Search Chippewa County Bench Warrants
Chippewa County bench warrants are issued by the 50th Circuit Court and the 91st District Court in Sault Ste. Marie. This county sits at the eastern tip of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, right at the Canadian border. The court system handles cases for over 38,000 residents spread across a large, rural area. If you need to search for bench warrant records in Chippewa County, the MiCOURT portal, the court clerk, and the sheriff's office are your main sources. The county also has tribal court jurisdiction through the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, which runs its own court system with separate warrant procedures.
Chippewa County Court Information
Chippewa County Circuit Court Warrants
The 50th Circuit Court is at 319 Court Street in Sault Ste. Marie. Chief Judge James P. Lambros presides over felony criminal matters, civil lawsuits over $25,000, and family court cases. Court Administrator Irene F. Semasky can be reached at (906) 635-6338. Court Recorder Stephanie Bumstead is at (906) 635-6339. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM.
Bench warrants from the 50th Circuit Court typically involve missed felony hearings or probation violations. The court posts dockets on kiosks in the courthouse basement and second floor outside the courtroom. There is also a QR code you can scan with your phone to check the docket. When a bench warrant gets filed, it goes into the case record and the LEIN system so any officer in Michigan can see it.
To get copies of court records, contact the Clerk's Office at (906) 635-6300. The fee is $1.00 per page for regular copies. Certified copies cost $10.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. You need to fill out a record request form and fax or email it to the clerk.
91st District Court Bench Warrants
The 91st District Court sits at 325 Court Street in Sault Ste. Marie. Judge Eric Blubaugh handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, small claims, and civil suits up to $25,000. Call (906) 635-6320 for court info. This court also does first appearances and preliminary exams on felony cases before they move to Circuit Court.
The screenshot below shows the Chippewa County website, which has links to court and law enforcement departments for bench warrant searches in the county.
Most District Court bench warrants in Chippewa County come from missed arraignments, skipped traffic hearings, or unpaid fines. The court sets and accepts bail on both felony and misdemeanor cases. If you miss a hearing, the judge can sign a bench warrant that same day. Bond amounts vary based on the charge and the person's history.
Search Chippewa County Warrant Records
Use the MiCOURT Case Search to look up Chippewa County case records online for free. Pick the 50th Circuit Court or 91st District Court and type in a name. The system shows case status, hearing dates, and docket entries that may include bench warrant notes. Keep in mind this is not a live warrant check. It shows case history.
The MiCOURT case search page is shown in the screenshot below. This tool covers courts across all of Michigan, including both Chippewa County courts.
For live warrant status, call the Chippewa County Sheriff's Office at (906) 635-6355. The office is at 325 Court Street, Sault Ste. Marie, MI 49783. Business hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The jail line is (906) 635-7620, and non-emergency dispatch is (906) 495-3312. Sheriff Michael D. Bitnar runs the department. The office has a dedicated Warrant Officer on staff who handles warrant checks and execution.
Chippewa County Warrant Procedures
Bench warrants in Chippewa County follow Michigan state law. Under MCL 764.1, a judge can issue a warrant when there is probable cause. Bench warrants happen when you miss court or break a court order. They do not expire. Once in the LEIN system, any officer in the state can act on them during a stop.
To resolve a Chippewa County bench warrant, call the court that issued it. For Circuit Court, call (906) 635-6338. For District Court, call (906) 635-6320. Ask about the bond amount and how to turn yourself in. An attorney can file a motion to quash the warrant. The court document request page has forms you may need.
Chippewa County also has unique law enforcement considerations. The Sault Ste. Marie City Police at (906) 632-5744, Sault Tribe Police at (906) 635-6065, Michigan State Police at (906) 632-2217, and the U.S. Border Patrol at (906) 632-3383 all operate in the area. Being near the Canadian border means coordination between multiple agencies on warrant matters.
Note: Chippewa County has tribal court jurisdiction through the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe, which has its own separate warrant system at (906) 635-4963.
Nearby Counties
Chippewa County is in Michigan's eastern Upper Peninsula. Nearby counties where warrants may also be checked include: