Find Criminal Court Records in St. Clair County

St. Clair County criminal court records are maintained by County Clerk Angie Waters at the McMorran Place building in Port Huron. The 31st Circuit Court handles felony cases and the 72nd District Court covers misdemeanors. Records can be searched online through the county's lookup tool or through the state MiCOURT system, and copies are available in person, by mail, or as emailed PDFs for a set fee.

St. Clair County Clerk Contact and Hours

County Clerk Angie Waters runs the clerk's office at 201 McMorran Blvd, Room 100 in Port Huron. This office handles criminal court records for both the 31st Circuit Court and the 72nd District Court. Staff can help you locate case files, check case status, and process copy requests. The office has specific hours that vary slightly from most county clerks, so check before visiting.

St. Clair County offers an online court record lookup tool at stclaircountyclerk.org. This is one of the more accessible county-level tools in Michigan for searching criminal cases. You can search by name or case number and find basic case information without having to visit in person. PDF copies of records are available via email for a flat fee of $15.00, which makes it convenient for people who cannot travel to Port Huron.

The 72nd District Court also has a branch location at 2088 Parker Rd. in Marine City, which covers the southern part of St. Clair County. If you are looking for cases filed in that area, confirm whether the Marine City branch or the main Port Huron office holds the records you need.

The St. Clair County Clerk website provides access to online record searches, contact information, and details about how to request criminal court documents in Port Huron.

31st Circuit Court Criminal Records

The 31st Circuit Court is located at 201 McMorran Blvd in Port Huron, the same building as the clerk's office. This court handles all felony criminal cases for St. Clair County. A circuit court criminal file typically includes the warrant or indictment, preliminary examination records, motions from both sides, any plea agreement, transcripts if the case went to trial, and the judgment of sentence with any conditions. All of these are part of the public record unless a judge has sealed specific portions.

St. Clair County is in the thumb region of Michigan, bordering Lake Huron and the St. Clair River. The county serves a mix of urban and rural communities. The circuit court handles a steady volume of criminal cases, and the clerk's online lookup tool makes initial searches fairly easy without a visit. Under Michigan Court Rules, specifically MCR 8.119, access to court case files is a matter of court procedure rather than FOIA. You request copies from the clerk, not from the county's FOIA coordinator.

Note: Some records involving juvenile defendants or cases sealed by court order are not available to the general public. Ask the clerk's staff when you contact them if you have questions about whether a specific case is accessible.

How to Search St. Clair County Criminal Cases

St. Clair County has its own online court record lookup tool. Visit stclaircountyclerk.org to search by name or case number. This county-level tool gives you direct access to the clerk's database and often returns more complete results for local cases than the state's MiCOURT system. It is a good first step before making a phone call or visiting the courthouse.

You can also use MiCOURT for a statewide search. MiCOURT lets you search by party name, attorney, or case number and covers multiple courts across Michigan. Results include case status, hearing dates, and docket entries. For older cases or cases where you only have a name, both tools are worth trying to see which one returns better results.

If you want physical copies of documents, contact the clerk's office by phone at (810) 985-2200 or visit in person at 201 McMorran Blvd. For emailed PDFs, the fee is $15.00 per document, which is a convenient option if you need records but cannot travel to Port Huron. Mail requests are also accepted at the same address.

Fees for St. Clair County Court Records

St. Clair County has a specific fee structure for criminal court records. Emailed PDF copies of records cost $15.00 per document. This flat-fee option is useful for people who need records quickly without a trip to the courthouse. There is also a $5.00 processing fee that may apply to some requests. For standard paper copies, the per-page copy fee follows Michigan's general court fee schedule of $1.00 per page.

Certified copies cost more than uncertified copies. If you need a certified copy for a legal proceeding, confirm the fee with the clerk's office when you call. The fee under MCL 15.234 for indigent requesters allows a waiver of the first $20.00 in fees. This applies to court copy fees as well. Call the clerk at (810) 985-2200 and ask about this option if cost is a concern for your situation.

Online Record Search Options for St. Clair County

Three online tools cover St. Clair County criminal records. First is the county's own lookup at stclaircountyclerk.org, which is the most direct for local cases. Second is MiCOURT, the state's free case search system. Third is ICHAT at michigan.gov/ichat, which provides name-based criminal history searches for $10.00 each through the Michigan State Police.

ICHAT is separate from court case records. It uses data maintained under MCL 28.241a and shows arrests and convictions from agencies across the state. It is most useful for background checks or when you need a summary of someone's criminal history rather than documents from a specific case. The MiFILE available courts list shows which St. Clair County courts are enrolled in the state's e-filing system.

FOIA and Criminal Record Access in St. Clair County

Michigan's Freedom of Information Act under MCL 15.231 does not apply to court case files. Those records are governed by MCR 8.119, and requests go to the court clerk directly. If you need a criminal case file from the 31st Circuit Court or 72nd District Court, submit your request to the clerk's office, not to the county FOIA coordinator. The county clerk's office will tell you what is available and what the fees are.

FOIA does cover St. Clair County administrative records, law enforcement records from the sheriff, and other government documents outside the court system. Contact the appropriate agency with a written FOIA request for those types of records. For Michigan State Police records, the MSP FOIA portal is at michigan.gov/msp/services/foia. Standard FOIA response time is five business days, with an allowable extension of up to ten additional days for complex requests.

Legal Help Resources in St. Clair County

Michigan Legal Help at michiganlegalhelp.org is the best free starting point for anyone navigating the St. Clair County court system. It covers how to request records, what to expect in criminal cases, and how to find legal representation. The site is run by a nonprofit and covers all 83 Michigan counties including St. Clair. If you need forms, guides, or step-by-step instructions, this is the right place to look.

For questions about court procedures in Port Huron, contact the clerk's office directly at (810) 985-2200. The Michigan Courts website at courts.michigan.gov also has resources for understanding the Michigan court system. The MSP Records Resource Section at (517) 241-1934 handles questions about state-level criminal history records through ICHAT.

Cities in St. Clair County

St. Clair County includes several cities and townships along Lake Huron and the St. Clair River in eastern Michigan. The county seat is Port Huron. No cities in St. Clair County meet the population threshold for a dedicated city page on this site. Criminal court cases for all communities in the county are handled through the 31st Circuit Court and 72nd District Court in Port Huron.

Nearby Counties

These counties border St. Clair County. If you need records from a neighboring jurisdiction or want to confirm which county court handled a case, check where the charge was filed.