Southfield Criminal Defense Lawyer

Charged with a crime in Southfield, Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Franklin, or Southfield Township? Every one of those cases begins at the 46th District Court in the Southfield Municipal Complex on Evergreen Road. Brown & Associates defends misdemeanor and felony charges in that courthouse and throughout Oakland County, and someone answers our phone 24 hours a day. Call a Southfield criminal defense lawyer at (248) 468-1468 for a free consultation.

Why a Former Police Officer Matters in Your Southfield Case

Before he ever represented a client, Christopher Brown wore a Detroit Police Department badge. That background shapes how he reads every file. When a Southfield officer’s report says a driver “failed” field sobriety tests or “consented” to a search, he knows what the training actually requires and what the patrol video should show. When those details don’t line up, that’s where a defense begins.

Southfield Criminal Defense Lawyer Case Result: Felony Larceny in a Building Dismissed

Larceny in a Building (Felony) Dismissed – 46th District Court, Southfield

Our client was charged with larceny in a building, a felony. At the preliminary examination, the prosecutor could not prove that our client entered the building where the alleged offense occurred. We moved to dismiss, and the court granted our motion. See more of our case results.

Common Charges in Southfield

Southfield’s office towers, shopping corridors, and freeway interchanges generate a steady stream of cases. We regularly defend:

• OWI and drunk driving arrests on Northwestern Highway, Telegraph Road, I-696, the Lodge Freeway (M-10), and the Southfield Freeway
• Retail fraud and theft charges from stores along Telegraph Road and nearby shopping centers
• Driving while license suspended and other traffic misdemeanors
• Domestic violence and assault charges
• Drug possession charges
• Carrying a concealed weapon (CCW) and other gun charges, often after a traffic stop

Police Agencies That Bring Cases to the 46th District Court

Your case may have started with any of these departments, and each has its own procedures, reports, and video systems:

• Southfield Police Department
• Lathrup Village Police Department
• Beverly Hills Department of Public Safety
• Franklin-Bingham Farms Police Department
• Michigan State Police, for arrests on the freeways

As a former officer, Christopher Brown knows what to request from each department: dash and body camera footage, dispatch records, breath-test maintenance logs, and the officer’s notes.

How We Help With Southfield Charges

Learn more about the charges we defend most often:

• Drunk driving and OWI charges
• Domestic violence accusations
• Southfield drug crime charges
• Criminal sexual conduct allegations
• Gun and weapons charges
• Southfield retail fraud and theft charges
• Assault and violent crime charges
• Juvenile cases
• Police investigations before charges are filed

The 46th District Court and Oakland County Circuit Court

46th District Court

Address: 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, MI 48076 (Southfield Municipal Complex at Civic Center Drive, between the Lodge Freeway and I-696)
Phone: (248) 796-5800
Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Monday – Friday
Judges: Hon. Shelia R. Johnson, Hon. Debra Nance, and Hon. Cynthia M. Arvant
Communities served: Southfield, Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, Franklin, and Southfield Township

Search your case in the 46th District Court (MiCOURT Case Search) →

Oakland County Circuit Court

Address: 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341

Felony cases that are bound over after the preliminary examination continue here.

How a Southfield Criminal Case Moves Through Court

A misdemeanor usually stays in the 46th District Court from start to finish: arraignment, a pretrial conference where we negotiate with the prosecutor, and then a resolution or trial.

A felony takes a different path. After arraignment in Southfield, the court holds a preliminary examination, where the prosecutor has to show enough evidence to send the case to the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac. That hearing is our first chance to question the officer under oath, and it can end a case outright, as it did in our larceny in a building dismissal.

Southfield Criminal Defense FAQs

I was arrested in Lathrup Village, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, or Franklin. Is my case in Southfield?

Yes. All of those communities, along with Southfield Township, send their criminal cases to the 46th District Court on Evergreen Road.

I was stopped for OWI on Northwestern Highway or the Lodge. What should I do first?

Write down everything you remember about the stop, then call a lawyer before your arraignment. Many OWI cases turn on why the officer pulled you over and how the breath test was given, and the video often tells a different story than the report.

My felony was charged in Southfield. Will it stay there?

Not necessarily. The 46th District Court handles the arraignment and preliminary examination, but if the case is bound over, it moves to the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac. Having a lawyer at the preliminary exam gives you a real chance to stop it from moving forward.

How far is your office from the Southfield courthouse?

Our Troy office is about 20 minutes from the 46th District Court, and we appear there regularly. Free consultations are available in person, by phone, or by video.

Talk to a Southfield Criminal Defense Lawyer

Free, confidential consultations are available, including same-day appointments. Call (248) 468-1468 any time, or contact us online.

Get directions to our office: 755 W. Big Beaver Road, Suite 2020, Troy, MI 48084