Former Michigan Prosecutor | Jonathan Andrew Paul
  • Crimes
    • Domestic Violence
    • Retail Fraud
    • Drug Offenses
    • Assaultive
    • College/Tailgate Offenses >
      • Minor in Possession
      • Ann Arbor MIP
      • Ann Arbor Fake ID
      • Ann Arbor UIP
      • Ann Arbor Open Container
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Handling a Traffic Ticket
    • Careless/Reckless Driving
    • Probation Violation
    • Early Discharge Probation
    • Larceny
    • Malicious Destruction of Property
    • Embezzlement
    • Juvenile Charges
  • Drunk Driving
    • Evidence >
      • Chemical Tests >
        • Implied Consent Law
        • Independent Chemical Test
        • Single Car Accident | DUI Defense
        • Effects of Body Temperature
        • Cross-Examining the DataMaster
        • Blood Testing 101
        • Impact of Methyl Alcohol/Paraldehyde
        • Radio Frequency Issues w/DataMaster
      • Right to Counsel
      • Preliminary Breath Test (PBT)
      • Field Sobriety Tests
      • Police Traffic Stop >
        • Sleeping in Car Defense
        • Cross-Examination - The Not Driving Defense
      • Police Statements
    • DUI Consequences >
      • Ignition Interlock
      • Restitution
      • Vehicle Immobilization
      • Travel Restrictions
      • Child Custody
      • Employment/Education
      • Traveling to Canada?
      • Vehicle Forfeiture
      • Civil Liability
      • Commercial Driver's License
    • DUI Trial Guide >
      • Jury Selection
      • Opening Statement
      • Cross-Examination
      • Closing Argument
      • Jury vs Bench Trial
    • Setting Bond >
      • Alcohol/Drug Testing Part #1
      • Alcohol/Drug Testing Part #2
      • Posting Bond
    • DUI Offenses >
      • Operating While Intoxicated
      • Operating While Visibly Impaired
      • Super Drunk/High BAC
      • Operating Presence of Controlled Substance
      • Child Endangerment
      • Felony Drunk Driving
      • DUI Under 21 Years Old
      • DUI Causing Injury/Death
    • Sobriety Court
    • DUI Pardons
  • Hiring a Super Lawyer
  • Courts
    • Wayne County >
      • More Courts >
        • Allen Park
        • Dearborn Heights
        • Detroit
        • Ecorse
        • Hamtramck
        • Harper Woods
        • Highland
        • Lincoln Park
        • Redford
        • Southgate
        • Taylor
        • Woodhaven
        • Wyandotte
      • Plymouth
      • Northville
      • Canton
      • Romulus
      • Livonia
      • Dearborn
      • Grosse Pointe
      • Westland
    • Oakland County >
      • Novi
      • Troy
      • Southfield
      • Royal Oak | Berkley
      • Rochester Hills
      • Farmington Hills
      • Bloomfield Hills
      • Waterford
      • Clarkston
      • Oak Park
      • Pontiac
      • Ferndale/Madison Heights/Hazel Park Drunk Driving DUI Criminal Attorney | Oakland County
    • Washtenaw County >
      • Ann Arbor
      • Chelsea
      • Pittsfield Township
      • Saline
      • Ypsilanti 14A
      • Ypsilanti 14B
    • Macomb County >
      • Center Line
      • Clinton Township
      • Eastpointe
      • Fraser
      • New Baltimore
      • Romeo
      • Roseville
      • Shelby Township
      • Sterling Heights
      • St. Clair Shores
      • Warren
    • Jackson County
    • Lenawee County
    • Livingston County
    • Monroe County
    • East Lansing
  • Expungement
    • DUI Expungement
  • 5-Star DUI Defense
  • Legal Guides
    • FAQ
    • DUI Expungement
    • Arrested in Michigan? NOW WHAT!
    • Being Investigated?
    • 18 Key Questions for DUI's
    • Michigan License Restoration
  • Client Reviews
  • Growth Mindset
  • Inside the Prosecutor Mind
    • Drunk Driving >
      • OWI First Offense
      • OWI Second Offense
      • OWI Third Offense
      • Field Sobriety Tests
      • Chemical Tests
      • Implied Consent
      • Hardship License
      • Sobriety Court
    • Expungement
    • Assault/DV Charges >
      • Domestic Violence
      • Misdemeanor Assault
      • Felonious Assault
    • Theft Offenses >
      • Retail Fraud
      • Embezzlement
      • Larceny
    • College Offenses >
      • Open Container
      • Minor in Possession (MIP)
      • Urinating in Public
      • Fake ID
    • Drug Charges >
      • Felony Drug Possession
    • Driving - Traffic >
      • Reckless Careless Driving
      • Driving While License Suspended
      • Leaving Scene of Accident
    • Disorderly Conduct
    • Probation Violation
    • Resisting Arrest
    • Malicious Destruction of Property
    • Travel Requests
    • Bond Violations
  • Contact Me
  • Leading with Empathy
  • Blog

