What Should You Expect at the 20th District Court in Dearborn Heights?

The 20th District Court in Dearborn Heights, Michigan handles criminal misdemeanors, civil infractions, and the early stages of felony cases that arise in the City of Dearborn Heights. If you were arrested or cited in Dearborn Heights, your case will most likely begin at 25637 Michigan Avenue.

20th District Court at a glance

The address and phone number come from the Michigan Legal Help court listing and were checked in October 2026. We could not confirm the court’s public hours or its current judges from an official source, so call the court before you go. Judges, hours, and procedures can change.

What cases does the 20th District Court hear?

Michigan district courts have exclusive jurisdiction over criminal matters where the maximum penalty does not exceed one year in jail (MCL 600.8311). In Dearborn Heights that includes misdemeanors such as first-offense drunk driving (OWI), retail fraud, and assault and battery, as well as traffic misdemeanors and civil infractions. In felony cases the district court handles the arraignment, bond, and preliminary examination. If the judge finds probable cause, the case moves to circuit court for trial.

Traffic tickets that are civil infractions go through the court’s traffic division. A finding of responsibility is reported to the Secretary of State, which adds the violation to your driving record and assesses points.

What happens at your arraignment?

Michigan law requires that an arrested person be taken before a court without unnecessary delay, and the arraignment can be held by two-way video (MCR 6.104(A); MCR 6.006(A)). At the arraignment the judge or magistrate tells you the charge and your rights, decides whether you will be released and on what conditions, and, if you cannot afford a lawyer, appoints one (MCR 6.005). On a felony charge the court must also tell you about your right to a preliminary examination, and it may not ask you to enter a plea or question you about the offense (MCR 6.104(E)). Bond decisions follow MCR 6.106 and MCL 765.6.

How does a felony case move through the court?

1. Arraignment. The court sets the dates for the next two hearings at the arraignment (MCL 766.4(1)).
2. Probable cause conference. This takes place 7 to 14 days after arraignment. The lawyers discuss whether the case will go to a preliminary examination, be waived, or be resolved by a plea (MCL 766.4(1); MCR 6.104(E)(4)).
3. Preliminary examination. Unless waived or adjourned, this takes place 5 to 7 days after the conference. The prosecutor must show probable cause that a felony was committed and that you committed it, and the court follows the Michigan Rules of Evidence (MCR 6.110(C)).
4. Bindover. If the judge finds probable cause, the case is sent to the Third Circuit Court, Criminal Division, in Detroit for trial.

With the court’s approval, the parties may agree to hold the examination earlier than 5 days after the conference (MCL 766.4(4)). If a party objects, the court may not adjourn the examination without finding good cause on the record (MCR 6.110(B)(1)).

Two Wayne County details are worth knowing. According to the State Appellate Defender Office’s description of the Third Circuit Court, some felony cases can be placed on an expedited track in which every proceeding after the arraignment on the warrant takes place in the circuit court, so your schedule may differ from the standard timeline. Your lawyer can tell you which track applies. Also, Wayne County offices, including the prosecutor’s office and the clerk’s criminal division, have been moving to the new Criminal Justice Center at 5301 Russell Street in Detroit, so confirm the courthouse address before your first circuit court date.

Dearborn Heights Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney

If you have a pending court date before the 20th District Court, or you have been arrested or accused of a DUI, gun crime, drug crime, probation violation, misdemeanor or felony offense, traffic violation, or retail fraud in Dearborn Heights, contact Dearborn Heights Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney Kevin Bessant immediately for a free consultation. Attorney Bessant has litigated hundreds of criminal cases throughout Michigan.

Do not handle your case alone. Call 313-658-8159 today.

Frequently asked questions about the 20th District Court

Where is the 20th District Court in Dearborn Heights?

The 20th District Court is at 25637 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125, and Michigan Legal Help lists its number as (313) 277-7480. Call the court to confirm public hours before you go.

Which community does the 20th District Court serve?

The 20th District Court serves the City of Dearborn Heights. Cases from Dearborn Heights begin there, and felony cases move to the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County if the judge finds probable cause.

Does the 20th District Court handle felony cases?

The court handles the early stages of felony cases, including the arraignment, bond, and preliminary examination. If the judge finds probable cause, the case moves to the Third Circuit Court in Wayne County for trial.

What happens at a felony arraignment in Dearborn Heights?

The judge or magistrate tells you the charge and your right to a preliminary examination, sets bond, and appoints a lawyer if you cannot afford one. The court then sets a probable cause conference 7 to 14 days later and a preliminary examination 5 to 7 days after that (MCL 766.4(1); MCR 6.104(E)).

Legal Authority: Court Rules and Statute

District court jurisdiction is set by MCL 600.8311. Arraignment is governed by MCR 6.104, district court criminal procedure by MCR 6.610, and preliminary examinations by MCL 766.4 and MCR 6.110. Bond follows MCL 765.6 and MCR 6.106, and the right to counsel is in MCR 6.005. For the current text of these rules, see the Michigan Court Rules published by the Michigan Courts and the text of MCL 766.4 on the Michigan Legislature’s website.