Southgate Criminal Defense Lawyer

The 28th District Court on Reaume Parkway hears criminal and traffic cases from Southgate. Attorney Christopher Brown is a Southgate criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Wayne County, from drunk driving and retail fraud charges to serious felonies.

Recent Downriver Results

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

Felony Resisting and Obstructing Dismissed on a Motion to Quash — Taylor

Taylor police responded to a home after a report of a domestic altercation. Our client was a visitor in the home and wasn’t involved. Officers quickly detained the two people involved in the altercation. Our client didn’t want to give a statement, so he walked away. Officers grabbed him, he kept walking, and they took him to the ground and charged him with resisting and obstructing an officer, a felony. After reviewing all the evidence, we determined that once police had detained the people involved, they had no lawful reason to detain our client. He had no obligation to speak with police, and he had the right to go about his business. The district court bound the case over after the preliminary exam, so we filed a motion to quash in circuit court. The circuit court found that the district court had abused its discretion and dismissed the case.

23rd District Court and Third Circuit Court — Taylor, Wayne County

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 28th District Court in Southgate

The 28th District Court serves the City of Southgate. 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.

28th District Court

Address: 14720 Reaume Pkwy., Southgate, MI 48195
Phone: (734) 258-3068
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday
Judge: Judge Elisabeth M. Mullins
Serves: City of Southgate
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.

One Judge Who Knows Both Sides

The 28th District Court has a single judge, so every Southgate case goes before Judge Elisabeth M. Mullins. She took the bench in 2021. Before that, she served as a special assistant prosecutor for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office and also practiced criminal defense in private practice. In Attorney Brown’s experience, she understands both sides of the courtroom, she is fair, and she appreciates prepared counsel.

Because one judge hears every case, knowing what she expects matters. A Southgate criminal defense lawyer should come to every hearing with the facts, the law, and specific, documented mitigation.

Alternatives to Jail in Southgate

The court’s probation department offers several options that can keep a client out of jail or off a public record.

Work Program: This court-supervised community service program can take the place of jail time. Specifically, participants work on select Saturdays and Sundays from 8:00 a.m. to noon, on tasks such as litter pickup, cleaning parks and schools, and painting. However, the court strictly enforces the program’s rules.

Veterans Court: In addition, the court’s probation department lists a Veterans Court program for eligible veterans.

First-offender options: The court’s probation department also handles HYTA, the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act, for offenses committed between ages 18 and 25, along with first-offender deferrals for minor-in-possession charges.

Eligibility for each option depends on the charge and your record. However, a well-prepared request can make a real difference, so ask about these options early.

Treatment Courts

The 28th District Court doesn’t appear on Michigan’s list of sobriety and drug treatment courts. For that reason, a Southgate criminal defense lawyer should ask early about treatment options for a client with a substance use problem.

Police Stops and Searches in Southgate

Attorney Brown served as a Detroit police officer, so he knows how officers are trained to justify a stop, a search, 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. As our Taylor case shows, even a felony charge can fall apart when police had no lawful reason to detain someone. If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

Who Prosecutes Your Case

In the 28th District Court, the prosecutor depends on how you were charged. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office handles state prosecutions, including every felony case. In contrast, the Southgate City Attorney’s Office prosecutes charges under a city ordinance. 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 Southgate

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 28th District Court.

Felony cases: A felony starts with arraignment, a probable cause conference, and a preliminary examination in the 28th 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 Southgate

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

Also Serving Downriver Communities

Beyond Southgate, we defend clients in nearby Taylor, Allen Park, Wyandotte, Riverview, and Lincoln Park, and throughout the Downriver communities.

Southgate Criminal Defense Lawyer FAQ

Which court handles criminal cases from Southgate?

The 28th District Court at 14720 Reaume Parkway in Southgate. Felony cases start there and, if the judge binds the case over, move to the Third Circuit Court in Detroit.

Can I do community service instead of jail in Southgate?

Possibly. The 28th District Court runs a supervised Work Program on select weekends that can take the place of jail time. Whether the judge allows it depends on your charge, your record, and how your lawyer presents the request.

How many judges does the 28th District Court have?

One. Judge Elisabeth M. Mullins hears every case in the 28th District Court.

Who prosecutes my case in Southgate?

It depends on the charge. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office prosecutes state charges, including every felony. The Southgate City Attorney’s Office prosecutes city ordinance violations.

Talk to a Southgate 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.