46th District Court – Southfield, MI

The 46th District Court handles all criminal matters that occur in the City of Southfied and the Villages of Lathrup, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms and Franklin.

Southfield District Court on Evergreen Road

The 46th District Court is located at 26000 Evergreen Road, Southfield, Michigan. This court’s jurisdiction is the City of Southfield, Villages of Lathrup, Beverly Hills, Bingham Farms, and Franklin. This means that any criminal offense in any of those areas is sent to the 46th District Court. The judges in this court have a reputation for being tough. It is a busy court, having three judges and two magistrates.

The misdemeanor offenses that are heard in the 46th District Court are DWI, drunk driving, OWI, retail fraud, assault and battery, domestic violence, some financial transaction device offenses, possession of drugs, driving offenses such as driving while license suspended. The felony offenses heard at the 46th District Court for probable cause determinations can include 3rd offense drunk driving, identity theft, felonious assault, assault with intent to murder, car theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, and even rape and murder. The 46th District Court does not have a Sobriety Court or any other type of specialty court that will allow a criminal defendant to enter a particular program. The judges do have the ability to authorize a criminal defendant to use other diversion programs such as the Holmes Youthful Trainee Act (HYTA), 769.4a (domestic violence), or 771.1 (delayed sentence).

The Judges of the Southfield District Court

The Honorable Cynthia Meagher Arvant

The Honorable Cynthia Arvant was appointed to the 46th District Court by Governor Rick Snyder in July 2015 to fill the vacancy created by Chief Judge William Richards’ retirement. Before her appointment to the bench, Judge Arvant spent six years at the 46th District Court, appointed by the Judges to serve in various roles. She was hired as the Court’s Research Attorney in 2009 and was appointed as Magistrate in 2010, serving in both capacities until 2012, when she was appointed as Court Administrator. She served in the dual roles of Court Administrator and Magistrate until her appointment to the bench. Judge Arvant earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in Social Science from Michigan State University in 1992 and her Juris Doctorate from the Michigan State University College of Law (formerly Detroit College of Law) in 1995. Judge Arvant and her husband, Peter, are longtime local residents and have two children, Anna and William.

Judge Shelia R. Johnson

The Honorable Shelia R. Johnson was elected in November 2002 and is the first African American to serve as Judge in the 46th District Court. In November 2008, she was re-elected for an unopposed second term. Before assuming the bench, Judge Johnson was an attorney with over 18 years of legal experience in both State and Federal Courts. Judge Johnson was in private practice in Southfield, where she specialized in both civil and criminal litigation. Judge Johnson has also established a “Court in Schools” Program. Court sessions are held at local schools to deter youth from criminal behavior and inspire them toward positive career choices. Judge Johnson is a former law clerk to the Honorable Benjamin F. Gibson, United States District Court, Western District of Michigan. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College and the University of Michigan Law School. She was the first African American elected President of the Law School Senate and delivered the commencement address to her graduating class. She has been a resident of Southfield for 25 years.

Judge Debra Nance

Judge Nance was elected to the bench on November 6, 2012. She began a six-year term as Judge of the 46th District Court on January 1, 2013. Judge Nance received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Detroit. She began her professional career as an Assistant Personnel Manager at the Hudson’s Northland Store before serving as Personnel Superintendent for several other Hudson’s Department Stores throughout Michigan. She has also worked in various Human Resource capacities in the automotive market before launching her legal career. Judge Nance began her career as an attorney after obtaining a law degree from Wayne State University Law School. She worked on an assignment to the Office of the General Counsel at Ford Motor Company. She gained invaluable experience working in the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Domestic Violence Unit and the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Child & Family Abuse Bureau. In 2001, she went into private practice at the Kemp Klein Law Firm, where she developed a successful litigation practice in Civil Litigation, Probate Litigation, Juvenile & Family Litigation, and Adoption Law. Judge Nance has lived in Southfield for over 30 years. She remains active in the community and looks forward to a term of continuing service.

Michigan Criminal Defense Attorneys that practice regularly in the 46th District Court in Southfield, Michigan

If you are facing any criminal offense in the 46th District Court in Southfield, Michigan, you should have the help of an attorney that practices in that court regularly. The attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. work in the 46th District Court regularly. Our attorneys have great working relationships with the judges, court staff, and prosecutors who work in the 46th District Court. Our attorneys come prepared and ready to win for our clients.

LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. takes its obligation to represent clients to the highest standard possible very seriously. It is our attorneys’ passion to make sure that the constitution is honored in every case and rights are protected. We do not consider our clients’ representation as “a job.” It is an honor to stand between a person charged with a crime and an over-zealous prosecutor. We make sure that the government does everything required under the law. The lawyers at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. are well respected for their professionalism, integrity, and experience. If you are facing criminal charges, you need to best legal help available. LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. is that help.

Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete an online Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.

We will find a way to help you and, most importantly,
we are not afraid to win!