Chesterfield Township Criminal Defense Lawyer

The 42-2 District Court on 23 Mile Road in New Baltimore hears criminal cases from Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, New Haven, and Lenox Township. Attorney Christopher Brown is a Chesterfield Township criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Macomb County, from traffic and misdemeanor charges to serious felonies.

Recent Results in the 42-2 District Court

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

Domestic Violence Charge Dismissed on the Day of Trial — Chesterfield Township

Our client was charged with domestic violence after an argument with his wife. She claimed he bear-hugged her during the argument, while our client had scratches on his arms from trying to keep her from striking him. Because our client was significantly larger than his wife, and because the police report was poorly written and documented, he was arrested and charged. We set the case for trial. On the day of trial, the prosecutor dismissed the case, stating that the prosecution could not meet its burden of proof given the conflicting evidence.

42-2 District Court — New Baltimore, Macomb County

See more of our Macomb County and other case results.

The 42-2 District Court in New Baltimore

The 42-2 District Court is a single-judge court in New Baltimore that serves the northeast corner of Macomb County. Most of its criminal cases come from Chesterfield Township, the largest community it serves, along with New Baltimore, the Village of New Haven, and Lenox Township.

42-2 District Court

Address: 35071 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore, MI 48047
Phone: (586) 725-9500 (option 3 for the criminal division and bench warrants)
Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (doors lock to the public at 4:15 p.m.)
Judge: Hon. William H. Hackel III
Magistrates: Genevieve Taylor and Scott K. Ausilio
Serves: Chesterfield Township, New Baltimore, the Village of New Haven, and Lenox Township
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.

Judge William H. Hackel III

Governor Jennifer Granholm appointed Judge Hackel to the 42-2 District Court in 2009. Before taking the bench, he served as an assistant city attorney for the City of Warren and worked in private practice.

Some people assume Judge Hackel leans toward law enforcement. In Attorney Brown’s experience, that is not true. If anything, he leans toward fairness. He looks at how a sentence will affect a person’s life and aims for an outcome that prevents another offense without ruining the person’s future. Attorney Brown has also found him to be as down to earth as they come. He speaks his mind in a way that isn’t pretentious but refreshing, so you know where your case stands.

Arraignment and Pretrial Hearings

Arraignment is the first court date in every criminal case. At arraignment, a plea is entered (guilty, not guilty, or standing mute), and bond is set to make sure you return for each court date. The judge or magistrate can also add conditions, such as no contact with a complaining witness, which is common in domestic violence cases.

The 42-2 District Court makes sure an attorney represents every defendant at arraignment. Even so, hiring your own Chesterfield Township criminal defense lawyer early means one lawyer prepares your bond argument, requests the police reports and video, and stays with your case from start to finish.

Who Prosecutes Your Case

In the 42-2 District Court, attorneys who represent the township or city where the charge arose prosecute many misdemeanor cases. As a result, a Chesterfield Township case and a New Baltimore case may have different prosecutors. The Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office handles felony cases. Knowing who is prosecuting your case, and how that office handles evidence requests, helps your lawyer get the reports and video quickly.

Police Agencies in Chesterfield Township and New Baltimore

Chesterfield Township and New Baltimore have their own police departments. The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office handles cases from Lenox Township and New Haven, and the Michigan State Police patrol I-94. Each agency writes its reports in its own way, and the quality varies.

As our domestic violence case shows, a poorly written report can lead to an arrest that the evidence doesn’t support. Attorney Brown served as a Detroit police officer, so he knows how reports are supposed to be written and where they fall short. When the report, the photos, and the video don’t match, those gaps can make the difference at trial. If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

What Happens After an Arrest in Chesterfield Township

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 42-2 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 16th Circuit Court in Mount Clemens.

If You’re Placed on Probation

Probation in the 42-2 District Court comes with strict rules. You must keep track of your own deadlines and appointments, report any change of address within 24 hours, and ask permission two weeks in advance to leave the state. Missing a probation appointment can lead to a show cause hearing. If you’re accused of a probation violation, get help right away.

A Chesterfield Township Criminal Defense Lawyer With Macomb County Experience

Attorney Brown appears in Macomb County courts regularly and has appeared before every criminal court judge in the county. He has found Macomb’s judges fair and its prosecutors focused on a just result. For that reason, preparing every case as if it will go to trial often leads to a better outcome, as it did in our domestic violence case. Also, when the defense asks the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office for a resolution outside its standard policies, the request goes through a formal written deviation process. Learn how deviation requests work in Macomb County.

Charges We Defend in Chesterfield Township and New Baltimore

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

Also Serving New Baltimore and Nearby Communities

We defend clients from New Baltimore, New Haven, and Lenox Township in the 42-2 District Court. We also represent clients in Clinton Township, St. Clair Shores, Romeo, and the rest of Macomb County.

Talk to a Chesterfield Township Criminal Defense Lawyer

• Former Detroit police officer who knows what a well-written police report looks like, and what a weak one leaves out
• Licensed in Michigan since 2008, with experience before every criminal court judge in Macomb 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 before your arraignment if you can.