Below is a list of press releases, newsletters and announcements from the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan. Bookmark this page and visit for future updates.
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For questions or to get in touch with our communications department, contact:
Public Information Officer
313-967-3683
media@3rdcc.org
History of Third Judicial Circuit
The history of the court includes Detroit Recorder’s Court, one of the oldest courts of record in the U.S. Detroit Recorder’s Court traces its origins to Detroit’s Mayor’s Court established in 1824 and was formally created as a separate court in 1857. It functioned as a court of limited jurisdiction for decades with exclusive authority over felony criminal cases arising within the City of Detroit, as well as traffic and ordinance violations, but it did not hear civil matters.
Pursuant to state law, Detroit Recorder’s Court was abolished and merged into the Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan effective October 1, 1997, with its judges becoming circuit court judges. Its final Chief before consolidation was the Hon. Vera Massey Jones. This merger integrated its criminal jurisdiction into Third Circuit Court, marking the end of a distinct institution that had handled many of Detroit’s most significant criminal cases for over a century.
Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan announces remote operations on May 29 for the Detroit Grand Prix
The Third Judicial Circuit of Michigan will have remote services only for Court operations normally held at the Coleman A. Young Municipal Center (CAYMC) on Friday, May 29 because of the start of the 2026 Chevrolet Detroit Grand Prix. Other court locations at the Criminal Justice Center, the Lincoln Hall of Justice and the Penobscot Building will maintain full operations on May 29. Normal operations will resume at CAYMC on Monday, June 1.
Numerous Grand Prix events will start on May 29 and continue through Sunday, May 31, with the featured race. All parties, including jurors and court visitors can expect surrounding street closures and high traffic volume throughout the week of May 25, and should plan accordingly as that week progresses.
For more information, visit our website www.3rdcc.org.