Westland Criminal Defense Lawyer

The 18th District Court on Ford Road hears criminal and traffic cases from Westland. Attorney Christopher Brown is a Westland criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Wayne County, from drunk driving and suspended license charges to serious felonies.

Recent Results in the 18th District Court

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

Five Felonies Dismissed Through HYTA, No Prison — Westland

Our client was charged with five felonies, including two counts of felonious assault, third-degree fleeing and eluding, and felony malicious destruction of property. The prosecution alleged that after an argument at her boyfriend’s home, she tried to strike her boyfriend and a house guest with her vehicle, rammed both of their cars, and then led police on a pursuit. She had no prior criminal record. Because a Vehicle Code offense can’t receive HYTA, we negotiated for months to amend the fleeing charge to the Penal Code version. As a result, the prosecutor agreed to Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) status on all five felonies. The sentencing guidelines called for prison, but our client’s efforts before sentencing and our allocution at sentencing persuaded the court not to impose a prison term. She completed probation, and all five felonies were dismissed.

18th District Court and Third Circuit Court — Westland, Wayne County

First-Degree Home Invasion Dismissed — Westland

Our client went to collect a debt and was invited into the home. Once inside, his phone went missing. When he confronted the man who owed him money, a fight broke out.

Police arrested our client and charged him with first-degree home invasion, a 20-year felony. While our client sat in jail, the complainant used our client’s phone to take money from him.

We investigated, gathered the transaction records, and showed the prosecutor that the transactions happened while our client was in custody. The prosecutor dismissed the case in the 18th District Court in Westland.

18th District Court — Westland, Wayne County

Malicious Destruction of Property Dismissed on the Day of Trial — Westland

Our client hired our firm for trial after parting ways with a previous attorney. Our investigation showed the complaining witness lied to police and that our client was actually the one who had been assaulted. The charges were dismissed on the day of trial.

18th District Court — Westland, Wayne County

See more of our Wayne County and other case results.

The 18th District Court in Westland

The 18th District Court handles misdemeanor and felony cases that arise within Westland city limits. The courthouse sits on Ford Road between Wayne Road and Newburgh Road, directly behind the Westland Police Department. Two judges share the docket, and a magistrate also handles some matters.

18th District Court

Address: 36675 Ford Rd., Westland, MI 48185
Phone: (734) 595-8720
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday
Judges: Chief Judge Mark A. McConnell and Judge Michael McNamara
Serves: City of Westland
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.

Two Judges Who Know Westland

Both judges served as Westland city prosecutors in this same court before they took the bench. Judge Michael McNamara spent more than 20 years as an Assistant Westland City Attorney and Prosecutor in the 18th District Court, and Westland voters elected him in 2024. As a result, he knows the Westland Police Department’s practices very well. Attorney Brown worked both alongside and against Judge McNamara during his years as a city attorney, so he understands how the judge approaches a case.

Chief Judge Mark A. McConnell was first elected in 2008. Before that, he also served as an Assistant Westland City Attorney and Prosecutor in the 18th District Court, and he previously spent two years as a research attorney for the Michigan Court of Appeals.

When both judges know the city’s police and prosecutors this well, preparation matters. A Westland criminal defense lawyer needs to know the facts, the video, and the law before the first court date.

Westland Police and Proactive Policing

The Westland Police Department is a very proactive department, much like Warren and Livonia. In Attorney Brown’s experience, many former and retired Detroit police officers now serve in Westland, and they bring that proactive approach with them. As a result, many Westland cases start with an officer-initiated contact, such as a traffic stop.

Attorney Brown served as a Detroit police officer, so he knows that training firsthand. He knows how officers justify a stop, a search, and an arrest. In particular, 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, a lawyer can challenge the evidence. If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

Who Prosecutes Your Case

In the 18th District Court, the prosecutor depends on how you were charged. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office handles state prosecutions, including every felony case. The Westland City Attorney’s Office prosecutes charges under a city ordinance. Knowing which office has your case helps your Westland criminal defense lawyer get the reports and video quickly and negotiate with the right person.

Clearing a Warrant in Westland

If you have an outstanding warrant from the 18th District Court, the court offers two options. First, you can appear in person at the courthouse Monday through Wednesday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Second, you can ask the court to handle the warrant electronically. However, the warrant stays active until a judge or magistrate sees you, and not every case qualifies for electronic handling. The court’s outstanding warrants page explains the steps.

Before you walk in, talk to a lawyer. A lawyer can prepare a bond argument, gather proof of your job and family ties, and in many cases help you avoid sitting in jail while the case moves forward.

Alternatives to Jail and a Conviction

The 18th District Court Work Program

The court’s work program lets defendants complete community service in lieu of serving jail time. The program runs seven days a week, and staff supervise participants at all times. However, missing a day or breaking the program’s rules leads to a show cause hearing before the judge, so a client has to take it seriously.

Sobriety Court

The 18th District Court started its Sobriety Court in October 2013 for repeat drinking and driving offenders. It is an 18- to 24-month program with four step-down phases that combines treatment with close supervision. In addition, participants may become eligible for a restricted license with an ignition interlock after 60 days of documented sobriety. Eligibility depends on factors such as prior convictions, employment or school, and a willingness to address a substance use problem.

Deferrals That Keep a First Offense Off Your Public Record

For some first-time offenders, Michigan law allows the court to defer a case and dismiss it after probation. These options include MCL 333.7411 for drug charges, MCL 769.4a for domestic assault, and the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) for offenses committed between ages 18 and 25. From age 21 on, HYTA requires the prosecutor’s consent. After successful completion, the case becomes a non-public record. Eligibility depends on your charge and record, so ask about these options early. For example, in our Westland HYTA case above, five felonies ended in dismissal.

What Happens After an Arrest in Westland

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 18th District Court.

Felony cases: A felony starts with arraignment, a probable cause conference, and a preliminary examination in the 18th 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 Westland

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

Also Serving Nearby Communities

Beyond Westland, we defend clients in nearby Garden City, Inkster, Wayne, and Canton, and just to the north in Livonia.

Westland Criminal Defense Lawyer FAQ

Where is the Westland district court?

The 18th District Court is at 36675 Ford Road, between Wayne Road and Newburgh Road, behind the Westland Police Department. It hears criminal and traffic cases from the City of Westland. Felony cases start there and, if the judge binds the case over, move to the Third Circuit Court in Detroit.

How do I take care of a warrant in Westland?

You can appear in person Monday through Wednesday between 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., or ask the court to handle the warrant electronically. Either way, the warrant stays active until a judge or magistrate sees you. Before you go, a Westland criminal defense lawyer can help you prepare for bond.

Can I do community service instead of jail in Westland?

Possibly. The 18th District Court runs a supervised work program that lets defendants complete community service in lieu of jail time. Whether the judge allows it depends on your charge, your record, and how your lawyer presents the request.

Who prosecutes my case in Westland?

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

Talk to a Westland 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.