Ann Arbor 15th District Court Criminal Attorney - Comprehensive Insider Guide to the Court, Judge and Prosecutors

4/28/2017

 
15th District Court  - 301 E Huron St, Ann Arbor, MI 48107

The 15th District Court handles all cases from the City of Ann Arbor; if you’re charged with a crime or issued a ticket on the campus of the University of Michigan, while tailgating or inside Michigan Stadium, your court case will be handled at this courthouse.  The Ann Arbor court has three judges and one magistrate, and you could have one of two different prosecutors.  

The judges of the 15th District Court are Judge Elizabeth Hines, Judge Karen Valvo and Judge Joseph Burke; the magistrate is Tamara Garwood.  Each judge is currently assigned a certain category of criminal case with some overlap; the assignments are always changing, but as of the publishing of this book, the current breakdown is the following.  

Judge Hines is currently handling all domestic violence and assault cases, with some disorderly conducts, possession of marijuana, minor in possession, fake ID, retail fraud, urinating in public and other non-drunk driving misdemeanors.

Judge Valvo is handling the majority of non-drunk driving cases with the exception of the domestic violence and assault cases.  If you’re charged with minor in possession, fake ID, disorderly conduct, possession of marijuana, retail fraud, urinating in public and other misdemeanors, it’s likely that you will be assigned Judge Valvo or Hines.  Judge Valvo currently presides over the Veteran’s Court and the Mental Health Court.  

Judge Burke is currently handling all drunk driving cases, along with presiding over the sobriety court, and does not currently preside over other criminal cases with the rare exception that he is covering another judge’s docket.  

In addition to their responsibilities at the 15th District Court, all three judges also handle cases at the 14A-1 District Court for the preliminary examination/felony cases handled within Washtenaw County.

All three judges do a great job handling their dockets in an efficient and equitable manner.  The court is very easy to work with in terms of rescheduling cases and going above and beyond to make sure that each case is handled with the proper care, which the client deserves.  

As with the judges, the two prosecutors who handle cases at the 15th District Court are good to work with, and handle cases in a very fair manner for clients who deserve a certain result.  If you’re charged with a misdemeanor in Ann Arbor, the prosecutor will either be the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office or the City of Ann Arbor.  This distinction comes down to the type of offense that you’re charged with, your criminal history and the arresting police agency.

As a general rule, if you’re arrested or issued a ticket by the Michigan State Police, the University of Michigan Police Department or the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office will be the prosecutor.  If you were arrested or issued a ticket by the Ann Arbor Police Department, your prosecutor will be the City of Ann Arbor.  

In addition to the police agency, if you’re charged with domestic violence, repeat offense retail fraud, second offense drunk driving and most assault crimes, the Washtenaw County Prosecutor’s Office with be the prosecutor.  As stated earlier, any felony is handled by Washtenaw, and not the City of Ann Arbor.
The Ann Arbor court is night and day with some other courts in Michigan, and if you had to pick a court to have a case, this would probably be the best court in Michigan.  

