15th Judicial District Court

The 15th Judicial District Court is located in downtown Ann Arbor in the Ann Arbor Justice Center. The court is presided over by three judges; the Honorable Elizabeth Hines, the Honorable Joseph F. Burke and the Honorable Karen Quinlan Valvo,  as well as one appointed magistrate, the Honorable Tamara Garwood. Daily court operations are overseen by Court Administrator Shryl Samborn.

The court is comprised of five divisions: Administration, Civil, Collections, Traffic/Criminal, and Probation. Administration is responsible for the administrative management of all non-judicial functions of the Court. The Civil Division maintains the court files for general civil, landlord-tenant, and small claims cases. The Collections Division is responsible for facilitating payment of delinquent fines, court costs and restitution. The Traffic/Criminal Division maintains the records for all traffic and criminal misdemeanors, civil infractions, ordinance violations, and University of Michigan Regents violations. The Probation Department is responsible for pre-sentence investigations, alcohol assessments, supervision, counseling, and referrals to outside assessment and treatment programs for those who are placed on probation.

The 15th Judicial District Court has jurisdiction over cases which include but are not limited to:

• Civil Cases where the disputed amount is $25,000 or less
• Small Claims cases where the disputed amount is $5,500 or less
• Landlord/Tenant disputes
• Criminal & Traffic Misdemeanors punishable by 1 year or less in jail
• Arrest Warrant &Search Warrant Issuance
• Ann Arbor City Ordinance Violations
• Traffic & State Civil Infractions
• University of Michigan Regents Ordinance Violations
• Felony Probable Cause Conferences & Preliminary Exams