Schoolcraft County Criminal Court Records
Schoolcraft County criminal court records are kept by the County Clerk in Manistique, Michigan. The 11th Circuit Court handles felony criminal cases for the county and is shared with Luce County. The district court handles misdemeanor matters and preliminary felony proceedings. You can search Schoolcraft County criminal court records through MiCOURT online, visit the courthouse at 300 Walnut Street in Manistique, or email the clerk at clerk@schoolcraftcounty.us.
Schoolcraft County Overview
Schoolcraft County Clerk and Courts
The Schoolcraft County Clerk's office is at 300 Walnut Street, Room 164, in Manistique. The phone is (906) 341-3618, and email requests can go to clerk@schoolcraftcounty.us. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. The county website is at schoolcraftcounty.reiters.net. Staff can help with records requests by phone, email, or in person during business hours.
The 11th Circuit Court covers Schoolcraft and Luce counties in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. For felony criminal cases filed in Schoolcraft County, the case file stays at the Schoolcraft County Clerk's office in Manistique. The circuit court is at 300 Walnut Street, Room 103, and can be reached at (906) 341-3655. Felony matters handled here include serious drug offenses, assault, weapons violations, breaking and entering, and other major criminal charges. Circuit court case files are public under MCR 8.119 unless sealed by a judge.
The district court in Schoolcraft County handles misdemeanor criminal cases and arraignments for felony matters before they move to the 11th Circuit Court. Both the circuit and district courts operate from the courthouse at 300 Walnut Street in Manistique. Schoolcraft County is in the Upper Peninsula on the Lake Michigan shoreline, making pre-trip planning especially important for anyone traveling from the lower peninsula.
| Address | 300 Walnut Street, Room 164, Manistique, MI 49854 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (906) 341-3618 |
| clerk@schoolcraftcounty.us | |
| 11th Circuit Court | Room 103, (906) 341-3655 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
How to Search Schoolcraft County Criminal Court Records
The free statewide search tool MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov covers both the 11th Circuit Court and the district court in Schoolcraft County. Search by name or case number to see case status, docket entries, and party information. Most active and recent cases appear in MiCOURT. Some older records require a direct request to the clerk's office.
For in-person access, visit the courthouse at 300 Walnut Street in Manistique during the 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM business hours. Bring a case number or full name. Staff can pull the file and make copies at $1.00 per page. Email requests can go to clerk@schoolcraftcounty.us, and the clerk will respond with the fee before processing. Mail requests go to: Schoolcraft County Clerk, 300 Walnut Street, Room 164, Manistique, MI 49854.
The 11th Circuit Court also covers Luce County. If you are searching for a case from the northern Upper Peninsula and it does not appear in Schoolcraft County records, it may have been filed in Luce County. Check both using MiCOURT before contacting either clerk directly.
The Schoolcraft County website at schoolcraftcounty.reiters.net has county department contacts, court information, and resources for criminal court records in Manistique.
Copy Fees and Procedures
Standard copy fees at the Schoolcraft County Clerk are $1.00 per page. Certified copies add a $10.00 certification fee per document. A ten-page certified record costs $20.00 total. Search fees may apply when staff must search without a specific case number, charged under MCL 15.234 based on actual staff time. Email clerk@schoolcraftcounty.us or call (906) 341-3618 for a fee estimate before submitting a request.
For mail requests, include a check or money order payable to Schoolcraft County Clerk. Do not send cash. Indigent requesters may seek a waiver of the first $20 in fees by providing a written affidavit of indigency. Allow extra time for archived or older records that may need retrieval from off-site storage.
Online Search and E-Filing
MiCOURT at micourt.courts.michigan.gov is the free statewide case search tool for Schoolcraft County. For broader criminal history background checks, ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat costs $10 per name and returns results from the Michigan State Police statewide database. Michigan's MiFILE e-filing system lists which courts accept electronic filings; check the available courts list to confirm current Schoolcraft County participation and whether any documents can be accessed online through that system.
The Schoolcraft County Clerk page has contact information, office hours, and procedures for requesting criminal court records from the courthouse in Manistique.
MiFILE and Electronic Court Documents
Michigan's MiFILE e-filing system at mifile.courts.michigan.gov/availablecourts lists all courts currently accepting electronic filings and offering online document access. If the 11th Circuit Court in Schoolcraft County participates in MiFILE, you may be able to access some case documents electronically without a mail or in-person request. Check the available courts list for current status before making the trip to Manistique or mailing a records request.
The MiFILE available courts list shows which Michigan courts accept e-filing and offer online document access, including current participation for courts serving Schoolcraft County.
FOIA and Court Records
Criminal court case files in Schoolcraft County are not subject to Michigan's Freedom of Information Act. FOIA under MCL 15.231 covers administrative government records. Court records are governed by MCR 8.119 and must be requested from the court clerk at (906) 341-3618 or clerk@schoolcraftcounty.us. A FOIA request for criminal case files will be denied and redirected.
Legal Resources for Schoolcraft County
Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org offers free guides for all Michigan counties including Schoolcraft. The MSP FOIA portal at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia handles state police records requests. Under MCL 28.241a, criminal history records include personal identifiers and reported arrests, charges, and convictions.
Cities in Schoolcraft County
Schoolcraft County is in the central Upper Peninsula along Lake Michigan. Manistique is the county seat and main city. No communities in Schoolcraft County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. All criminal court records for the county are accessible through the Schoolcraft County Clerk at 300 Walnut Street in Manistique.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Schoolcraft County. Check the appropriate county if a case was filed elsewhere.