Lapeer County

Lapeer County Michigan is located due north of Oakland County Michigan. It is also contiguous with Macomb County, Sanilac County and St. Clair County. A fun fact about Lapeer County is that it was once owned by both England and Canada! Later, it was part of Oakland County, and became its own County in 1835.

Lapeer County is home to the City of Lapeer, which has a very nice downtown business district, as well as Imlay City. Also located in Lapeer is the beautiful Metamora, as well as Otter Lake, Almont and North Branch.

The Lapeer County Circuit Court, located at 255 Clay St, Lapeer, MI 48446. Also known as the 40^th Circuit Court, the Lapeer County Circuit Court has a civil, criminal, and family law division.

Regarding the criminal division of the 40^th Circuit Court in Lapeer, this is the court that handles all felony crimes, such as third offense OWI, drunk driving causing serious injury or death, criminal sexual assault and other kinds of criminal sexual conduct, and many other crimes punishable by more than one year. This is the court that would also hear criminal appeals from the 71A District Court. For example, an appeal from a drunk driving misdemeanor case in 71A District Court would start at the Lapeer County Circuit Court.

All misdemeanor crimes, such as first and second offense DUI, child endangerment DUI, domestic violence, and some kinds of sex crimes, are all heard in the 71A District Court in Lapeer. This court is also located in the same building as the Lapeer County Circuit Court.

The 71A District Court has jurisdiction over all crimes punishable by up to one year, and all felony cases also begin in the 71A District Court. For felony cases, the preliminary exam or initial probable cause hearing will take place here, as do all proceedings, including pretrials, pleas of guilty, trials and sentencing on misdemeanor crimes.

Lapeer County has two Circuit Court Judges and one District Court Judge. In Lapeer County's 71A District Court we have Judge Laura Barnard. The current term for Judge Barnard ends on January 1, 2021, and she is likely to be reelected and continue to serve the community. Judge Barnard was first elected to the bench in 1990.

The Circuit Court is currently in a state of flux because Judge Byron Konschuh is currently under investigation for alleged judicial misconduct and the Michigan Judicial Tenure Commission has recommended that he be removed from the bench. Judge Konschuh was appointed by Gov. Rick Synder, and previously served as the prosecuting attorney for the County of Lapeer.

Judge Nick O. Holowka is the other Judge currently serving in the Lapeer County Circuit Court criminal division. Judge Holowka was also formerly a prosecuting attorney. Beginning in 1992 Judge Holowka has served in the 71A District Court and the Lapeer County Circuit and Probate Courts.

The Criminal Defense Attorneys at the Barone Defense Firm appear regularly in the Lapeer County Courts and can advise you what to expect if your criminal case is pending there.