Oakland County 52-1 District Court
The 52-1 District Court oversees cases that involve criminal traffic violations, civil infractions, misdemeanor offenses, and probation. The court may also hear cases involving felony offenses; however, this requires authorization by the local county prosecutor.
This court is divided into several divisions. The Criminal Division is responsible for processing cases involving criminal charges. One of the most common cases heard at the 52-1 District Court are cases that involve drunk driving charges. There’s also a Probation Division, and several other divisions depending on the nature of the case.
This Oakland County based court has a reputation for handing out harsh penalties and strict jail sentences, particularly for drunk driving arrests. As a result, it’s vital to consult with an experienced Oakland County defense attorney that understands the local court system.
Criminal Court Process
As previously discussed, many criminal charges within Oakland County are handled through the criminal division of the 52-1 District Court. This includes charges related to: drunk driving, assault & battery, drug charges, traffic violations, domestic violence, theft offenses, and more. In short, Criminal Division of the court hears criminal matters where the maximum penalty does not exceed one year in jail. You can learn more about the court’s individual processes within the links below.
*Please Note*
Information on this page and contained within individual links can serve as a useful guide; however, this content should not be considered a substitute for professional legal advice. If you’d like to speak with an attorney that understands the Oakland County court system, call this number today (248) 348-0496
Court Location
The 52nd District Court 1st Division is located in Oakland County, Michigan, specifically, in the City of Novi. Oakland County is a major part of the Detroit Metropolitan area and is located northwest of Detroit next to the neighboring Wayne County.
You can obtain the address and specific directions below.
Oakland County 52-1 District Court
48150 Grand River Ave
Novi, MI 48374-1222
Get Directions
Court Jurisdiction
The court has jurisdiction over several communities and cities within Oakland County. This includes the following areas:
The City of Novi
Novi Township
South Lyon
Lyon Township
Wixom
Milford
Milford Township
Village of Milford
Walled Lake
Commerce Township
Highland Township
Village of Wolverine Lake
If you were arrested and are being charged in one of these areas, the 52nd District Court 1st Division likely has jurisdiction over your criminal case.
Potential Outcomes
As a Northville based law firm with over 30 years of experience representing clients charged with criminal offenses at various local court systems, we have a vast amount of knowledge and experience the potential outcomes at trial. Here are the possible outcomes for a criminal hearing at the 52-1 court.
Case Dismissal – In certain instances, a court case may be dismissed. This typically occurs due to suppression of existing evidence or lack thereof.
Plea Agreement – In some cases, it’s necessary to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution. This may involve an agreement to keep the defendant out of jail and/or receive a reduced charge (i.e. probation and fines instead of jail time).
Guilty – If the prosecution decides to go forward in taking a case to trial, and there’s no negotiated plea agreements or case dismissals, the offenders fate is in the hands of a judge. The 52-1 court has a reputation for handing out harsh penalties so the offender very well could receive a jail sentence even for 1st offence misdemeanors and DUI charges. Needless to say, having proper legal defense is absolutely critical in this court system.
Not Guilty – If the case goes to trial and the defense presents enough evidence to convince a judge of reasonable doubt that the offender should be found guilty of the charged offense, then the offender will be declared “not guilty” and is free to go.