When charged with a crime in Ann Arbor, you may be issued a ticket on the spot with 10-14 days to report to the courthouse, or a report is created and the police officer may tell you that the case will be sent to the prosecutor for review.  This review could take a few days, weeks or months, but either way it’s time to hire an attorney, and begin a proactive plan from day one.  Here are some additional rules of thumb:

#1 - If you’re charged with a drunk driving offense, your first court date will be with Judge Burke for an arraignment.  

#2- If you’re charged with domestic violence, your first court date will be with Judge Hines for an arraignment.

#3 - If you’re charged with most other misdemeanors, your case may be assigned to Magistrate Tamara Garwood who will then send it either Judge Hines or Valvo.  

An arraignment is a court date to hear your charges, and enter a plea or guilty or not guilty.  If you plead guilty, you then have a criminal record for the crime you have been charged with without any “deal” in place.  If you plead not-guilty, then you get a pretrial with one of the judges and one of the prosecutors.  The prosecutor is NOT present at the arraignment, and it is simply a waste of time if you can avoid it. 

Comments are closed.
    top criminal lawyer michigan, metro detroit, northville, plymouth attorney
    Jonathan Andrew PaulReviewsout of 164 reviews

    Call Me Today
    248-924-9458
    ​
    Email Me

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Search the Blog

    Blog Posts

    - The Michigan Retrograde Extrapolation Guide

    - Selecting an Ann Arbor Criminal Defense Lawyer

    - Selecting an Oakland County Criminal Defense Lawyer

    - Drunk Driving Consults

    - The One Question Your Michigan Criminal Defense Lawyer Should not be Able to Answer

    - Are the police allowed to follow me home from a bar?

    - Is it illegal to smoke weed and drive a car in Michigan? What's the legal limit for pot?

    - Michigan Police Confessions 101

    - Michigan 7411 Drug Crimes

    - FAQ: Shoplifting in Michigan

    - Michigan HYTA Eligibility

    - Can I be on probation while    away at college?

    - What is a Deferred Judgment of Guilt?

    - Michigan CDL Alcohol Penalties 

    - Ann Arbor Arrested for Fake ID, Urinating in Public, Minor in Possession, Open Container

    - Should I Admit to Drinking Alcohol?

    - Arrested for Minor in Possession in Ann Arbor?

    - Michigan DUI Probation Violation Hearings

    - How To: Claiming Self Defense at Trial 

    - Michigan Sex Offender FAQ

    - Should I use the Public Defender?

    - Washtenaw County Felony OWI Options

    - Handling a Michigan traffic ticket

    - How to beat a Careless Driving Charge

    - Hiring a Wayne County Criminal Defense Lawyer

    - Michigan DUI Concealed Weapon Permit

    - What's a Michigan Preliminary Examination?

    Neighbor Disputes

    - Can I Remove my GPS Tether?

    - Vehicle forfeitures 
     - Will I lose my license for a drug charge?

    - Michigan Driver's Responsibility Fees

    - Falsely Accused on Domestic Violence
    - 48th District Court Prosecutors 
    - Am I eligible for expungement with two convictions?
Representing clients in Ann Arbor, Canton, Brighton, Howell, Saline, Adrian, Taylor, Plymouth, Northville, Westland, Ypsilanti, Pittsfield Towsnhip, Warren, Sterling Heights, Farmington, Pontiac, Romulus, Lansing, Novi, South Lyon, Southfield, Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Royal Oak, Troy, Rochester, Jackson, East Lansing, Garden City, Livonia, Dearborn, Detroit, St Clair Shores, Hazel Park, Ferndale, Madison Heights, Waterford, Milford, Shelby Township Clarkston, Oak Park, Berkley, Fraser, Sterling Heights, Clinton Township and others throughout Washtenaw, Wayne, Monroe, Jackson,  Macomb, Ingham, Lenawee, Livingston, Oakland County & Northern Michigan 

Representing clients faced with DUI/drunk driving, retail fraud, possession of marijuana, domestic violence, reckless driving, leaving the scene of an accident, fake ID, open container  and other misdemeanor and felony charges. 

Evening & Weekend Service Available Call Me: 248-924-9458

Picture

Ann Arbor Office Location

Plymouth Office Location

Michigan Defense Attorney Jonathan Paul - Former New York & Michigan Prosecutor