District Court

By Administrative Order - Security Policy for Court Facilities, individuals entering the Courthouse are to abide by the following:

• No cameras, camera phones, *cell phones, or electronic recording devices, and
• No weapons or cutting instruments allowed.
• *Cell phones will be permitted for governmental employees with currently valid pictured I.D., licensed and practicing attorneys, physicians, victim advocates with a county pictured identification badge and mediators with approved identification badges.

Overview

District Court, with which citizens have more contact than any other court, processes case filings that are initiated by law enforcement, businesses and private citizens. The court will process the cases as mandated by statute. District Court handles all misdemeanors including arraignment, setting and acceptance of bail, trial and sentencing, and conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases. The court has exclusive jurisdiction of all summary proceedings, small claims and civil litigation up to $25,000 and handles garnishments, tenancy, eviction and other proceedings. The traffic division processes all misdemeanor, parking and civil infraction traffic offenses, strictly following Secretary of State guidelines.

The District Court is responsible for collecting and distributing fine, costs and fees. Money collected is either ordered by the District Court Judge or dictated by statute, i.e. filing fees. The money that is collected by the District Court is deposited with the Calhoun County Treasurer and distributed to various entities, including the county, cities, townships, villages and libraries. Additionally, state mandated fees are collected for community dispute resolution, court equity fund, highway safety fee, conservation fee, civil fee, training fees, crime victim fee, secondary road patrol fee, state fund civil, state fund traffic, jail reimbursement fee, forensic lab, Secretary of State, bonds, restitution and cost recovery.

District judges are elected for terms of six years in non-partisan elections. A candidate must be a qualified elector, a resident of the district, a lawyer who has been licensed to practice law for at least five years and under 70 years of age. Salaries for district judges are set by the legislature.

General Information

Public parking is available off Division Street, immediately to the side and back of the Court building and off E. Michigan behind the Fire Department.

Visa/Mastercard payments are accepted.

Personal Listening Devices

Personal listening devices are available. Ask the Court Officer in the courtroom you are attending for a personal listening device. You can find an Americans With Disabilities Act "request for accommodations" form at: http://courts.michigan.gov/scao/courtforms/general/mc70.pdf.