One of my favorite courts to practice in is the 44th District Court that is located in Royal Oak. The 44th District Court handles cases that arise in Royal Oak and Berkley. While I have practiced extensively in courts around Michigan, Royal Oak is considered one of my “home bases.” One of my offices is located directly across the street from the Court and I have served the community myself as a prominent local leader for over 11 years. Furthermore, as a criminal defense attorney I have taken cases to jury trials and have prevailed in Royal Oak. All of this combined brings a level of respect from the Judges, prosecutors, and other court staff. My relationships with all parties in Royal Oak and Berkley is very warm, but my firm has absolutely no problem taking a case all the way and fighting as hard as needed to get a desired result. 

Because Royal Oak is a destination city for socializing, many of the cases we see are alcohol related. I have represented countless DUI and OWI clients in Royal Oak and Berkley. Other common misdemeanor charges include Public Intoxication, various driving misdemeanors such as Driving While License Suspended, Retail Fraud, Assault and Battery, and Domestic Violence to name just a few.

I also have represented many clients on serious felony charges with very good results. If your case is charged as a felony, it will begin in Royal Oak, but will eventually make its way up to the Oakland County Circuit Court that is located in Pontiac, unless the case is dismissed or there is a misdemeanor resolution. Felony cases that go to trial do not go to trial in Royal Oak but will be heard up in Circuit Court. Misdemeanor cases, on the other hand, are fully heard in Royal Oak and if there was a trial, the trial would be in Royal Oak as well. Common felony cases in Royal Oak can include, felony drunk driving, home invasion, drug crimes such as possession or delivery of heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other controlled substances, felonious assault, breaking and entering, and many others. 

While I have gotten clients many amazing outcomes in courts that I rarely practice in, there is certainly a benefit to having an attorney who is extremely familiar with a given court and knows the lay of the land well. If you are charged with a crime in Royal Oak or Berkely, it will either be handled by a local city prosecutor or by the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office. The case will either be heard by Judge Jamie Wittenberg or Judge Derek Meinecke. Both are excellent Judges though they have different styles. I have a great relationship with each and think highly of them both. Both have treated my clients very fairly in the past.

If you are facing a criminal case of any kind arising out of Royal Oak or Berkley and need a highly experienced criminal defense lawyer, call me immediately at (810) 394-2952. Barnwell Law has consistently secured excellent results out of Royal Oak and countless other courts. 

If you have been charged with a crime in Royal Oak or Berkley your case will be heard at the 44th District Court located at 400 E. 11 Mile Rd. Royal Oak, MI 48067

Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law is very well known in Royal Oak. He is actually a pastor of a church right across the street from this court and practices extensively in Royal for both misdemeanor and felony cases. He is the only 100% criminal defense attorney anywhere in Michigan who is also a leader in the faith community. However, Bill represents clients of all diverse backgrounds and has secured very positive results regardless of a client’s race, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, gender, etc. He is very well acquainted with the Judges, the court staff, the probation office, and how to navigate a court many consider “tough”.

There are two Judges who preside in Royal Oak: Judge Derek Meinecke and Judge James Wittenberg. Attorney Bill Barnwell has appeared in front of each of these judges in both felony and misdemeanor cases and has secured favorable results for clients, including outright case dismissals and jury trial victories in Royal Oak. . If you are being arraigned on a charge, you may first appear before a magistrate, or one of the two Judges, who will inform you of the charge you are facing and set bond. If your case is a misdemeanor, it will be set for pretrial. If you are facing a felony charge, it will be set for Probable Cause Conference.

If you’re facing a misdemeanor charge, your case will be heard in its entirety at the 44th District Court from one of the two Royal Oak and Berkley District Court Judges. A misdemeanor charge has a maximum possible jail penalty of up to one year in the county jail. Common misdemeanor charges are DUI, OWI, OUIL, disorderly conduct, reckless driving, retail fraud, assault and battery, indecent exposure, domestic violence, minor larceny, and embezzlement cases. This is not an exhaustive list, but an example of the types of cases heard in District Court.

If you are facing a felony case, such as felony drug possession, felony home invasion, homicide, delivery and manufacturing of marijuana, cocaine, heroin, felony assault,  or any other type of felony, your case will be arraigned in the 44th District Court. This will be followed by a Probable Cause Conference within 14 days of your arraignment, followed by a Preliminary Exam (also known as Probable Cause Hearing) within 21 days of your arraignment. If a client “waives” their Preliminary Exam, the matter then proceeds to the 16th Circuit Court, otherwise known as the Oakland County Circuit Court. If the Preliminary Exam is held, the case may be dismissed or it will be “bound over” to the 6th Circuit in Oakland County Circuit Court for further proceedings. 

Bill Barnwell of Barnwell Law has conducted preliminary exams for felony cases in the 44th District Court and has successfully fought cases all the way through Oakland County Circuit Court. Oakland County is seen as one of the “toughest” counties in the state. Barnwell Law has even had excellent results such as serious sex crime allegations never being charged in Oakland County for proactive clients who have reached out to Barnwell Law prior to being charged where Attorney Bill Barnwell has convinced law enforcement and prosecutors that insufficient evidence existed even to bring the case forward.

It is important when hiring an attorney to choose legal council who has a track record of solid results in a given court room. Barnwell Law is well known and respected in Royal Oak and Berkley.

If you have been sentenced already in Royal Oak in the 44th District Court and have been put on probation and have been told that you are in violation of your probation, it is highly advised that you hire an attorney for your Probation Violation proceeding as well. Royal Oak, like all courts in Oakland County, take probation violation accusations very seriously. Jail can be very possible on first probation violation accusations in Royal Oak and Oakland County, but Barnwell Law has successfully helped numerous clients avoid this fate and get much more positive results.

Whatever the situation may be, contact Bill anytime at (810) 394-2952 if you are facing a misdemeanor, felony, or probation violation allegation arising out of Royal Oak, Berkley, or anywhere in Oakland County. Your freedom is too important.

Call an attorney who handles ONLY criminal law on a daily basis throughout Metro-Detroit and the state of Michigan.