50th District Court

Michigan is split up into different judicial districts, and each one is managed by the Supreme Court of Michigan. The 50th District Court, specifically set up for the folks of Pontiac, is one of these. You'll find this state district court at 70 North Saginaw, in the Judge William J. Waterman Hall of Justice Building in Pontiac.

The court's job is to deal with a lot of legal matters that happen in Pontiac and Oakland County. It's the place to go for any breaches of City Rules or State Laws that are considered misdemeanors. This can include stuff like drunk driving, or DUI charges. It also handles the initial hearings for serious crimes, or felonies.

If you've got a disagreement with someone over something worth up to $25,000, this court will be where it gets sorted out. It also looks after smaller claims of up to $3,000, problems between landlords and tenants, eviction cases, garnishments, and issues around land contracts and mortgage foreclosure.

On the list of misdemeanors this court deals with are drunk driving, identity theft, assault and battery, disorderly conduct, obstructing a police officer, drug possession, domestic violence, and certain traffic offenses like driving with a suspended license or without a valid license. The court also processes all traffic tickets, whether they're just infractions or more serious misdemeanors.

Here are some notable facts about Pontiac, Michigan:

Pontiac was named in honor of the famous Ottawa war chief, Chief Pontiac. He was renowned for his part in Pontiac's Rebellion, an intense struggle by American Indians against the British military's presence in their lands.

In its heyday, Pontiac was a key player in the automotive industry. It housed the Pontiac Motor Division, a branch of General Motors that specialized in high-performance cars. Interestingly, this division got its name from the city itself.

One of the city's major landmarks was the Pontiac Silverdome, a huge stadium that used to be the home turf of the Detroit Lions of the NFL until 2002, and the Detroit Pistons of the NBA until 1988. The Silverdome also holds the distinction of being the venue for Super Bowl XVI in 1982. Sadly, this iconic structure was brought down in 2018.

Despite its industrial past, Pontiac isn't all about motors and sports. It also boasts a thriving arts scene. The Pontiac Creative Arts Center and the Crofoot are among its cultural gems. The latter is a well-loved music venue that regularly hosts live performances.