Detroit Court Dockets
Detroit court dockets are split between two main systems: the 36th District Court Case Inquiry System, which covers cases from 1990 to the present, and the Wayne County Third Circuit Odyssey Public Access portal, which goes back to 1942. Both are free to use online. Detroit is Michigan's largest city and home to one of the busiest courts in the entire country. Finding a Detroit court docket is straightforward once you know which court handled the case.
Detroit Overview
Detroit Court Docket Systems
Two separate court systems handle dockets for Detroit cases. The 36th District Court handles misdemeanors, civil cases up to $25,000, and felony preliminary examinations for Detroit residents. The Wayne County Third Circuit Court handles felony cases, civil cases over $25,000, and family matters like divorce and custody. Each has its own online search system.
The 36th District Court is the primary district-level court for Detroit. It operates at 421 Madison Street and is often called the "People's Court." With 28 judges and 6 magistrates, it is the largest district court in Michigan. The court docket covers everything from traffic violations and small claims to misdemeanors and felony preliminary exams. Chief Judge William C. McConico oversees daily operations.
For felony cases that move past the preliminary exam stage, those dockets transfer to the Wayne County Third Circuit Court. Wayne County uses the Odyssey Public Access system, which holds civil and criminal records dating back to 1942. This is a much deeper archive than the district court system offers.
| 36th District Court | 421 Madison Street, Detroit, MI 48226 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (313) 965-2200 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| TDD/TTY | (313) 965-4158 |
Note: The 36th District Court is not responsible for errors in its online data, and the information is not considered an official court record for legal purposes.
Search Detroit Court Dockets Online
The 36th District Court offers a free case inquiry system at 36thdistrictcourtmi.gov. You can search by case number, party name, or date. The Register of Actions (ROA) for each case shows all filings, hearings, and orders in the docket. Cases go back to 1990. You can also check court schedules and payment balances through the same portal.
The 36th District Court also runs a direct search portal at dapps.36thdistrictcourt.org for ROA lookups. This tool is useful when you already have a case number and want to pull up the full docket quickly. Name searches are available too, though the court cautions that common names can return results for multiple people.
The official Michigan Courts statewide system at courts.michigan.gov/case-search/ also indexes many Detroit cases. This is the MiCOURT portal, which covers all 57 circuit courts and the appellate courts. It is a good backup option if you need to search across more than one Michigan court at once.
The 36th District Court homepage provides a starting point for case research in Detroit.
The case inquiry system on the 36th District Court site gives free access to ROA records from 1990 through the present.
The case search page at 36thdistrictcourtmi.gov shows current case statuses and upcoming hearing dates for Detroit cases.
Use the case inquiry system to look up case numbers, check hearing dates, or verify payment balances on active cases.
The direct ROA search portal lets you pull up Detroit docket entries with a case number or name search.
This portal returns the Register of Actions for cases filed in the 36th District Court going back to 1990.
Wayne County Circuit Court Dockets
Felony cases that clear preliminary examination in the 36th District Court move to the Wayne County Third Circuit Court. The circuit court also handles all divorce, custody, probate, and civil cases above the $25,000 limit. The Third Circuit covers all of Wayne County, which includes Detroit and dozens of surrounding cities.
Wayne County uses the Odyssey Public Access (OPA) system. You can reach it at the Third Circuit Court website at 3rdcc.org. The OPA system holds public case records going back to 1942. This is one of the longest digital archives of court records in Michigan. You can search for civil judgments, criminal case histories, and register of actions entries through this portal.
Public access kiosks are available at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, 2 Woodward Avenue, Detroit. These terminals let you search locally stored records in paper form and are useful for cases that may not appear in the online system. In-person visits to the circuit court clerk's office are another option for older records or certified copies.
Note: OPA records are not certified by the Third Circuit Court and should not be used for official background checks or legal proceedings requiring official certification.
Getting Detroit Court Records
If you need an official copy of a court docket or document, you must request it directly from the court. Online searches give you case information but do not produce certified records. Document images are not available through either online system. You need to contact the clerk's office to get actual filings, judgments, or transcripts.
For 36th District Court records, visit the clerk's office at 421 Madison Street during business hours. A record request form is available on the court website. You can also submit a written mail request with the case number or party names. Copy fees vary by document type. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call (313) 965-2200 before your visit to confirm what identification or information you need to bring.
The 36th District Court handles a high volume of requests. Processing time depends on how many requests are in queue. For older cases or Wayne County Circuit Court records, contact the Third Circuit Court clerk directly. The court at Coleman A. Young Municipal Center has paper records on file. SCAO forms for various court filings are available free at courts.michigan.gov/SCAO-forms/.
What Dockets Are Not Online
Not every Detroit court case appears in the public online systems. Michigan law and court rules restrict access to several types of cases. Personal Protection Order (PPO) cases are not available online under MCR 3.705. Cases handled under the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA) are sealed and do not show up in public searches. First-time drug charges disposed under MCL 333.7411 are also excluded from online access.
Cases involving juveniles and child protection matters are confidential under MCL 600.1750. If a case was expunged under Michigan's Clean Slate Law (enacted in 2020), it will no longer appear in public records searches. The Michigan State Police ICHAT system at apps.michigan.gov/ICHAT is the proper tool for official criminal history checks, not the court case search portals.
Name searches can also be unreliable for criminal records because multiple people can share the same name and birth date, and defendants frequently use aliases. The 36th District Court warns users to exercise caution with name-based criminal record searches and not to rely solely on online results for official purposes.
Note: The online case systems should not be used for background checks or any purpose that requires a certified, official record from the court.
Legal Resources for Detroit
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has self-help tools and guides for people navigating the court system on their own. The site covers common case types and explains how court dockets work. It is a good first stop if you are trying to read a docket or understand what the entries mean.
The State Bar of Michigan's lawyer referral service can connect you with an attorney familiar with Wayne County courts. Legal aid organizations serving Detroit can help people who qualify based on income. The court's language access coordinator (Cheryle Sanow, 313-943-2123) can assist with language needs, though this is specific to the 19th District Court in Dearborn. The 36th District Court has its own TDD/TTY line at (313) 965-4158 for accessibility support.
Nearby Cities
Other Michigan cities near Detroit also have court docket pages you can search.
- Dearborn - Wayne County, 19th District Court
- Livonia - Wayne County, 16th District Court
- Canton Township - Wayne County, 35th District Court
- Warren - Macomb County, 37th District Court
- Sterling Heights - Macomb County, 41A District Court
- Ann Arbor - Washtenaw County, 15th District Court
Wayne County Court Dockets
Detroit is in Wayne County. The Wayne County Third Circuit Court handles felony cases, family court, and civil matters above the district court limit. For more on the county-level court system, including the Odyssey Public Access portal and Wayne County clerk information, visit the county court docket page.