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The 23rd District Court in Taylor, Michigan

If you were charged in Taylor, your case starts here. A practical guide from a Wayne County firm about fifteen minutes from the courthouse.

The court, in plain terms

The 23rd District Court at 23365 Goddard Road is the trial court for cases arising inside Taylor, in the heart of the Downriver communities. Misdemeanors, including first-offense OWI, are arraigned and resolved here. Felonies begin 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 round out the docket, and the court publishes its daily dockets online through the city website.

Worth knowing: this bench is newer than most in Wayne County. Chief Judge Victoria I. Shackelford leads the court, and Judge Brittany Johnson joined in March 2026. When a bench turns over, courtroom practices shift with it, and what was true about this court a few years ago is not a reliable guide now.

Why local counsel matters here

Current familiarity beats dated reputation, especially at a court whose bench has recently changed. How each judge sets bond, what the prosecutor offers on a first offense, and how probation runs interviews are questions about this year, not about the court’s history. We represent Taylor clients at this court from our Dearborn office about fifteen minutes north, in English and Arabic, from OWI and traffic charges to misdemeanors and preliminary exams. More on our Taylor criminal defense page.

Judges of the 23rd District Court

  • Chief Judge Victoria I. Shackelford
  • Judge Brittany Johnson

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: 23365 Goddard Rd, Taylor, MI 48180
  • Phone: (734) 374-1334
  • Hours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM
  • Official website: cityoftaylor.com (23rd 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 Taylor
  • 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 23rd District Court sits at 23365 Goddard Road in Taylor. It handles cases arising inside Taylor: 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 bench turned over recently: Chief Judge Victoria I. Shackelford leads the court, and Judge Brittany Johnson was sworn in in March 2026. A newer bench means courtroom practices are still settling, which makes current, first-hand familiarity with the court more valuable than dated reputation.

Family matters (divorce, custody, parenting time, support) are Circuit Court cases, filed with the Wayne County Circuit Court's Family Division rather than at the 23rd. The district court's overlap with family situations is narrower: landlord-tenant matters when a household separates, and small claims disputes over money or property up to $7,000. An attorney can tell you in one conversation which court your situation actually belongs to, which is worth knowing before anything gets filed.

The court posts daily dockets and online resources through cityoftaylor.com, and Michigan's statewide MiCOURT case search covers lookups by name or case number. If your date is approaching and the case is not showing, call the court rather than letting the date pass; a no-show can become a bench warrant.

Any Michigan-licensed attorney can appear, but knowing how this court currently runs matters, especially with a bench this new. What the prosecutor offers on a first offense and how each judge approaches bond and probation are current facts, not archived ones. We represent Taylor clients at this court from our Dearborn office, in English and Arabic.

Have a court date at the 23rd 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