Clinton County Bench Warrants Lookup

Clinton County bench warrants are handled by the 29th Circuit Court and the 65A District Court at the Clinton County Courthouse in St. Johns. With about 79,000 residents, Clinton County is one of the more populated counties in central Michigan. The county shares the 29th Circuit with Gratiot County. Bench warrants here get issued for missed court dates, probation violations, and failure to pay fines. You can search Clinton County case records through MiCOURT or by contacting the court clerk and sheriff directly. The county has its own online search tools for court records dating back to July 1996. This page covers the courts, contacts, and steps for searching bench warrant records in Clinton County.

Clinton County Circuit Court Warrants

The 29th Circuit Court is at 100 E. State Street, Suite 2500, St. Johns, MI 48879. Phone is (989) 224-5140 and fax is (989) 227-6421. Hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Chief Judge Lisa Sullivan leads the bench along with Judges Michelle M. Rick and Randy L. Tahvonen. The Circuit Court Clerk is at (989) 224-5257.

Circuit Court bench warrants in Clinton County come from felony failures to appear, broken probation terms, and contempt findings. The court handles felony cases, civil matters over $25,000, and family court issues. When a bench warrant is issued, it enters the LEIN system and stays active until the person shows up or the judge recalls it.

Clinton County has a useful feature: online record searches are available for records after July 1996. For older records, you need to contact the Clerk's office directly. Searches take about 24 hours to process. For mailed requests, the fee is $10 per name for a 10-year search.

65A District Court Bench Warrants

The 65A District Court is in the same courthouse at 100 E. State Street, Suite 3400. Call (989) 224-5150 or fax (989) 224-5154. Hours are the same as Circuit Court. The District Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, small claims, and preliminary exams on felony cases.

The screenshot below shows the Clinton County 65A District Court page with links to the online search tools and court information for bench warrant lookups.

District Court bench warrants in Clinton County are common for missed misdemeanor hearings and unpaid traffic fines. The court has a search page where you can look up the Register of Actions for case status. This is separate from MiCOURT and may have different data.

Copy fees at Clinton County courts are $2.00 per page for the first 10 pages and $0.50 per page after that. Certified copies add $1 per page plus $10 for the certification. GovPay is available for online payments.

Searching Clinton County Bench Warrants

You have several ways to check for bench warrants in Clinton County. The MiCOURT portal lets you search both the 29th Circuit Court and 65A District Court by name or case number. It is free and available around the clock. Look for warrant entries in the case docket.

The Clinton County search page gives you access to the Register of Actions. This local tool may have records not yet in MiCOURT. Both tools show case history, not live warrant status.

For real-time warrant verification, call the Clinton County Sheriff at (989) 224-5200. The jail number is (989) 224-5100. The sheriff's office in St. Johns can confirm whether a warrant is active and tell you the bond amount. The criminal documents page has forms related to criminal cases.

Resolving Warrants in Clinton County

If you have a bench warrant in Clinton County, contact the court that issued it. Circuit Court is at (989) 224-5140. District Court is at (989) 224-5150. Ask what bond is set and whether you can appear voluntarily. Turning yourself in at the court is better than getting picked up during a traffic stop.

An attorney can file a motion to quash the warrant. Clinton County has self-help tools and small claims forms available online. The county also offers set aside conviction procedures for people looking to clear old records. The Circuit Court Filings page has information about filing procedures.

Under Michigan law, bench warrants have no expiration date. They stay in the system until you deal with them. Under MCL 764.15, any officer in Michigan can arrest you on a Clinton County bench warrant. The LEIN check during a traffic stop will show it. Handle it on your own terms.

Cities in Clinton County

Clinton County includes parts of the Lansing metropolitan area. The county seat, St. Johns, is the largest city. Other communities include DeWitt, Bath Township, and Elsie. Residents of these areas go through the Clinton County court system for bench warrant matters.

Nearby Counties

Clinton County shares the 29th Circuit Court with Gratiot County. Nearby counties include:

• Gratiot County (shares 29th Circuit Court)
• Eaton County
• Shiawassee County
• Ionia County

Lansing, which is nearby, falls mainly in Ingham County. Lansing bench warrants go through Ingham County courts.