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The 20th District Court in Dearborn Heights, Michigan

If you were charged in Dearborn Heights, your case starts here. A practical guide from a defense firm about ten minutes from the courthouse.

The court, in plain terms

The 20th District Court at 25637 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125 is the trial court for cases arising inside Dearborn Heights. Arrested, ticketed, or charged by Dearborn Heights police, and this is where your case will be called: OWI, misdemeanor assault, retail fraud, driving on a suspended license, or the opening stage of a felony.

Misdemeanors stay at this court from arraignment through sentencing. Felonies start here with an arraignment and preliminary examination, then bind 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 are heard here too.

One practical note unique to this stretch of Wayne County: the 19th and 20th District Courts both sit on Michigan Avenue, a few miles apart, serving Dearborn and Dearborn Heights respectively. People show up at the wrong courthouse often enough that it is worth double-checking the address on your notice.

Why local counsel matters here

A two-judge court develops clear rhythms: how each judge runs a docket, what the city prosecutor offers on a first offense, and how probation interviews go. Attorneys who appear here regularly know those patterns. Our office is about ten minutes away in Dearborn, we represent Dearborn Heights clients at this court nearly every week, and the work is handled in English or Arabic, from OWI charges to misdemeanors and preliminary exams. More on our Dearborn Heights criminal defense page.

Judges of the 20th District Court

  • Chief Judge Mark J. Plawecki
  • Judge David D. Turfe

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: 25637 Michigan Ave, Dearborn Heights, MI 48125
  • Phone: (313) 277-7480
  • Hours: Monday to Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Official website: dearbornheightsmi.gov (20th 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 Dearborn Heights
  • 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 20th District Court sits at 25637 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn Heights. It handles cases arising inside Dearborn Heights: misdemeanors, the early stages of felony cases, traffic matters, civil infractions, small claims, and landlord-tenant disputes. Felonies that are bound over after a preliminary examination continue at the Wayne County Circuit Court's Criminal Division in Detroit.

The court's two judges are Chief Judge Mark J. Plawecki and Judge David D. Turfe. District judges are elected on non-partisan ballots for six-year terms. Which judge a case draws shapes scheduling and courtroom procedure, so confirm your assignment on your notice or through the court.

No, and mixing them up is a common mistake. Dearborn cases are heard at the 19th District Court at 16077 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn; Dearborn Heights cases are heard at the 20th District Court at 25637 Michigan Avenue in Dearborn Heights. Both sit on Michigan Avenue a few miles apart, so check the court name and address on your ticket or notice before you drive.

The court's page on the Dearborn Heights city website (dearbornheightsmi.gov) links to ticket payment and court information, and Michigan's statewide MiCOURT case search covers case lookups by name or case number. Before paying a ticket outright, remember that payment is an admission of responsibility and can carry points; a quick attorney call sometimes gets a charge reduced for less than the insurance increase.

Any Michigan-licensed attorney can appear there, but local practice matters: how each judge handles first offenses, what the prosecutor typically offers, and how probation runs. Our Dearborn office is about ten minutes from this courthouse, and we represent Dearborn Heights clients there regularly, in English and Arabic.

Have a court date at the 20th 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