Notifications

The 33rd District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following matters occurring within Brownstown, Flat Rock, Gibraltar, Grosse Ile, Rockwood, Trenton, and Woodhaven:

General Civil: Lawsuits seeking damages up to $25,000.
 Landlord-Tenant: Disputes between a landlord and tenant(s).
 Small Claims: Money disputes up to $6,000.
 Criminal and Traffic: Criminal felony offenses from arraignment through preliminary examination and misdemeanor offenses. Traffic misdemeanor citations/tickets including statute and ordinance violations and civil infractions.

Security screening is in progress at the 33rd District Court every day. Individuals and their belongings (purses, bags, briefcases, etc…) entering the 33rd District Court are subject to search. For a list of items that are not allowed in the courthouse, please visit the Information page.

Judges

Judge Michael K. McNally was elected to the 33rd District Court bench in 1994, and assumed his duties in January, 1995. He was re-elected in 2000, 2006, 2012, and 2018. Judge McNally served as Chief Judge of the Court from 1998 – 2001, 2006 – 2009, and 2012 – 2013, and is currently Chief Judge.

Judge McNally initiated the Sobriety Court program and serves as its Presiding Judge. Continue Reading…

Judge James K. Kersten has been a judge with the 33rd District court since his election in 1996. He was re-elected in 2002 and again in 2008. He served as Chief Judge for the 33rd District Court from 2000 until 2004, and was again named Chief Judge in January of 2010.

Prior to his election, he worked as an attorney in our community for 16 years representing local families and businesses. Continue Reading…

Judge Jennifer Coleman Hesson was elected to serve on the 33rd District Court bench in November, 2010, taking office on January 1, 2011. One year later, she was appointed Chief Judge Pro Tem and most recently received the appointment, from the Supreme Court, to serve as Chief Judge of the 33rd District Court, beginning January 1, 2014.

Before taking the bench, she was a courtroom attorney for nearly 15 years. Continue Reading…

Probation

 

 

Mission

The Mission of the 33rd District Court Probation Department is to work toward the betterment of our communities by professionally carrying out the orders of the Court, which are designed to protect the public through punitive and rehabilitative measures imposed on those who have disregarded the laws of our society.

Purpose

Probation exists for the purpose of aiding in the reduction of the incidence and impact of crime. The Probation Department is responsible for providing supervision to individuals who have been charged with misdemeanor offenses. While under the supervision of the Probation Division the misdemeanor offenders are responsible for complying with all of the conditions imposed by the Court. Probation Officers assist the offenders in complying with the conditions imposed by the Court by making referrals to the appropriate educational/job training program or treatment facility as necessary. Referrals are made to other area ancillary services as the need arises. Every effort is made by the Probation Officers to assist offenders in complying with the conditions imposed by the Court. However, if the offenders fail to comply with any of the conditions imposed by the Court. The offenders are returned to Court for a violation hearing. Violation of Probation can result in any number of sanctions including incarceration.

 

 

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