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The 16th District Court in Livonia, Michigan

If you were charged in Livonia, your case starts here. A practical guide from a Wayne County firm that appears in this courthouse.

The court, in plain terms

The 16th District Court at 32765 Five Mile Road sits in Livonia’s civic center campus and is the trial court for cases arising inside Livonia. Misdemeanors, including first-offense OWI, are arraigned and resolved here. Felonies begin here with an arraignment and preliminary examination before binding over to the Wayne County Circuit Court’s Criminal Division in Detroit. Traffic matters, civil infractions, small claims, and landlord-tenant cases for the city round out the docket.

Livonia polices its roads actively, and a large share of what this court hears starts as a traffic stop: tickets, suspended-license charges, and OWI. Those cases reward early attention, because the decisions that matter (what was said at the stop, what the testing records show, what the prosecutor is offered as a resolution) all happen in the first weeks.

Why local counsel matters here

With two judges, the 16th runs on settled rhythms, and attorneys who appear there know them: how each judge approaches a first offense, when a reduction is realistic, and how probation handles interviews. We represent Livonia clients at this court from our Dearborn office, in English and Arabic, from OWI and traffic charges to misdemeanors and preliminary exams. More on our Livonia criminal defense page.

Judges of the 16th District Court

  • Judge Sean P. Kavanagh
  • Judge Kathleen J. McCann

Judges are elected on non-partisan ballots for six-year terms, and assignments change. Bench details verified September 2026; confirm the judge assigned to your case with the court directly.

Practical details

  • Address: 32765 Five Mile Rd, Livonia, MI 48154
  • Phone: (734) 466-2500
  • Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:20 PM
  • Official website: livonia.gov (16th District Court) (court dates, ticket payment, and current procedures)
  • Case lookup: search by name or case number through Michigan's MiCOURT case search
  • Jurisdiction: City of Livonia
  • Handles: misdemeanors, felony arraignments and preliminary exams, traffic and civil infractions, small claims, landlord-tenant
  • Felonies continue at: Wayne County Criminal Justice Center, 5301 Russell St, Detroit

Court procedures, schedules, and personnel change; verify current requirements with the court directly. Details on this page were last verified September 2026. Nothing here is legal advice about your specific case.

Common Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

The 16th District Court sits at 32765 Five Mile Road in Livonia, in the city's civic center campus. It handles cases arising inside Livonia: misdemeanors, the early stages of felony cases, traffic matters, civil infractions, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. Felonies bound over after a preliminary examination continue at the Wayne County Circuit Court's Criminal Division in Detroit.

The court's two judges are Judge Sean P. Kavanagh and Judge Kathleen J. McCann, both elected to six-year terms on non-partisan ballots. A two-judge bench means consistent, well-established courtroom practices; an attorney who appears there knows how each judge handles first offenses, scheduling, and probation.

If the amount is $25,000 or less and the dispute arose in Livonia, yes. Contract disputes, collections, and contractor payment fights at that size are heard here, and claims of $7,000 or less can go through the small claims division, where the process is simpler and attorneys are not required. Larger disputes belong in the Wayne County Circuit Court. Which court a claim lands in changes the timeline and the cost, so it is worth sorting out before filing.

Use Michigan's statewide MiCOURT case search by name or case number, or the court information pages on livonia.gov, which link to payment and scheduling tools. If a court date is approaching and you cannot find your case, call the court; missing a date can turn a ticket into a warrant.

Any Michigan-licensed attorney can appear, but courtroom familiarity shortens cases: knowing what the city prosecutor offers on a first offense and how each judge runs a docket is real information. We represent Livonia clients at this court from our Dearborn office, in English and Arabic.

Have a court date at the 16th District Court?

Call before your first appearance if you can. We will tell you what the charge typically means at this court and what your realistic options are.

Schedule a Consultation (313) 425-5555