3B District Court

The District Court is a court of limited jurisdiction. All criminal cases are started in the District Court. No clerk is permitted to give legal advice.

The District Court hours are established to accommodate everyone who has business with the court and to provide sufficient time for the Judges and staff to properly handle the caseload.

The 3B District Court is a weapons free court. Please do not bring any weapons to any court appearance. This applies even if you have a concealed weapons permit. All persons and packages entering the courts building are subject to being searched.

If you need special accommodations for hearing, sight or disability, please notify the court so that accommodations can be made.

Department Contacts

Hon. Jeffrey C. Middleton, District Court Chief Judge (269) 467-5513

Hon. Robert K. Pattison, District Judge/Family Division (269) 467-5615

Tabitha Wedge, Court Administrator/Magistrate (269) 467-5502

Mark Trowbridge , Magistrate/Judicial Associate (269) 467-5684

Lori Rumsey , Judicial Secretary/Court Recorder (269) 467-5615

Sue Eickhoff, Judicial Secretary/Court Recorder (269) 467-5513

Civil Department (269) 467-5505

Criminal Department (269) 467-5585

Traffic Department (269) 467-5503

Probation Department (269) 467-5541

General (269) 467-5627

Spanish speaking individuals (269) 467-5683

Divisions

The District Court is broken down into four main divisions:

Cases handled in this division include major traffic and misdemeanor offenses, felony charges, liquor, conservation, watercraft, and animal violations. Most of these violations require a personal appearance before a Judge or Magistrate. Note: Failure to be present for any criminal proceeding as required may result in an issuance of a bench warrant. Click here for more information.

Traffic civil infractions, and minor traffic misdemeanor offenses are handled by the Traffic Division. You may schedule an Informal Hearing with the Traffic Clerk or pay preset fines in this division daily. Click here for more information.

Sentencing by the court may result in probation, which requires specified periods of time that an individual must report to a Probation Officer of this division. Click here for more information.

The Civil Division processes Civil suits, Small Claims cases, Landlord-Tenant disputes and Land Contract cases. The Court handles civil suits up to $25,000 while Small Claims cases provide an inexpensive forum for resolving money disputes up to $5,500. Click here for more information.

Electronic Filing Legislation

Please be advised that the Michigan legislature recently passed Electronic Filing Legislation. The legislation requires District Courts to collect an “electronic filing system fee” in addition to the existing filing fees when commencing an action in the District Court, regardless of whether the action is filed electronically.

The increase in the filing fee is as follows:

• $10 for civil actions filed in the District Court, including summary proceedings actions.
• $20 for civil actions filed in the District Court if a claim for money damages is joined with a claim for relief other than money damages.
• $5 for civil actions filed in the small claims division of the District Court.

The effective date of the increased fee is March 1, 2016.