37th District Court of Michigan

state seal

Official Website of the 37th District Court, Macomb County, MI

Per the Order of the Supreme Court and Chief Judge John Chmura of the 37th District Court, the following provides the 37th District Court’s response to COVID-19:
The 37th District Court treats this issue very seriously and will continue to monitor the situation. Court officials will seek the advice of public health officials as necessary.

Effective 11/20/20, the 37th District Court has moved back to Phase 1 (from Phase 2) as a result of the COVID-19 positivity rate. IN PERSON court proceedings (with exceptions) are suspended until further notice. Court proceedings will be conducted virtually to the maximum extent possible, and IN PERSON proceedings are limited "to those where there is a statutory or constitutional right that has not been waived".

Court Hours—WARREN and CENTER LINE DIVISION---CLOSED to the public except for limited in-person scheduled proceedings.

Masks are required prior to entry and each scheduled visitor will be screened at the door, including a temperature check.

Those permitted to enter will be screened by court security to determine whether the visit is necessary based on the following criteria:

• Essential parties for in-custody arraignments will be admitted.
• Essential parties for scheduled matters will be admitted.

The following individuals will not be given access to the building as they will be considered non-essential parties:
• Any individual without scheduled hearing.
• Any individual accompanying an individual with a scheduled court matter.
• Individuals with general questions.

Telephone calls are being accepted Monday through Friday, between the hours of 8:30a.m.-4:15p.m.--CLOSED from 12-1 p.m. for lunch.

Payment options: Go to the Payment Options Link for payment.

If you are unable to reach the court by telephone due the volume of calls being received by the court, you may contact the court using the following email address: courtinfo@37thdistrictcourt.org.

The City of Center Line closed city offices for COVID-19 sanitization on April 6, 2021. Since the Center Line Division of the 37th District Court is located in the same building, the court has to suspend all activities until April 9, 2021 for the Center Line Division only. Please contact the Warren Division if you have any questions about remote hearings scheduled for April 7, 2021. The Center Line Division of the 37th is expected to resume operations on April 9, 2021.

Payment Options

37th District Court Livestream YouTube Channels

Judge John M. Chmura – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMk9Ud7TPzRK4lhj2752nWg

Judge Matthew P. Sabaugh – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCULPpDUzMTduio1Ol_hi7kQ

Judge Michael C. Chupa – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtwnmSXOmic6AXvxrCBjBFQ

Judge Suzanne L. Faunce – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpjUR-NoEHyGvQ2O_VbWI3g

Please be advised, that the recording of official Court Hearings is not allowed.
Once Court has ended, the live stream will no longer be available for review.

The 37th District Court is part of a State Judicial System, and operates under the supervision of the Michigan Supreme Court. The four District Court Judges, who must be attorneys, are elected by the citizens of Warren and Center Line, for six-year terms.

The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following matters:

All civil litigation up to $25,000.
The arraignment, setting of bail, and preliminary examination of all criminal felony cases.
All criminal misdemeanor violations of state statutes where the penalty does not exceed one year in jail.
All city ordinance violations.
All traffic and parking violations.

The District Court also handles marriages, landlord-tenant litigation, evictions, and land contract forfeitures. Garnishments and other creditor collection procedures also originate in the District Court.

A Small Claims Division for civil cases under $6,500 is provided in the District Court. Hearings are held, where all parties appear without attorneys. Claims are decided, and judgments may be entered for money damages only. No-fault “mini tort” actions are also handled through the Small Claims Division, with a limitation of $3000 for property damage claims. All small claims cases filed in the 37th District Court are mediated prior to hearing, using the services of The Resolution Center. You may learn more about The Resolution Center at www.theresolutioncenter.com.

In the 37th District Court, all testimony is recorded, and every person who appears before the Court has a right to have his case tried by the Judge, or by a jury of six citizens (except in Small Claims cases and civil infraction traffic violations.) All appeals from the 37th District Court are made to the Macomb County Circuit Court.

Fines and fees assessed and collected by the 37th District Court are transferred either to the State of Michigan, the County of Macomb, or the Cities of Warren or Center Line, in accordance with a statutorily established distribution formula.