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Local Government>Van Buren County Courts>7th District Court East (Paw Paw)2

7th District Court East (Paw Paw)

Honorable Robert T. Hentchel
District Court Judge, East

Honorable Ward S. Hamlin,Jr.
District Court Judge, West

Craig A. Hess
Court Administrator, District Court Magistrate

Laurie Powell
Probation Officer

Location:
212 Paw Paw St., Suite 101A
Paw Paw, MI 49064

From I-94 take the Paw Paw Exit (exit 60). Turn north and proceed ½ mile. We are directly behind the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Dept. and jail on the right.

Contact Information:
Main Phone: 269 657-8222
Main Fax: 269 657-8223

Clerk’s Office Hours:
Monday – Friday
8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
(except holidays)

Probation Department:
Phone: (269)657-8248

Mon., Tues., Wed. & Fri.
8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Open Thursdays
Until 7:00 p.m.

For Transcript Information
e-mail Susan at:
KLEINS@co.vbco.org

Van Buren County’s District Court, designated as the 7th District Court, has exclusive
jurisdiction over the following types of cases:

* Adult criminal misdemeanor offenses punishable by up to one year imprisonment
* Civil infractions or traffic violations
* Civil suits involving $25,000 or less
* Landlord-tenant disputes such as eviction proceedings
* Land contract forfeitures
* Small Claims (civil suits involving $3000 or less)

In addition, the District Court is where all adult criminal proceedings begin regardless of the nature of the offense. To carry out these functions, 7th District Court is divided into four main divisions: Traffic, Criminal, Civil, and a Probation Department and has jurisdiction to:

* Issue arrest and search warrants
* Set bail and accept bond
* Preside over preliminary examinations for felonies
* Conduct misdemeanor and felony arraignments

A District Court Judge may appoint a full time Magistrate to assist in judicial duties. This may include conducting arraignments, accepting guilty pleas and sentence for traffic, dog, game, snowmobile, and marine law violations. The magistrate may set bail and accept bond in criminal matters, issue arrest and search warrants authorized by the prosecutor and perform other duties allowed by statute. The magistrate also performs marriage ceremonies and an attorney magistrate may hear small claim cases.

7th District Court is a weapons free court. Please do not bring any weapons to any court appearance or into the courthouse building. This applies even if you have a concealed weapons permit. You may be subject to a search for weapons.

Documents/Forms:
Ordering Court Transcripts

Page Last Updated: 7/24/2003