63rd District Court
Mission Statement
The 63rd District Court is a county funded independent branch of government committed to the prompt, courteous and fair dispensation of justice by adjudicating cases in a timely manner using effective and efficient case management techniques, adhering to the highest standards that maintain the statutory and constitutional rights of all citizens, monitoring the enforcement of judgments, and being responsible stewards of public funds.
Judges
Judge Jeffrey J. O’Hara
Chief Judge Jeffrey J. O’Hara grew up in Grand Rapids. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and received his Juris Doctorate Degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1985. He was a private practice trial attorney until being elected as Judge of the 63rd District Court in 2014.
In 2012, Judge O'Hara was admitted as a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation for his outstanding legal ability.
From 2016 through 2024, Martindale Hubbell has consistently rated Judge O'Hara "AV Preeminent," which is the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards reflecting the confidential opinions of members of the Bar and Judiciary.
Judge Kirsten Holz
Judge Kirsten Holz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish Language from Cornell University. In 2007, she earned her Juris Doctorate degree from the Washington College of Law at American University. She was appointed to the bench by Governor Gretchen Whitmer in 2024.
General Information
The 63rd District Court is one of five District Courts in the County. See map for 63rd District Court's coverage area.
What is a District Court and what do they do?
The District Court is a trial court of limited jurisdiction. It is divided into 101 judicial districts, ranging in size from a single city or township to multiple counties. The District Court has exclusive jurisdiction over the following types of cases:
- Civil suits involving $25,000 or less
- Adult criminal misdemeanor offenses punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment.
- Civil infractions/Traffic Violations
- Landlord/tenant disputes, such as eviction proceedings.
- Small claims (civil suits involving $6,500 or less)
- Land contract forfeitures
In addition to its jurisdiction to try adult criminal offenses punishable by up to one year’s imprisonment, the district court is the court in which all other adult criminal proceedings begin, regardless of the nature of the offense. In carrying out this function, the district court has jurisdiction to:
- Issue arrest and search warrants
- Set bail and accept bond
- Conduct misdemeanor and felony arraignments
- Preside over preliminary examinations for felony and misdemeanor offenses outside its trial jurisdiction
- Perform civil marriage ceremonies
District Court decisions are generally appealable to the Circuit Court, although a different appeal process applies to informal hearings involving civil traffic infractions.
Court Contact Information
By Phone
- Main Phone System: (616) 632-7770
- Probation Phone System: (616) 632-7800
By Fax
- Criminal Division: (616) 363-6124
- Traffic Division: (616) 363-6211
- Civil Division: (616) 363-6904
By Email
- All General Inquiries: DCCustomer@kentcountymi.gov
- Criminal Division: DCCriminal@kentcountymi.gov
- Probation Division: DCProbation@kentcountymi.gov
- Traffic Division: DCTraffic@kentcountymi.gov
- Civil Division: DCCivil@kentcountymi.gov
- Collections Division: DCCollections@kentcountymi.gov
- Jury Inquiries DCJuryClerk@kentcountymi.gov
Other Court Office Numbers
- 17th Circuit Court Clerk's Office: (616) 632-5480
- Kent County Prosecutor's Office: (616) 632-6710
- Victim/Witness Division: (616) 632-5400
- 17th Circuit Court Administration: (616) 632-5220
- Family Division/Juvenile Center: (616) 336-3748
- Court Services: (616) 632-5350
- Kent County Sheriff's Dept.: (616) 632-6100
- Inmate Information: (616) 632-6300
- Probate Court: (616) 632-5440
- Friend of the Court: (616) 632-6888