Charged with a crime in Newaygo County? Start with the court, the stage of the case and the exact charge
A criminal charge in Newaygo County, whether it comes from Fremont, White Cloud, Newaygo, Grant, Hesperia or anywhere else in the county, starts in the 78th District Court. A misdemeanor stays there. A felony starts there and, if it is bound over after the preliminary examination, moves to the 27th Circuit Court. Since July 1, 2022, the 27th Circuit and the 78th District each cover Newaygo and Lake counties, and both courts are listed at the Newaygo County Courthouse in White Cloud.
The short answer. Newaygo County is served by the 78th District Court and the 27th Circuit Court, both listed at the Newaygo County Courthouse on Newell Street in White Cloud. Misdemeanors are handled in the 78th. A felony starts there with an arraignment, a probable cause conference 7 to 14 days later and a preliminary examination 5 to 7 days after that, and it moves to the 27th Circuit Court if the judge binds it over (MCL 766.4(1); MCL 766.13). The county streams its court sessions live. Do not explain yourself to police before you talk to a lawyer.
I am Mitchell Bisson, a Grand Rapids criminal defense lawyer. I have litigated for over 15 years. I serve Newaygo County from my office in Grand Rapids. I do not have an office in Newaygo County, and I go to the courthouse where your case is set. I ask early for the reports, the video, the recordings and the lab results, because decisions about your case should rest on what the evidence shows. I do not promise outcomes.
This page covers the courts and where they sit, who prosecutes, where the jail is, what happens at arraignment and how a felony moves from district court to circuit court in Newaygo County. It is a county guide, so it sets out the court structure and the steps that apply to every charge. The addresses below come from the county’s own court pages and the state court directory and were checked in October 2026. Call the court before you go, because locations and hours change. Nothing here predicts how your case will end.
Where your Newaygo County criminal case will be heard
| Court or office | Address | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 78th District Court | Newaygo County Courthouse, 1092 Newell Street, White Cloud, MI 49349 (mailing address PO Box 129) | Misdemeanors, and the start of every felony |
| 27th Circuit Court | Newaygo County Courthouse, 1092 Newell Street, White Cloud, MI 49349 (mailing address PO Box 885) | Felonies after bindover |
| Prosecuting Attorney | 1092 Newell Street, White Cloud, MI 49349 (PO Box 885). The county lists weekday hours of 8 am to noon and 1 pm to 5 pm | Prosecutes criminal cases in both courts |
| Newaygo County Jail (Sheriff’s Office) | 1035 East James Street, White Cloud, MI 49349 (the county’s listing for jail administration) | County jail |
Sources: Prosecuting Attorney criminal procedure page, County Jail, District Court, and the state court directory.
A district shared with Lake County. Beginning July 1, 2022, the seventy-eighth district consists of the counties of Newaygo and Lake and is a district of the first class. MCL 600.8143(1). In a district of the first class, venue in a criminal action for a violation of state law is the county where the violation took place. MCL 600.8312(1). For a Newaygo County offense, that makes Newaygo County the venue.
The circuit court. Beginning July 1, 2022, the twenty-seventh judicial circuit consists of the counties of Newaygo and Lake. MCL 600.528(1). A felony is arraigned there after bindover, and sentencing for a felony is conducted by a circuit judge. MCL 600.8311(f).
The prosecutor. The Newaygo County Prosecuting Attorney’s office is listed at the courthouse on Newell Street. Its website lays out the steps of a felony and a misdemeanor case.
The jail. The county lists the jail administration office on East James Street in White Cloud, and says the jail is open 24 hours. If you or someone in your family is in custody, I can find out where the person is held and when the first appearance is set.
Arraignment, bond and the first weeks of a Newaygo County case
The first appearance. The county prosecutor’s website describes a felony arraignment this way: the defendant appears in district court, is told the charges and advised of constitutional rights, the conditions and amount of bail are determined and a date is set for a preliminary examination. For a misdemeanor, it says bail is determined at arraignment and that a guilty plea leads to a sentencing date while a not guilty plea leads to a trial date. It also describes a pre-exam conference, a meeting between the prosecutor and the defendant or the defense lawyer to see whether the case can be resolved without witnesses at the preliminary examination. The court rule says the court at arraignment must inform you of the nature of the offense and its maximum possible prison sentence, advise you of the right to a lawyer at all court proceedings, set dates for the probable cause conference and the preliminary examination, and decide what form of pretrial release is appropriate, and that the court may not question you about the alleged offense or ask you to enter a plea. MCR 6.104(E). Whether a plea can be entered at the first hearing depends on the charge and the court. Some county court pages say a plea may be entered at arraignment on a misdemeanor, so I confirm with the court how your hearing will run before you appear.
A lawyer at arraignment. An arrested person is entitled to the assistance of an attorney at arraignment unless the person makes an informed waiver of counsel or the court issues a personal bond and will not accept a plea at arraignment. MCR 6.104(A). If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court rule says the local indigent criminal defense system will appoint one for a person who is not represented. MCR 6.104(E)(2). Call me before the arraignment if you can, because what the court hears about you at that hearing shapes the bond decision.
