2008-2009 - Saginaw County

FUND: 101 GENERAL OPERATING
ACTIVITY: 13600 DISTRICT COURT
DESCRIPTION:
SAGINAW COUNTY 2009 BUDGET
THE 70TH DISTRICT STATE COURT IS COMPRISED OF SIX (6) DISTRICT
JUDGES ELECTED TO 6-YEAR TERMS ON NON-PARTISAN BALLOTS.
THE DISTRICT COURT HAS EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF:
A) CIVIL LITIGATION UP TO $25,000 ON REGULAR CIVIL MATTERS,
SMALL CLAIMS CASES UP TO $3000, AND SUMMARY PROCEEDING
MATTERS (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS LANDLORD/TENANT CASES).
B) ALL TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS.
C) CRIMINAL MISDEMEANORS AND LOCAL ORDINANCE VIOLATIONS WHERE
PUNISHMENT DOES NOT EXCEED ONE YEAR.
D) MUNICIPAL CIVIL INFRACTIONS AND STATE CIVIL INFRACTIONS
SERVICES PROVIDED:
1 ADJUDICATE CIVIL, SMALL CLAIMS, AND SUMMARY PROCEEDING CASES
FILED WITH THE COURT.
2 COLLECT AND PROCESS MANDATED FILING FEES FOR ALL TYPES OF CIVIL
CASES.
3 PROCESS DEFENDANTS WHO APPEAR FOR ARRAIGNMENT ON CRIMINAL AND
TRAFFIC MATTERS.
4 HOLD PRELIMINARY EXAMINATIONS ON FELONY CASES, SET BONDS, AUTHO-
RIZE SEARCH WARRANTS AND IMMOBOLIZATIONS FOR CERTAIN DRINKING AND
DRIVING SUSPENDED VIOLATIONS.
5 COLLECT BOND MONEY, FINES, COSTS, RESTITUTION, AND VARIOUS FEES
MANDATED BY STATUTE.
6 THE MAGISTRATE, APPOINTED BY THE DISTRICT JUDGES, HOLDS INFORMAL
HEARINGS AND PRETRIALS ON TRAFFIC OFFENSES. HE/SHE ALSO PERFORMS
WEDDING CEREMONIES.
7 HANDLE FELONY PLEAS AT THE DISTRICT COURT LEVEL TO ASSIST THE
CIRCUIT COURT DOCKET AND REDUCE INMATE TIME IN THE SAGINAW
COUNTY JAIL.
ACTIVITY REPORT: 2006 2007 2008 2009
ACTUAL ACTUAL PROJECTED ESTIMATED
CIVIL CASE FILINGS 11,400 13,227 12,000 12,000
TRAFFIC FILINGS 37,140 37,896 34,464 35,000
CRIMINAL FILINGS 10,933 11,959 10,344 10,500
GOALS OR OBJECTIVES:
THE COURT CONTINUES TO LOOK FOR WAYS TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE
COUNTY. THE DISTRICT COURT IS CURRENTLY TAKING FELONY PLEAS IN
DISTRICT COURT AND ALSO PLAN TO IMPLEMENT A PROCESS TO HANDLE FELONY
ARRAIGNMENTS. THIS WILL ASSIST THE CIRCUIT COURT BY REDUCING CASES ON
THEIR DOCKETS AND ALSO EXPEDITE DEFENDANTS THROUGH THE SYSTEM FASTER
RESULTING IN REDUCED INMATE TIME IN THE SAGINAW COUNTY JAIL.
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