Wayne County Court Records
Court records are essential legal documents that contain court proceedings in Wayne County. Per Michigan Court Rule 1.109, court records are generated when an individual files a case with the Wayne County Circuit Court. The custodian of court records in Wayne County is the Clerk of the Third Judicial Circuit Court. All court records comply with the provisions outlined in Local Court Rules and the Michigan Rules of Court.
Court records play a crucial role in the legal system and society. They provide valuable historical and cultural information regarding significant legal cases. Court records also ensure transparency in the legal system. This is achieved by allowing the public to access information about court proceedings, including the outcome of cases and the reasoning behind judicial decisions. By holding judges, attorneys, and other court officials accountable for their actions, court records help maintain the legal system's integrity. Court records are often used for research, including legal trends, social issues, and public policy studies. They also serve personal and professional purposes. Overall, court records serve as a critical source of information and transparency in the legal system and are essential for ensuring accountability and preserving the historical and cultural significance of the law.
Are Wayne County Court Records Public?
Per the Michigan Freedom of Information Act, anyone can request to inspect or obtain copies of records maintained by the Wayne County Circuit Court. However, certain court records are confidential and exempt from public disclosure. Examples of confidential court records include:
- Juvenile records
- Adoption records
- Personnel records related to judges, court clerks, and other court employees
- Investigative records
- Confidential legal advice
- Records on pending litigation
What Do Wayne County Court Records Contain?
Some common types of information found in Wayne County court records include the following:
- Case number
- Party information (party type and names, and attorney names and phone numbers)
- Charge information (charges, statute, level, and date)
- Events & orders of the court (dispositions, date, plea, judicial officer’s name)
- Hearings (hearing date, time, and result)
Where to Conduct a Wayne County Case Lookup
A case lookup can be conducted at the following record custodian offices:
- Wayne County Circuit Court
- Wayne County District Courts
- Michigan Supreme Court
- Michigan Court of Appeals
- Wayne County Probate Court
How to Conduct a Wayne County Case Records Search
A record seeker can search the Wayne County case records online, by mail, or in person at the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan. The court has an Odyssey Public Access (OPA) portal where individuals can access case records online. A search can be conducted by case, defendant, citation, attorney, and date filed. Alternatively, requesters can access court records online through public access kiosks at the Wayne County Clerk’s office.
Individuals can mail their court record requests to the Wayne County Clerk Records Division. They must attach the required documents (copy of I.D. only for DD214) and the necessary fees to form. Payments can be made via money order. Interested persons can also order copies of court documents in person via the counter at the Records Division during office hours (8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday). The Division is located at:
Wayne County Clerk Records Division
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center, Rm LL-61
2 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-5530
Fax: (313) 967-3712
Email: wcrecordroom@waynecounty.com
Wayne County Civil Court Case Records
The Wayne County Circuit Court maintains civil court case records for legal disputes between private citizens or companies. Cases encompassing claims exceeding $25,000, which may involve medical malpractice, automobile negligence, personal injury, contractual disputes, employment discrimination, and receiverships, fall under the jurisdiction of the Civil Division. The court also handles matters relating to family law, landlord-tenant disputes, probate, and business court cases.
Individuals can access civil court case records in Wayne County in two ways. The first option is to visit the Circuit Court during regular business hours and inspect or obtain copies of the records using public access terminals or at the Division’s counter. The second option is to access court records online through the court's Odyssey system. On the portal, click the Non-Criminal Case Records link and conduct a search by case, party, attorney, and date filed. Civil records are available from 1942 to the present.
Wayne County Criminal Court Case Records
The Wayne County Clerk’s office is responsible for disseminating all criminal case information filed in the Third Judicial Circuit Court. The Third Judicial Circuit Court Criminal Division handles all felony cases and district court criminal appeals. Individuals who wish to access criminal court case records can do so online through the The Odyssey Portal. Click on the Criminal Case Records link to conduct a search by case, defendant, citation, attorney, or date filed.
Alternatively, individuals can access criminal court case records in person at the Wayne County Circuit Court office during regular business hours. Electronic access to public case records is provided via public access kiosks situated in the courthouse. Copies of criminal court case records can be retrieved from the counter at the courthouse.
How to Get Court Records Online for Free
Here is how to get court records from Wayne County Circuit Court:
- Go to the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan's official website.
- Click on the "Case Search" tool to access the Odyssey Portal.
- Read and acknowledge the terms before using the portal
- Click on the criminal case records link or non-criminal case records link
- Enter the characters displayed on the page in the search box
- Conduct a search by case, defendant/party, citation, attorney, or date filed.
Courts in Wayne County
Below are the addresses of all the courts in Wayne County:
Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
Civil Division
Family Division-Domestic Relations
2 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Frank Murphy Hall of Justice
Criminal Division
1441 St. Antoine
Detroit, MI 48226
Lincoln Hall of Justice
Family Division-Juvenile
1025 E. Forest Avenue
Detroit, MI 48207
Mediation Tribunal Association
Case Evaluation
333 W. Fort Street
Detroit, MI 48226
Penobscot Building
Friend of the Court
645 Griswold
Detroit, MI 48226
Wayne County Probate Court
1305 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center,
2 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 224-5706
Fax: (313) 967-4041
Wayne County District Court - 18th District
1441 St. Antoine, Frank Murphy Hall of Justice,
Detroit, MI 48226
Phone: (313) 965-2200
Fax: (313) 237-5305
Wayne County District Court - 20th District
11131 Wayne Rd, Romulus District Court,
Romulus, MI 48174
Phone: (734) 941-4462
Fax: (734) 941-1425
Wayne County District Court - 21st District
23365 Goddard Rd, Taylor District Court,
Taylor, MI 48180
Phone: (734) 374-1334
Fax: (734) 374-1359
Wayne County District Court - 22nd District
27331 S River Park Dr,
Inkster, MI 48141
Phone: (313) 277-8200
Fax: (313) 277-8233
