Monroe County 1st District Court: What to Expect

A look at the 1st District Court in Monroe County: where it is, what cases it hears, how remote hearings work, its treatment courts, and what to bring and avoid.

Where is the 1st District Court in Monroe County?

The 1st District Court is at 106 E. First Street in Monroe, Michigan 48161, and its main phone number is (734) 240-7075. It handles misdemeanors punishable by up to one year from arraignment through sentencing, sets bail, and holds preliminary examinations in felony cases before they move to the Monroe County Circuit Court.

What the Court Handles

The 1st District Court hears cases from across Monroe County. On the criminal side, that includes misdemeanors and ordinance violations, traffic matters, and the early stages of felony cases. It also hears civil cases up to $25,000, evictions, and small claims up to $7,000.

This guide is written for people with cases in Monroe County.

Are hearings in Monroe County held in person or on Zoom?

Some 1st District Court proceedings are held in person and some are held remotely on Zoom. Your notice from the court tells you which applies to your date.

The court has told users that even in bad weather, anyone scheduled for a remote Zoom proceeding must still dial in to find out whether their case will be heard. Read every notice closely, and if anything is unclear, call the court before your date, not after it.

Treatment Courts

The 1st District Court's website lists three specialty courts: a Sobriety Court, a Veterans' Treatment Court, and a Mental Health Court.

What is the Monroe County Sobriety Court?

The Monroe County Sobriety Court is a treatment court run through the 1st District Court for Monroe County residents age 18 or older with a pending OWI second offense or higher.

Participants enter after a guilty plea. The program runs in four phases and can last up to two years of probation, with treatment, random testing, community work service, and court review hearings on the first and third Wednesdays of each month during the early phases. It takes part in Michigan's ignition interlock program. The court describes it as voluntary and demanding. Anyone can make a referral, but the team decides who is accepted. My second-offense OWI guide explains why these programs can matter.

Probation and Testing

The 1st District Court Probation Department supervises people sentenced to probation, and the Sobriety Court's drug testing is done there. Follow your probation officer's reporting instructions exactly and keep their contact information handy.

What to Bring, What to Avoid, and the Bottom Line

Bring your court notice, your ticket or charging papers, any bond paperwork, and a list of questions. Arrive early to allow time for parking and finding your courtroom. If your hearing is on Zoom, test your device and connection the day before and find a quiet, private place.

What not to do:

Do not miss a court date. A missed date can lead to a bench warrant.
Do not ignore bond conditions while your case is open.
Do not talk about the facts of your case in the hallway or on a Zoom call where others can hear.

Know your date, know whether it is in person or remote, and come prepared.

How I Can Help

If you have a case in the Monroe County 1st District Court, I can review your paperwork, explain the process and your options, and represent you in court.

Call (734) 775-9327 or use my contact form for a free consultation.

This page covers specific courts, but I handle cases in courts throughout Michigan. If your case is in a different court, call (734) 775-9327.

This page is general information about Michigan law, not legal advice. Laws change, and every case is different. Reading this page does not create an attorney-client relationship.