Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyer

Criminal cases from Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Bloomfield Township are heard at the 48th District Court on Telegraph Road in Bloomfield Hills. Attorney Christopher Brown is a Birmingham criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Oakland County, from drunk driving and misdemeanor charges to serious felonies.

Recent Results in the 48th District Court

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

Probation Instead of Prison After Felony Firearm Discharge Charges — Bloomfield Hills

Our client was in the middle of a medical crisis after abruptly stopping a prescribed medication. During that crisis, he fired a rifle from his backyard, and rounds struck a neighbor’s home and nearby property. He was charged with multiple felonies, including discharging a firearm at an occupied dwelling. Over several days of testimony at the preliminary exam in the 48th District Court, we made a record showing he was target shooting improperly, not aiming at homes or people, and his medical records supported that position. Although the sentencing recommendation called for prison, we convinced the circuit court judge that probation was the right sentence.

48th District Court and 6th Circuit Court — Bloomfield Hills, Oakland County

See more of our Oakland County and other case results.

The 48th District Court in Bloomfield Hills

The 48th District Court serves Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village, and Sylvan Lake. Three judges share the docket, so your case may be assigned to any one of them.

48th District Court

Address: 4280 Telegraph Rd., Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302
Phone: (248) 647-1141
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Judges: Judge Diane D’Agostini, Judge Kimberly F. Small, and Judge Marc Barron
Magistrates: Howard Linden, Julie Nelson-Klein, and Andra Richardson
Serves: Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, Bloomfield Township, West Bloomfield Township, Keego Harbor, Orchard Lake Village, and Sylvan Lake
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.

Judges Who Know the Prosecution’s Side

All three judges at the 48th District Court served as assistant prosecutors in Oakland County before taking the bench. Judge Barron spent 19 years as a prosecutor, including seven years handling major crimes, and Judge D’Agostini served nine years as an assistant prosecutor.

That background shapes how these courtrooms work. In Attorney Brown’s experience, each judge is fair, and each one appreciates a well-thought-out, well-prepared legal argument. Because they know how the prosecution builds a case, a vague or unprepared defense rarely gets far. On the other hand, a defense backed by the record, the evidence, and the law gets a careful hearing. That’s why, as a Birmingham criminal defense lawyer, Attorney Brown prepares every case as if it will be argued in full.

Who Prosecutes Your Case

In the 48th District Court, who prosecutes your case depends on how you were charged. Charges under state law are handled by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office. Charges under a local ordinance are prosecuted by the attorney for the city or township where the offense happened, and Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Bloomfield Township each have their own. Knowing which office has your case helps your Birmingham criminal defense lawyer get the reports and video quickly and negotiate with the right person.

Police Agencies in Birmingham and the Bloomfields

Cases in this court come from the Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills, and Bloomfield Township police departments, among other agencies. Downtown Birmingham’s restaurants, bars, and shops draw visitors from across Metro Detroit, so drunk driving stops after an evening out and retail fraud accusations at local stores are common here.

Before becoming a Birmingham criminal defense lawyer, Attorney Brown served as a Detroit police officer. As a result, he knows how officers are trained to justify a stop, a search, and an arrest. Police need reasonable suspicion to stop you and probable cause to arrest you. When the report and the video don’t match, or the stop wasn’t lawful, the evidence can be challenged. If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

What Happens After an Arrest in Birmingham

Misdemeanor cases: After arraignment, the next date is usually a pretrial conference, where many cases are resolved. Cases that don’t settle move to motions or trial in the 48th District Court.

Felony cases: A felony starts with arraignment, a probable cause conference, and a preliminary examination, which must ordinarily be held within 21 days unless the deadline is waived. If a case is bound over, it moves to the 6th Circuit Court in Pontiac.

A Prison Recommendation Isn’t the Final Word

Michigan’s sentencing guidelines are advisory, so a judge can impose a different sentence when the facts support it. As our Bloomfield Hills case shows, a careful record built at the preliminary exam, backed by medical records and a well-prepared sentencing argument, can persuade a judge that probation is the better path.

Charges We Defend in Birmingham and the Bloomfields

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

Also Serving Bloomfield Hills and Nearby Communities

Because they share the 48th District Court, we defend clients from Bloomfield Hills and Bloomfield Township just as often as from Birmingham. We also represent clients in nearby West Bloomfield, Troy, and Royal Oak.

Talk to a Birmingham Criminal Defense Lawyer

• Former Detroit police officer who knows how police build a case, and where it falls apart
• Licensed in Michigan since 2008, with experience before every criminal court judge in Oakland County
• Free consultations, available 24/7, in person at our Troy office, just minutes from Birmingham, or virtually
• Credit cards accepted and payment plans available

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