Allen Park Criminal Defense Lawyer

The 24th District Court on Roosevelt Road hears criminal and traffic cases from Allen Park and Melvindale. Attorney Christopher Brown is an Allen Park criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Wayne County, from drunk driving and probation violations to serious felonies.

Recent Results in the 24th District Court

Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Probation Violation Dismissed After Video and Phone Records Disproved No-Contact Allegation — Allen Park

Our client was on probation for a domestic violence offense, with a condition that he have no contact with the complainant. During a bitter divorce, she accused him of calling her at all hours of the night from different phone numbers and hanging up.

We challenged that story with evidence. We obtained our client’s phone records and subpoenaed video from a business where he was making a purchase at the exact time one of the calls supposedly came in. The video showed he was not on his phone. The court found him not guilty of the alleged violation.

24th District Court — Allen Park, Wayne County

See more of our Wayne County and other case results.

The 24th District Court in Allen Park

The 24th District Court serves two cities, Allen Park and Melvindale. The court formed in 1978, when the two cities merged their municipal courts. It handles misdemeanor cases through sentencing, and it handles felonies through the preliminary exam. If the judge binds a felony case over, it moves to the Third Circuit Court in Detroit.

24th District Court

Address: 6515 Roosevelt Rd., Allen Park, MI 48101
Phone: (313) 928-0535
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 8:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Friday; closed 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. daily
Judges: Judge John T. Courtright and Judge Richard A. Page
Serves: Allen Park and Melvindale
Case lookup: Search your case on MiCOURT, Michigan’s statewide case search.

Court details can change, so check the court’s website or call before your court date. Note that the court closes for lunch every day, so plan any visit or filing around that hour.

The Judges of the 24th District Court

Two judges share the 24th District Court’s docket. Judge John T. Courtright joined the court in 2000. Judge Richard A. Page joined the court in 2004. Your case could go before either one, so preparation matters. An Allen Park criminal defense lawyer should come to every hearing with the facts, the law, and specific, documented mitigation, such as treatment records, proof of employment, and a clear plan for what you’re asking the court to do.

Allen Park Police and the Southfield Freeway

In Attorney Brown’s experience, the Southfield Freeway is the main road where Allen Park police watch for traffic violations and investigate drunk driving. As a result, many cases in this court begin with a traffic stop on or near the Southfield Freeway, and some of those stops turn into DUI investigations.

Attorney Brown served as a Detroit police officer, so he knows how officers are trained to justify a stop, a field sobriety test, and an arrest. In particular, police need a lawful reason to stop you and probable cause to arrest you. When the report and the video don’t match, or the stop wasn’t lawful, a lawyer can challenge the evidence. If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

Probation in the 24th District Court

The court’s probation department meets regularly with people on probation, helps them get into any required treatment programs, and checks that they follow the court’s order. When someone falls out of compliance, probation tries to bring them back into compliance first. If that doesn’t work, the court schedules a probation violation hearing before the judge.

A probation violation hearing is your chance to fight back. As our Allen Park case shows, phone records and video can disprove an accusation, and the court can find you not guilty of the violation.

The 24th District Court doesn’t appear on Michigan’s list of sobriety and drug treatment courts. For that reason, an Allen Park criminal defense lawyer should ask early about treatment options for a client with a substance use problem.

Who Prosecutes Your Case

In the 24th District Court, the prosecutor depends on how you were charged. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office handles state prosecutions, including every felony case. Charges under a local ordinance are prosecuted by the attorney for the city where the offense happened, either Allen Park or Melvindale. Knowing which office has your case helps your lawyer get the reports and video quickly and negotiate with the right person.

What Happens After an Arrest in Allen Park

Misdemeanor cases: After arraignment, the next date is usually a pretrial conference, where many cases resolve. Cases that don’t settle move to motions or trial in the 24th District Court.

Felony cases: A felony starts with arraignment, a probable cause conference, and a preliminary examination in the 24th District Court. If the judge binds the case over, it moves to the Third Circuit Court at the Wayne County Criminal Justice Center in Detroit.

Charges We Defend in Allen Park and Melvindale

• Drunk driving and OWI, including felony third-offense OWI
• Domestic violence and assault
• Drug possession and possession with intent to deliver
• Weapons and firearm charges, including gun charges at Detroit Metro Airport
• Retail fraud and other theft charges
• Fleeing and eluding
• Probation violations

Also Serving Melvindale and Nearby Communities

Because they share the 24th District Court, we defend clients from Melvindale just as often as from Allen Park. We also represent clients in nearby Dearborn, Taylor, Southgate, and Lincoln Park.

Allen Park Criminal Defense Lawyer FAQ

Which court handles criminal cases from Allen Park and Melvindale?

The 24th District Court at 6515 Roosevelt Road in Allen Park handles cases from both cities. Felony cases start there and, if the judge binds the case over, move to the Third Circuit Court in Detroit.

Where do Allen Park police make most traffic and DUI stops?

In Attorney Brown’s experience, the Southfield Freeway is the main road Allen Park police watch for traffic violations and drunk driving investigations.

Can I fight a probation violation in Allen Park?

Yes. You’re entitled to a hearing before the judge, and the evidence can work in your favor. In our Allen Park case, phone records and video disproved the accusation.

Who prosecutes my case in Allen Park?

It depends on the charge. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office prosecutes state charges, including every felony. The Allen Park or Melvindale city attorney prosecutes ordinance violations in that city.

Talk to an Allen Park Criminal Defense Lawyer

• Former Detroit police officer who knows how police build a case, and where it falls apart
• Assigned counsel in Wayne County Circuit Court from 2009 to 2020
• Licensed in Michigan since 2008, with experience before every district court judge in Wayne County
• Free consultations, available 24/7, in person at our Troy office or virtually
• Credit cards accepted and payment plans available

Call (248) 468-1468 or contact us online.