Bond. At arraignment the court must order that you be held in custody in the narrow cases the rule allows, released on your personal recognizance or an unsecured appearance bond, or released on conditions with or without money bail. MCR 6.106(A). Read any bond conditions closely and follow them exactly, because a violation can create a new problem in addition to the original charge.
The first weeks of a felony. For a felony, the magistrate sets a probable cause conference 7 to 14 days after the arraignment and a preliminary examination 5 to 7 days after the conference. The conference covers possible plea agreements, bail and the chance to ask for a bond modification, stipulations and procedural matters. MCL 766.4(1). If the magistrate finds a felony was committed and there is probable cause, the defendant is bound over to appear within 14 days for arraignment before the circuit court of that county, or the magistrate may conduct the circuit arraignment as court rule provides. MCL 766.13. A district judge has the authority to accept a felony plea, but a circuit judge conducts sentencing for a felony, and that judge’s name must be available before the plea is taken. MCL 766.4(3). I ask who will sentence you before I discuss a plea.
Misdemeanors. The district court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors punishable by a fine or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, and over arraignments, the fixing of bail and the accepting of bonds. MCL 600.8311(a), (c). A misdemeanor case does not go to circuit court.
Specialty courts in Newaygo County
The State Court Administrative Office’s drug and sobriety court directory lists an Adult Drug Court in the 27th Circuit Court in White Cloud. Admission is never automatic, and I cannot promise acceptance. The court sets the eligibility rules, so I ask for the current rules and read them with your record before I advise you whether to apply.
Other cases in Newaygo County
The same county courts hear civil cases. The district court has exclusive jurisdiction in civil actions when the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000. MCL 600.8301(1). I handle other kinds of cases in the 27th Circuit Court, the 78th District Court and the other courts that sit in Newaygo County as well:
- Operating while intoxicated (OWI) charges and license consequences
- Personal injury claims after a crash or injury
- Civil litigation, for plaintiffs and defendants
- Business litigation and contract disputes
- Real estate disputes for homeowners
Why people hire me as their Newaygo County criminal defense lawyer
You deal with the lawyer handling your case from the first call to the last day. I give you the strengths and weaknesses of the case straight, including what a conviction would mean for your freedom, your job, your housing and your record. I build the case the facts support, and then we decide together how to proceed. My office is in Grand Rapids, at 2828 Kraft Ave SE, Suite 295. I appear at the courthouse where your case is set.
Fees depend on the charge, its complexity and whether the case is likely to go to trial. I explain my fee arrangement at the consultation, before you decide whether to hire me.
Questions I hear from people charged with a crime in Newaygo County
Which court will hear my criminal case in Newaygo County?
The 78th District Court hears misdemeanors and starts every felony, and the county lists it at the Newaygo County Courthouse in White Cloud. A felony moves to the 27th Circuit Court if the district judge binds it over. Your paperwork or court notice shows the courtroom and the date.
What happens at an arraignment in Newaygo County?
The court tells you the charge and the maximum possible prison sentence, advises you of your right to a lawyer, decides pretrial release and, for a felony, sets the dates for the probable cause conference and the preliminary examination. The court rule says the court may not question the accused about the alleged offense or request a plea at that hearing. Whether a plea can be taken at the first hearing on a misdemeanor depends on the court, so it is checked before you appear.
Can I watch a Newaygo County court session online?
The county’s website has a Watch Court Live page that says public hearings are live-streamed while court is in session, and it lists the 27th Circuit Court, the circuit court referee, the 78th District Court and the Probate Court. Whether a particular hearing will be streamed is checked with the court.
Do I need a lawyer at my arraignment?
You are entitled to a lawyer at arraignment unless you knowingly waive the right, or the court releases you on a personal bond and does not take a plea. If you cannot afford one, the local indigent criminal defense system appoints a lawyer for a person who is not represented. Call a lawyer before the hearing if you can.
Related Michigan pages
- Grand Rapids criminal defense lawyer
- West Michigan counties I serve
- Felony defense
- Misdemeanor defense
- What happens after an arrest
- Michigan OWI lawyer
- Michigan legal FAQs
- Kent County criminal defense lawyer
- Ottawa County criminal defense lawyer
- Muskegon County criminal defense lawyer
- Allegan County criminal defense lawyer
- Ionia County criminal defense lawyer
- Barry County criminal defense lawyer
- Montcalm County criminal defense lawyer
I defend people charged with crimes in Newaygo County and across West Michigan. Contact me 24/7 by phone or email. Your Rights, My Fight! Call for a free initial consultation.
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Law Offices of Mitchell S. Bisson, 2828 Kraft Ave SE, Suite 295, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, serving Newaygo County and West Michigan.
This page provides general information about Michigan law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every case turns on its own facts. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.