If you’re charged with a felony in Oakland County, your case will almost certainly end up in the Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac. This is where felony cases are tried and sentenced, and where the stakes are highest: prison time, long-term probation and a permanent felony record.
David knows this courthouse from the inside. He clerked for Judge Leo Bowman of the Oakland County Circuit Court, an experience that showed him how judges evaluate cases, motions and sentencing arguments.
Where the court is
The Oakland County Circuit Court is located in the Oakland County Courthouse at 1200 N. Telegraph Road, Pontiac, MI 48341. It hears felony cases from every community in Oakland County, from Novi and Troy to Southfield, Pontiac, Waterford and Royal Oak.
How a felony reaches circuit court
- District court: every felony starts in the local district court with an arraignment, a probable cause conference and a preliminary examination. See our guides to the 48th, 52nd, 46th, 50th, 47th, 44th and 51st District Courts.
- Bindover: if the district judge finds probable cause, the case is bound over to circuit court.
- Circuit court arraignment: you are arraigned on the formal charges, and bond is reviewed.
- Pretrial and motions: your lawyer reviews all the evidence, files motions to suppress illegally obtained evidence or dismiss charges, and negotiates with the prosecutor.
- Plea or trial: many cases resolve through negotiation. If not, the case goes to trial before a jury, or before the judge if you choose to waive a jury.
- Sentencing: the judge considers Michigan’s sentencing guidelines, the presentence report and everything we present on your behalf.
Felony cases we handle
We defend clients in the Oakland County Circuit Court against charges including third-offense and injury-related OWI, drug delivery and possession, felonious assault and AWIGBH, carrying a concealed weapon and felony firearm, home invasion and first-degree retail fraud, embezzlement and fraud, violent felonies and criminal sexual conduct.
Sentencing matters
In circuit court, sentencing is often where a case is won or lost. Michigan’s sentencing guidelines are a starting point, but judges consider much more: your background, employment, family responsibilities, treatment and the circumstances of the offense. We prepare a sentencing presentation that shows the judge the whole person, not just the charge.
Programs may still be available. Even in felony cases, options such as the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA), delayed sentences, Section 7411 for drug possession and treatment-focused programs can sometimes keep a conviction off your record.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the difference between district court and circuit court?
District courts handle misdemeanors and the early stages of felonies. When a felony isn’t dismissed or resolved after the preliminary examination, it is bound over to the circuit court, which handles felony trials and sentencing. Felony vs. misdemeanor.
Can I find out what sentence the judge would give before I plead?
Sometimes. In Michigan, a defendant can ask the judge for a preliminary evaluation of the likely sentence before deciding whether to plead, which is often called a Cobbs agreement. If the judge later decides to impose a harsher sentence, the defendant can generally withdraw the plea. Whether it makes sense depends on the case and the judge.
Where is the Oakland County Circuit Court?
At the Oakland County Courthouse, 1200 N. Telegraph Road in Pontiac, on the county’s main government campus.