The 19th District Court in Dearborn, Michigan hears civil litigation up to $25,000, all city ordinance and traffic violations, criminal misdemeanors, and the arraignment, bail, and preliminary examination stages of felony cases that arise in the City of Dearborn. If you were arrested or cited in Dearborn, your case will most likely begin at 16077 Michigan Avenue.
19th District Court at a glance
| Court | 19th District Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 16077 Michigan Ave., Dearborn, MI 48126 |
| Phone | Main (313) 943-2060; juror reporting line (313) 943-2086 |
| Public hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. |
| Community served | City of Dearborn |
| Judges | Sam A. Salamey, L. Eugene Hunt, Jr., and Mark W. Somers |
| Treatment programs | Veterans Treatment Court and DWI/Drug Treatment Court |
| Online services | Request a court date for civil infraction tickets, resolve a ticket online, resolve a warrant, and a virtual courtroom |
| Court website | City of Dearborn, 19th District Court |
| Felony trial court | Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan (Wayne County), Criminal Division, Detroit |
Court details come from the City of Dearborn’s 19th District Court pages and were checked in October 2026. The judges listed come from a City of Dearborn court document dated October 2025. Judges, hours, and procedures can change, so call the court to confirm before you go.
What cases does the 19th District Court hear?
According to the City of Dearborn, the court has exclusive jurisdiction over the arraignment, setting of bail, and preliminary examination of all felony cases, criminal misdemeanors where the penalty does not exceed one year in jail (MCL 600.8311), all city ordinance violations, and all traffic and parking violations, along with civil litigation up to $25,000. Misdemeanors here include charges such as first-offense drunk driving (OWI), retail fraud, and assault and battery. The City says every person who appears has the right to have the case tried by a judge or by a jury of six citizens, except in small claims cases and civil infraction traffic violations, and that appeals go to the Wayne County Circuit Court.
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. For a ticket marked C/I, the court’s website lets you request a court date online. If your ticket does not have the C/I designation, call the court at (313) 943-2060 or email courtdate@dearborn.gov to request a date.
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. The court’s website also lists a way to resolve a warrant, so ask your lawyer before you contact the court yourself.
How does a felony case move through the court?
- Arraignment. The court sets the dates for the next two hearings at the arraignment (MCL 766.4(1)).
- 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)).
- 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)).
- 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 Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney
The 19th District Court hears DUI offenses, traffic violations, retail fraud, misdemeanor and felony offenses, drug crimes, and probation violations. Dearborn Michigan Criminal Defense Attorney Kevin Bessant has the experience and litigation skills to help you resolve your criminal matter. Do not handle it alone.
Call 313-658-8159 to schedule your free consultation.
Frequently asked questions about the 19th District Court
Where is the 19th District Court in Dearborn, and what are its hours?
The court is at 16077 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126, and its main number is (313) 943-2060. The City of Dearborn lists hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Who are the judges of the 19th District Court?
As of October 2026 a City of Dearborn court document lists Judges Sam A. Salamey, L. Eugene Hunt, Jr., and Mark W. Somers. The three judges are elected by Dearborn voters to six-year terms, so assignments can change.
How do I request a court date for a Dearborn traffic ticket?
If your ticket is marked C/I, meaning civil infraction, you can request a court date through the court’s online booking page. If it does not have that designation, call the court at (313) 943-2060 or email courtdate@dearborn.gov.
What happens at a felony arraignment in Dearborn?
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.