Third Circuit Court - Criminal Division

History of Recorder's Court

The Recorder's Court, in Detroit, Michigan, before its merger in 1997, was limited to hearing felony criminal matters in the City of Detroit. It did not hear any civil matters.

It traces its roots to the Mayor's Court in Detroit, formed in 1824.

It was formed in the 19th century and was merged into the Wayne County Circuit Court, the general jurisdiction court in Wayne County, following the pattern of the rest of the state of Michigan in October 1997.

Third Circuit Court

Merger into the Wayne County Circuit Court was made pursuant to a 1997 state law which also consolidated the state's probate courts into a family court. A lawsuit brought by Richard Kuhn opposed the merger, but did not prevail.

The court is now housed in the Frank Murphy Hall of Justice located at 1441 Saint Antoine St, Detroit MI 48226. The main phone number is (313) 224-2501

Wayne County Criminal Defense Bar Association | 1441 St. Antoine, Suite 810, Detroit, MI 48226 | Phone: (313) 224-5722