52-4 District Court / Troy District Court / Clawson District Court

52-4 District Court / Troy District Court / Clawson District Court

If you need legal representation in the 52-4 District Court, then feel free to call us at (248) 398-7100  for a free consultation or contact us with a private message.  Our law firm is located within walking distance of the 52-4 District Court.  We are a local law firm located in Troy and our attorneys are familiar with the Judges, Prosecutors, Clerks, and staff of the 52-4 District Court as we regularly appear in this Court.

Judges:
Honorable Kirsten Nielson Hartig:

Judge Kirsten Nielson Hartig is a graduate of Traverse City Senior High School and Michigan State University (James Madison Honors College). Judge Hartig was one of six students nationally to be selected to intern at the White House during the tenure of President Ronald Reagan. Judge Hartig received her law degree from the Washington College of Law at the American University and graduated in the top 5% of her law school class.

Judge Hartig served as an Assistant Oakland County Prosecutor for six years prosecuting misdemeanors and felonies. Judge Hartig co-founded the Domestic Violence Assault Unit and specialized in prosecuting serious domestic physical and sexual abuse. After leaving the prosecutor’s office, Judge Hartig was in private practice for 14 years, specializing in criminal and traffic law.

Judge Hartig was honored as a Michigan Super Lawyer in 2009 and 2010, designating her as among the top 5% of all attorneys in Michigan who practice criminal law.

Judge Hartig is currently a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association, the Oakland County District Judges Association, and the Michigan District Judges Association.

Judge Hartig is a frequent volunteer at various Troy Public Schools, has donated her hair to Locks of Love, a charity providing free hair pieces to children with cancer, is an active member and the immediate past President of the Kiwanis Club of Troy, member of the Troy Community Coalition and Board Member of the North Woodward Community Foundation. Judge Hartig was born in Clawson, Michigan and is a longtime resident of Troy, Michigan.

Honorable Maureen M. McGinnis​:

Judge Maureen M. McGinnis is a graduate of Troy High School, the University of Colorado-Boulder, and Michigan State University-Detroit College of Law. While pursuing her degrees, she interned on a U.S. Senate campaign, with the Boulder District Attorney’s Office and the United States Department of Justice, Criminal Division, in Washington, D.C.

In 2003, Judge McGinnis proudly joined her father at the Law Offices of Donald E. McGinnis, Jr., P.C., where she specialized in family and criminal law for over a decade.

Judge McGinnis has been active in national, state, and local bar associations since being admitted to practice. She has been a member of the Oakland County Bar Association since 2003, serving on the Board of Directors for the organization since 2010. Judge McGinnis serves as a District I Commissioner on the State Bar of Michigan Board of Commissioners and helps to create policy and programs that benefit all attorneys licensed to practice in the State of Michigan.

In November 2009, Judge McGinnis was elected to serve as a Troy City Council Member and served as Mayor Pro Tem during her tenure. She was elected to the bench as a District Court Judge in 2014 and named Presiding Judge of the 52-4 District Court in January 2016.

She has worked with many charitable and service-related organizations over the years, including Habitat for Humanity Oakland County, Family Legal Assistance Project and Oakland County Youth Assistance.

Magistrates of the 52-4 District Court:

The Magistrates are responsible for Handling Arraignments, Small Claims matters, Informal Hearings, Setting Bond, and Performing Marriages.  The current magistrates are-

Divisions of the 52-4 District Court:
General Civil Division

The General Civil Division of the 52-4 District Court involves lawsuits between two or more parties involving amounts of $25,000.00 or less.  You have the right to a jury trial, the right to be represented by an attorney,  and the right to an appeal beyond this court.  The court does not appoint a court appointed attorney for civil matters.  Corporations must be represented by an attorney.

If the court decides in your favor, it does not automatically mean that the defendant will pay the judgment and costs.  You may have to take additional legal steps (i.e. garnishment, execution) to obtain your money. The Court does not collect the money for you.

Criminal Division

The Criminal Division of the 52-4 District Court processes felony and misdemeanor cases.  For felony cases, the district court is responsible for the arraignment of the defendant as well as the preliminary examination.  For misdemeanor cases, the district court retains jurisdiction of the case from start to finish.

The most common cases heard by the 52-4 District Court Criminal Division:

If you need legal representation in the 52-4 District Court, then feel free to call us at (248) 398-7100  for a free consultation or contact us with a private message. 

Our law firm is located within walking distance of the 52-4 District Court.  We are a local law firm located in Troy and our attorneys are familiar with the Judges, Prosecutors, Clerks, and staff of the 52-4 District Court as we regularly appear in this Court.