Page 85 - GFOA Draft 2

City of Saginaw

Department Description

2022-2023

Municipal Court

The Municipal Court is located at City Hall and is staffed with a Court Administrator and a Court
Clerk. Two utility billing positions in the Water & Wastewater Department assist the Municipal
Court and are paid from the Enterprise Fund. The Management Analyst also assists and is paid
from the General Fund. This office is responsible for maintaining court records, processing
clerical work, and administering daily operations of the court such as issuing warrants,
subpoenas, notices, receiving and maintaining court dockets, perfecting appeal bonds,
attending trials, and performing all duties prescribed by State Law. The Municipal Court accepts
payments in the form of cash, check, money order, debit card and credit card. Citations may
also be paid online.

The Municipal Court has original and exclusive jurisdiction over violations of city ordinances.
The Municipal Court also has concurrent jurisdiction with justice of the peace courts over Class
C misdemeanor criminal cases within the City where the punishment, upon conviction, is by fine
only. This court does not have jurisdiction in most civil cases but does have limited civil
jurisdiction in cases that involve owners of dangerous dogs.

The Municipal Court Judge helps citizens understand what their options are regarding their
citation. If they want to offer explanations or defenses regarding their citation they must see the
prosecutor. The prosecutor is an attorney with the law firm of Taylor, Olson, Adkins, Sralla and
Elam. There are two types of trials, a jury trial and a bench trial. A bench trial is held before the
Municipal Court Judge and a jury trial is held before a panel of the defendant's peers. Bench
trials are generally held once a month, as needed. Jury trials are scheduled for twice a year.

Juveniles that commit non-traffic violations are usually ordered to perform community service
in lieu of paying their citation. It is believed that juveniles are better held accountable for their
actions by paying their debt through community service.

This department has taken advantage of the availability of the Court Technology and the Court
Security Fees to purchase items not budgeted in the General Fund. These fees are collected as
part of the citations and are accounted for in the General Escrow Fund. Purchases from these
Special Revenue Funds must be approved by the Mayor and Council as required by ordinance
and State law.

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