Woods, Shores May Share Municipal Court

Grosse Pointe Shores sent a rough draft of a proposal to share the municipal court services with Grosse Pointe Woods. The draft was reviewed by the Woods council Monday, and the city's attorney has been directed to negotiate with the Shores on sharing costs, too. 

The request by the Shores comes as a result of their status as a city. They were incorporated as such in 2009. Cities, under Michigan law, are not allowed to contract court services from other cities, which is what the Shores has done for years by hiring the judge from the Woods to act as the judge in the Shores.

As a city, they are required to either strictly use the state court system or they may operate a municipal court. They may not simply hire a judge to administer their cases, which has been the case and was allowable as a village. The municipal courts in the Pointes handle not only ordinance and traffic citations but they also handle the initial appearances and preliminary exams of criminals—something other cities leave up to the state courts. Following a preliminary exam, the criminal's case then continues downtown through completion, including jury trials or pleading guilty. 

Woods Mayor Robert Novitke said he believes the two municipalities will reach an agreement quickly in the matter and that it is unlikely to affect how either court is operated. Each municipality will continue holding their own court dates at their respective city offices just as they already have been.

There likely isn't any cost savings as this is a move to include the Shores under the municipal court umbrella. The Shores was already contracting the Woods judge to administer their cases.

Such a partnership means the position for the judge would be voted upon by residents from both communities and qualified candidates living in the Shores would also be able to run for election to the position, Novitke said. 

The Woods council's decision Monday was during its Committee of the Whole meeting, which is a less formal gathering of council members to preliminarily discuss issues before they are presented for a formal vote. 

Ultimately, the agreement would go before both city councils, and Novitke said he would like to put the issue up for voters to voice their opinion. 

The Pointes are the only cities in the state with municipal courts, according to the Michigan State Courts website.