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Wyandotte Criminal Defense Lawyer

The 27th District Court on Biddle Avenue hears criminal and traffic cases from Wyandotte and Riverview. Attorney Christopher Brown is a Wyandotte criminal defense lawyer and former Detroit police officer who defends clients in this court and throughout Wayne County, from drunk driving and domestic violence 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 27th District Court in Wyandotte

The 27th District Court 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.

27th District Court

Address: 2015 Biddle Ave., Wyandotte, MI 48192
Phone: (734) 324-4475
Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday
Judge: Chief Judge Elizabeth L. DiSanto
Serves: Wyandotte and Riverview
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.

A Judge Open to Treatment

The 27th District Court has a single judge, so every Wyandotte and Riverview case goes before Chief Judge Elizabeth L. DiSanto. She took the bench in 2019.

In Attorney Brown’s experience, Judge DiSanto is very open to treatment, whether for mental health or substance abuse. She is also candid and inquisitive. In addition, she allows counsel to be heard fully, and Attorney Brown appreciates that.

Honesty With the Court Matters

Judge DiSanto asks questions and looks closely at the facts. In Attorney Brown’s experience, if a defendant tries to deceive her, she will go the extra mile to get to the truth. For that reason, a Wyandotte criminal defense lawyer should prepare a client to be truthful and to present a real, documented plan, not excuses.

Treatment and Alternatives to Jail

Because the judge is open to treatment, a well-prepared treatment plan can make a real difference in this court.

Mental health court: Michigan’s statewide directory lists an Adult Mental Health Court at the 27th District Court. The court runs it as a regional program for eligible defendants with a mental health condition who have pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor. Admission depends on screening, so ask about it early.

Work program: The court offers a supervised work program as a possible alternative to jail. Whether you qualify depends on your charge, your record, and how your lawyer presents the request.

A strong treatment request names the provider, the start date, how you’ll get there, and how the court can confirm you’re attending. A Wyandotte criminal defense lawyer can help you build that plan before your court date.

Sobriety and Drug Courts

The 27th District Court doesn’t appear on Michigan’s list of sobriety and drug treatment courts. For that reason, ask early about treatment options for a substance use problem.

Police Stops and Searches in Wyandotte and Riverview

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. If a detective has contacted you before any charge, learn what to do before you talk.

Who Prosecutes Your Case

In the 27th 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 attorney for the city where the offense happened, either Wyandotte or Riverview, prosecutes charges under a local 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 Wyandotte

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 27th District Court.

Felony cases: A felony starts with arraignment, a probable cause conference, and a preliminary examination in the 27th 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 Wyandotte and Riverview

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

Also Serving Riverview and Downriver Communities

Because they share the 27th District Court, we defend clients from Riverview just as often as from Wyandotte. We also represent clients in nearby Southgate, Lincoln Park, Trenton, and throughout the Downriver communities.