Baraga County Criminal Court Records

Baraga County criminal court records are kept at the County Clerk's office in L'Anse, Michigan. The 12th Circuit Court, which covers Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties, handles all felony criminal cases for Baraga County. You can request criminal court records by visiting the courthouse on South Main Street, by mail, or by email through the clerk's office.

Where to Find Baraga County Criminal Court Records

Wendy Goodreau serves as Baraga County Clerk. The clerk's office is on the first floor of the Baraga County Courthouse at 2 South Main Street in L'Anse. The office is open weekdays from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Staff handle criminal court record requests, certified copies, and general records inquiries. You can reach the clerk by phone, fax, or email.

Felony criminal cases go through the 12th Circuit Court, which covers Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties. The District Court for Baraga County is the 97-1 District Court, reached at (906) 524-6109. Misdemeanor and traffic cases are handled there. The Probate Court is at (906) 524-6100. All three courts are tied to the Baraga County Courthouse on South Main Street.

The Baraga County government website provides department contacts, court information, and resources for requesting criminal court records in the county.

12th Circuit Court

The 12th Circuit Court covers Baraga, Houghton, and Keweenaw counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. All felony criminal cases from Baraga County go through this shared circuit. The court handles arraignments, preliminary exams, pre-trial motions, trials, and sentencing for felony charges. Case files from this court are maintained by the Baraga County Clerk for cases filed in Baraga County.

Under MCR 8.119, most criminal court records are open to the public. You can request copies of charging documents, motions, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and other filed documents. Some records may be sealed if a judge ordered it, particularly when victims, juveniles, or sensitive personal information is involved. For older files, call ahead since archived records may take time to retrieve.

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org has a specific page on the 12th Circuit Court in Baraga County with location and contact details.

Michigan Legal Help provides court location information and resources for the 12th Circuit Court that serves Baraga County criminal cases.

How to Search Baraga County Criminal Court Records

The best online starting point is MiCOURT. This free system from the Michigan Supreme Court lets you search by party name or case number. Coverage for Upper Peninsula counties like Baraga can vary, but it is always worth trying first. If a case appears, you will see docket entries, charge information, and hearing dates.

For in-person access, visit the Baraga County Courthouse at 2 South Main Street in L'Anse. The clerk's office on the first floor handles record requests. You can also send a written request by mail to the same address or email goodreauw@baragacounty.org. Include the defendant's full name, the approximate date of the case, and a description of what you need. The clerk will confirm the cost before processing your request.

Certified copies and official records are delivered by mail only. Email can be used for informal inquiries but official certified documents require a mail-based process. Plan for at least a few business days for mail requests to be fulfilled.

Record Request Fees and Procedures

Copy fees at Baraga County are $1.00 per page for standard document copies. Certified copies carry an additional $5.00 certification fee per document. For vital records like birth or death certificates handled through the same clerk's office, the fee is $10.00 for the first certified copy and $5.00 for each additional copy of the same record.

For criminal court records, call (906) 524-6183 or email the clerk to ask about the current fee before sending payment. Mail requests should include a check or money order made payable to Baraga County Clerk. If the fee you send does not match the actual cost, the clerk's office will contact you. In-person requests can be paid at the counter by check or cash.

Note: Under MCL 15.234, fee waivers for FOIA-governed records are possible for qualifying individuals. Court records operate under separate rules, but you can always ask the clerk's office whether any accommodation is available.

Online Case Search Tools

MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is free, requires no registration, and is available around the clock. Search by party name or case number to find cases from Baraga County and other Michigan courts. The system shows docket activity, charge descriptions, and case status for participating courts.

For broader criminal history searches, Michigan State Police ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat is a $10 name-based search that covers the full statewide criminal history database. This includes arrests and convictions from Baraga County law enforcement and courts. You need to register for an account before running a search.

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community has a presence in Baraga County, and some records related to tribal courts may be handled separately. For strictly state court records, the Michigan courts systems above are the right tools.

The Keweenaw Bay area clerk services page provides additional context on records and services available in the Baraga County region.

FOIA and Court Record Access in Baraga County

Criminal court case files in Baraga County are not subject to Michigan FOIA under MCL 15.231. Court records fall under MCR 8.119, which means they are requested directly from the court clerk. If you submit a FOIA request for a case file, the county clerk in their role as FOIA coordinator must deny it and redirect you to the court records process.

Non-court government records, such as county department records, meeting minutes, and administrative files, can be requested through FOIA. The County Clerk serves as the FOIA coordinator for Baraga County. Submit your FOIA request to the clerk's office at 2 South Main Street, L'Anse, MI 49946. Michigan law requires a response within five business days, with a possible ten-day extension.

For state police records, use the MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. Michigan FOIA law is summarized at nfoic.org for reference on what is and is not covered.

Legal Resources for Baraga County

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org covers Baraga County and all other Michigan counties with free guides on court records, criminal cases, and legal procedures. The site is especially useful for people without legal experience who need to understand how to navigate the court system or request records.

The Michigan State Police Records Resource Section at (517) 241-1934 handles questions about state-level criminal history. You can also reach the MSP by mail at Michigan State Police, Cashiers Unit, P.O. Box 30266, Lansing, MI 48909, or use the online FOIA portal for faster processing.

Under MCL 28.241a, Michigan law defines criminal history records to include personal identifiers plus felony and misdemeanor arrests, charges, and convictions. This definition is useful when you are drafting a record request and want to specify exactly what type of information you are looking for.

Cities in Baraga County

Baraga County is located in Michigan's Upper Peninsula along the southern shore of Keweenaw Bay. The county seat of L'Anse does not have a dedicated city page on this site; criminal court records for L'Anse and all other communities in Baraga County are handled through the Baraga County pages. All felony cases go through the 12th Circuit Court and misdemeanor cases through the 97-1 District Court.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Baraga County. The 12th Circuit Court also serves Houghton and Keweenaw counties in the Upper Peninsula.