Criminal Defense Attorney in Detroit
Serving Detroit and Wayne County from our Dearborn office, about 15 minutes away.
LegalSolv represents Detroit clients in criminal defense matters. Detroit is the largest city in Michigan and the Wayne County seat, where the county Circuit Court and the 36th District Court sit downtown. Because our office is about 15 minutes away in Dearborn, you get a Wayne County firm that knows the local courts and procedures without a long drive across Metro Detroit.
Criminal Defense in Detroit
The 36th District Court on Madison Avenue is the busiest district court in Michigan, with 28 judges and 6 magistrates, and that volume shapes every case. Dockets are long, many hearings run on Zoom, and plea negotiations tend to move more slowly than in the smaller Downriver and western Wayne courts. The practical questions in a Detroit case are which courtroom your notice sends you to, whether the hearing is remote, and how the assigned judge and the Wayne County Prosecutor handle the specific charge. We work those out before the first appearance rather than at it.
Criminal Defense matters we handle for Detroit clients
Misdemeanors, felonies (including high-class), OWI/DUI, drug crimes, and post-conviction work in Wayne County and Metro Detroit.
The same attorney who takes your call handles your case from the first consultation through resolution, whether the matter settles, is negotiated, or has to be argued in court.
Where Detroit criminal defense cases are handled
Misdemeanor charges out of Detroit are arraigned and heard at the 36th District Court (421 Madison Ave, Detroit). Felony cases start there with a probable cause conference and preliminary examination, then bind over to the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center at 5301 Russell Street in Detroit, where the Circuit Court’s Criminal Division now sits for trial. OWI and drug charges follow whichever path matches how they are charged, so the first question in any Detroit case is which court it will live in.
For the courthouse itself (judges, contact details, case lookup, and what a first appearance looks like), see our guide to the 36th District Court in Detroit.
Sorting out the venue early matters, because it sets the deadlines, the filing requirements, and the judge your case will be in front of. It is one of the first things we settle for a Detroit client.
Official Michigan references: Michigan OWI statute (MCL 257.625), Michigan's Clean Slate program.
What to expect working with us from Detroit
You do not need to come to Dearborn to get started. We handle the first consultation by phone or video, meet at the 36th District Court or the Wayne County courthouse on hearing days, and keep you updated directly rather than through a case manager. We work in English and Arabic, which matters to many families across Wayne County.
For the full detail on how we approach these cases, see our Criminal Defense practice page, or call (313) 425-5555 to talk through your situation.
Why Detroit clients choose LegalSolv
- A Wayne County firm about 15 minutes from Detroit, familiar with the 36th District Court and the Wayne County Circuit Court.
- You deal directly with the attorney handling your case.
- Representation in English and Arabic.
- The same rates for Detroit clients as for our Dearborn clients.
We also help Detroit clients with other matters. See everything we handle in Detroit.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Our office is about 15 minutes from Detroit, and we represent Wayne County clients there regularly. We also offer phone and video consultations and can meet at the courthouse on hearing days.
No. We represent clients throughout Wayne County, including Detroit, at the same rates as our Dearborn clients, and your matter is handled by the same attorneys.
Misdemeanor charges out of Detroit are arraigned and heard at the 36th District Court (421 Madison Ave, Detroit). Felony cases start there with a probable cause conference and preliminary examination, then bind over to the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center at 5301 Russell Street in Detroit, where the Circuit Court’s Criminal Division now sits for trial. OWI and drug charges follow whichever path matches how they are charged, so the first question in any Detroit case is which court it will live in.
No. A standard first-offense OWI (BAC 0.08–0.16%) in Michigan is a misdemeanor, with up to 93 days in jail, fines up to $500, and a 30-day license suspension followed by 150 days of restricted driving. The criminal record from a first OWI is generally permanent and not expungeable.
Yes. Michigan's Clean Slate Act, expanded in 2021, allows most misdemeanors to be set aside by petition after a waiting period, generally three years from the later of sentencing or completion of your sentence for non-serious misdemeanors, five years for a serious misdemeanor or a single felony, and seven years for multiple felonies. Separately, certain records clear automatically without any application, misdemeanors after seven years and felonies after ten. Eligibility depends on the specific charge and your overall record, and OWI expungement is possible in some limited cases. An attorney can confirm which clock applies to you.
Fees vary by charge severity. Many misdemeanor cases (including first-offense OWI) are handled on flat fees. Felonies and trials are typically billed hourly or as larger flat fees that scale with case complexity. We discuss fee structure at the initial consultation, before you commit to anything.
Serving Detroit From Our Dearborn Office
We represent Detroit criminal defense clients across Wayne County from our Dearborn office.
- Address 22226 Garrison St
Dearborn, MI 48124 - Phone (313) 425-5555
- Hours Mon - Fri: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
- Languages English & Arabic
Talk to a Detroit Criminal Defense Attorney
Call (313) 425-5555 or request a consultation. We serve Detroit and all of Wayne County from our Dearborn office.