The District Court is a Trial Court of limited jurisdiction. The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction of the following types of cases:
- All Civil Litigation:
General Civil involving judgments from $1 – $ 25,000
Small Claims involving judgments from $1- $7,000
Claim and Delivery - Garnishments
- Landlord / Tenant Disputes and Eviction Proceedings
- Land Contract Forfeitures
- Adult Criminal Misdemeanor Offenses (punishable up to one year imprisonment)
- Civil Infractions
- Traffic Violations
- Civil Marriage Ceremonies and other proceedings.
For criminal cases, the District Court conducts preliminary examinations in felony cases and handles all misdemeanors where punishment does not exceed one year in jail including arraignment, sentence, and setting and acceptance of bail.
A small claims division for certain civil claims is provided in the district court. Parties agree to waive their right to a jury, rules of evidence, representation by a lawyer, and the right to appeal the district judge’s decision. If either party objects, the case will be heard by the general civil division of the district court.
