Warren Criminal Defense Lawyer

Warren has one of the busiest criminal dockets in Macomb County, and cases from Warren and Center Line are heard at the 37th District Court. Attorney Christopher Brown is a Warren criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Macomb County, from traffic offenses and misdemeanors to serious felonies.

Recent Results in the 37th District Court

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

Felonious Assault With a Firearm Dismissed at the Preliminary Exam — Warren

We challenged the case early in district court. The prosecutor could not meet the burden of proof at the preliminary examination, and the court granted our motion to dismiss.

37th District Court — Warren, Macomb County

Felony Fleeing and Eluding Reduced to a Traffic Misdemeanor — Warren

Our client was accused of fleeing police during a traffic stop. We gave the prosecutor additional information about the stop, and the felony was dismissed. Our client pleaded guilty to a traffic misdemeanor with a $600 fine and no probation.

37th District Court — Warren, Macomb County

Third Marijuana Possession Charge Dismissed, No Jail or Probation — Center Line

Our client, who had a prior felony record, was charged with a third marijuana possession offense. Another conviction would have cost him his driver’s license and his job. We convinced the prosecutor to dismiss the marijuana charge in a plea to a misdemeanor with no license sanction. At sentencing, the judge imposed no jail and no probation, only a fine.

37th District Court — Center Line, Macomb County

See more of our Macomb County and other case results.

The 37th District Court in Warren and Center Line

The 37th District Court serves the cities of Warren and Center Line and has a courthouse in each city. Most criminal cases are heard at the main courthouse on Common Road in Warren.

37th District Court — Warren

Address: 8300 Common Rd., Warren, MI 48093
Phone: (586) 574-4900
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday (payment counter closes at 4:15 p.m.)
Judges: Judge John M. Chmura, Judge Michael C. Chupa, Judge Suzanne L. Faunce, and Judge Steven M. Bieda
Case lookup: Search your case on MiCOURT, Michigan’s statewide case search.

37th District Court — Center Line

Address: 7070 E. Ten Mile Rd., Center Line, MI 48015
Phone: (586) 757-8333

Court details can change, so check the court’s website or call before your court date.

What to Expect From the 37th District Court

The 37th District Court handles a high-volume docket, and its judges expect attorneys to be prepared and ready to proceed when the case is called. As a result, preparation has real consequences for clients: an unprepared defense can mean a lost opportunity at the pretrial, a missed chance to challenge the evidence, or a worse result at sentencing. For that reason, Attorney Brown, a Warren criminal defense lawyer who knows this court well, comes to every hearing ready to argue the case, with the police reports, video, and records already reviewed.

The 37th District Treatment Court

For eligible clients, the court runs the 37th District Treatment Court, with a felony Drug Court track and misdemeanor tracks that include a Sobriety Court. These programs offer structured treatment, testing, and supervision, and they can lead to a better outcome than a standard sentence. Eligibility depends on the charge and your history, and felony cases require the prosecutor’s agreement, so the option should be raised early.

Warren Police Stops and Your Constitutional Rights

Attorney Brown served as a Detroit police officer, and he has found that the Warren Police Department’s policies and tactics are very similar to those of the Detroit Police Department. Warren officers are proactive. Instead of waiting for calls, they initiate many traffic stops, street encounters, and other contacts on their own.

However, every officer-initiated stop has to be justified. Police need reasonable suspicion to stop you and probable cause to arrest or search you, and a search usually requires a warrant, valid consent, or a recognized exception. When a stop, search, or arrest doesn’t meet those requirements, the evidence that came from it can be challenged and suppressed. As a former officer turned Warren criminal defense lawyer, Attorney Brown knows how these encounters are documented and where the report, the body camera video, and the Constitution don’t line up.

In addition, other agencies that bring cases to the 37th District Court include Center Line Public Safety and the Michigan State Police, which patrol highways such as I-696 and M-53 (Van Dyke). If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

How a Warren Criminal Case Moves Forward

Arraignment: Your first appearance in the 37th District Court, where the judge sets bond and any conditions.

Misdemeanor cases: These stay in the 37th District Court through pretrial conferences, motions, any trial, and sentencing.

Felony cases: A felony starts here with a probable cause conference and a preliminary examination. Our Warren felonious assault case was dismissed at this stage. If the case is bound over, it moves to the 16th Circuit Court in Mount Clemens.

Charges We Defend in Warren and Center Line

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

Also Serving Center Line and Nearby Communities

We defend clients charged in Center Line as often as in Warren, and we represent clients in Sterling Heights, Shelby Township, Roseville, Eastpointe, and the rest of Macomb County. Our Troy office is just northwest of Warren.

Talk to a Warren Criminal Defense Lawyer

• Former Detroit police officer who knows how proactive police work is done, and where it goes too far
• Licensed in Michigan since 2008, with experience before every criminal court judge in Macomb County
• Free consultations, available 24/7, in person in Troy or virtually
• Credit cards accepted and payment plans available

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