The 52-1 District Court in Novi, Michigan, Oakland County District Court
If you are charged with a DUI offense in Novi, South Lyon, Wixom, Walled Lake, Milford, Highland, Commerce or Wolverine Lake then your case will be heard in the 52-1 District Court in Novi. The 52-1 District Court is one of the busiest courts in Michigan, handling over 56,000 cases each year including over 40,000 traffic cases. The three current Judges of the 52nd District Court, 1st Division, are the Honorable Robert Bondy, the Honorable Brian W. MacKenzie and the Honorable Dennis N. Powers.
Although Oakland County Prosecutor Jessica Cooper and the various assistant prosecuting attorneys working under the elected official have the ability to prosecute drunk driving cases in the Novi district court, most DUI cases are prosecuted by local jurisdictions using private attorneys who work under a contract with the city or township.
Of the various cities and townships, the City of Novi has the most aggressive DUI task force. Each of the officers working DUI enforcement employs the standardized field sobriety test battery (SFSTs), which shows that the City of Novi has spent the time and money to properly train their police officers. Most of the officers are also certified breath test operators, but this is hardly impressive since the Michigan State Police have watered down this course to the point where it is a simple course taught in a single day.
With the large number of bars and restaurants serving alcohol within the city, the aggressive DUI police officers in Novi make numerous drunk driving arrests each night, providing lucrative profit for the city. But despite their training, the Novi officers make frequent mistakes. The Maze Legal Group has handled several cases where drivers were (accidentally?) arrested when the motorist was under the legal limit and passed field sobriety tests. On at least a few occasions, police officers have made serious errors during the investigation process, leading to questionable arrests and questionable breath testing evidence.
Drug and Alcohol Testing in the Novi District Court
If you are arrested and charged with a DUI in the Novi district court, JAMS testing is a common bond condition while awaiting trial and often times a condition of probation. JAMS, LLC stands for "Jail Alternatives for Michigan Services," and it is a private company that performs drug and alcohol monitoring. Their website www.jamstesting.com provides additional information.
Even if you are not subjected to JAMS testing, all three of the Novi judges frequently require a drug screen on the date of a plea. Whenever you are going to court, whether it is in Novi or elsewhere, assume that you might be subjected to drug or alcohol testing, and do not attempt to purchase gimmicks claiming to help pass a drug test.
Sobriety Court
The Novi District Court was one of the forerunners implementing a sobriety court program. This intensive program is designed to address substance abuse problems. For repeat drunk driving offenders with alcohol problems, this program has proven remarkably successful, reducing recidivism and helping people. The program combines monitoring with frequent meetings, and a system of punishments and incentives.
About the Judges:
The following opinions are drawn from our experiences and dealings with the judges in the 52-1 District Court. It's important to understand that these are just opinions, and other lawyers might disagree. Because we routinely challenge drunk driving cases, however, our firm's experience with a particular judge might be different from lawyers who do not take cases to trial. None of the comments here should be viewed as an attempt to discredit a particular judge or reflect poorly upon the judiciary.
Hon. Robert Bondy
Judge Bondy is an excellent judge. He will permit aggressive motion practice in his court and occasionally grants important motions for the defense. As with most Oakland County district court judges, however, his rulings are mainly conservative and tend to be in favor of the prosecution. Given his docket, it is clear that Judge Bondy would prefer cases to be resolved without resorting to a jury trial. This can actually help the defense in weak cases. At sentencing, Judge Bondy is a fair judge, and he considers a person's comments at sentencing.
Hon. Brian W. MacKenzie
Judge MacKenzie is an excellent judge with a much-feared reputation. It is a common myth that Judge MacKenzie lost a daughter to a drunk driver. He has very strong views about alcoholism, and he shares his opinions with convicted drunk drivers. His much-feared reputation is a direct result of his persuasiveness. Despite his reputation, Judge MacKenzie is an excellent judge for both motion practice as well as trial. At sentencing, Judge MacKenzie is a fair judge, and, contrary to popular opinion, he does not typically incarcerate people unless the person violates the terms of probation.
Hon. Dennis N. Powers
Judge Powers is an excellent judge, but he does not routinely permit an aggressive motion practice in DUI cases. This means that cases resolve in a plea or go to trial, and evidentiary issues are decided during the course of trial. During the course of a jury trial, he is a fair judge. Despite his reluctance to grant evidentiary hearings prior to trial, Judge Powers has issued a few surprise rulings favorable to the defense. For instance, he permitted a lengthy challenge to the SCRAM tether, an alcohol monitoring device that supposedly detects alcohol through the skin, and issued a favorable ruling to the defense. Recent comments in local newspapers have also revealed that he is unwilling to rubber stamp a controversial new Oakland County prosecutor's policy of preconviction vehicle seizures.
If You Are Searching for Qualified Novi DUI Lawyers . . .
If you are currently charged with drunk driving in Novi, Michigan, and seeking a qualified DUI lawyer to represent you, please complete our free on-line evaluation form or call our office at (888) 941-1122 or locally at (313) 792-8800.
The Maze Legal Group can provide you with the highest quality representation in your Novi drunk driving case. Mr. Maze is one of Michigan’s leading drunk driving defense lawyers, and he limits his practice to handling only drunk driving cases and DUI-related traffic matters. He is certified in standardized field sobriety tests, he has been trained on the BAC Datamaster at National Patent Analytical Systems and owns two BAC Datamaster devices, he has received toxicology training in blood and urine testing, and he has attended hundreds of hours of specialized training in DUI defense across the county.
The Maze Legal Group has handled many Novi DUI cases, successfully representing clients through motions and jury trials that have resulted in favorable rulings. If you want to know more about our experience in handling drunk driving cases or what you might expect in your case, call our office and schedule an appointment with Mr. Maze.
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