44th Circuit Court of Livingston County Bail Bonds & Bond Information

After arraignment at 44th Circuit Court of Livingston County

In Livingston County, a defendant's initial arraignment and the first setting of bond occur in the 53rd District Court (locations in Howell at 204 S. Highlander Way and in Brighton at 224 N. 1st St.). The 44th Circuit Court of Livingston County is the felony trial court; it does not typically handle the very first arraignment but takes felony cases after they are bound over. When setting or reviewing bond, a Michigan judge considers factors such as the seriousness of the offense, the defendant's prior record, ties to the community, the risk of flight, and the protection of the public. For a felony, the District Court conducts a probable-cause hearing and a preliminary examination; if the court finds probable cause that a felony was committed and that the defendant committed it, the case is bound over to the 44th Circuit Court in Howell, where it proceeds to circuit-court arraignment on the information, pretrial, and trial. The Circuit Court may continue, modify, or set new bond conditions at that stage.