. There is a $500 maximum award for accident-caused damage to motor vehicles. Filing fee is $25 (more for claims over $600). The court charges a small additional amount to serve papers. Cases are heard approximately three to four weeks after filing. A magistrate usually presides.
The Fifteenth District Courts administration 222-3393, traffic/criminal division (222-3380) and civil division (222-3389) cover the city of Ann Arbor; judges are Julie Creal, Elizabeth P. Hines, and Christopher Easthope. Magistrate M. Colleen Currie. 15thdistrictcourt.org
14A District Court serves all of Washtenaw County, except the City of Ann Arbor and Township of Ypsilanti. Judges are Richard E. Conlin, Kirk W. Tabbey, and J. Cedric Simpson. Traffic infractions outside Ann Arbor are normally heard at the Division 14A Traffic Bureau at the Washtenaw County Service Center, 4133 Washtenaw (entrance on Hogback). Nontraffic civil infractions and criminal cases originating in Pittsfield, Superior, and Ann Arbor townships and the village of Barton Hills are heard at Division 14A-1, also at 4133 Washtenaw; those originating in Freedom, Lima, Lodi, Northfield, Scio, and Webster townships are heard at Division 14A-3, 122 S. Main in Chelsea. All locations open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Construction of the new Washtenaw County District Court Building (14A-1) has begun, and is expected to be finished by the end of 2010. 14adistrictcourt.org
Jury service. Jurors are chosen at random from a list of licensed drivers and state identification card holders in Washtenaw county. Service is for one week or one trial. Compensation for jury duty, including travel compensation, varies by court and length of service.
Marriages may be performed by probate judge Nancy Francis (222-3351) and Judge Darlene O'Brien. Online marriage license applications and a list of officiants are on the county’s website, ewashtenaw.org. Click on government, then clerk/register of deeds, then marriages.
