Mich. Comp. Laws » Michigan Compiled Laws / Chapter 600 / Act 236 of 1961
Michigan Compiled Laws

Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8511 (2026)

District court magistrate; jurisdiction and duties.

✓ current as of July 2026
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REVISED JUDICATURE ACT OF 1961


Act 236 of 1961


600.8511 District court magistrate; jurisdiction and duties.

Sec. 8511.

    A district court magistrate has the following jurisdiction and duties:

    (a) To arraign and sentence upon pleas of guilty or nolo contendere for violations of the following acts or parts of acts, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to these acts or parts of acts, when authorized by the chief judge of the district court district, if the maximum permissible punishment does not exceed 90 days in jail or a fine, or both:

    (i) Part 487 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.48701 to 324.48740.

    (ii) Part 401 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.40101 to 324.40120.

    (iii) Part 801 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.80101 to 324.80199.

    (iv) The motor carrier act, 1933 PA 254, MCL 475.1 to 479.43.

    (v) Motor carrier safety act of 1963, 1963 PA 181, MCL 480.11 to 480.25.

    (vi) Dog law of 1919, 1919 PA 339, MCL 287.261 to 287.290.

    (vii) Section 703 or 915 of the Michigan liquor control code of 1998, 1998 PA 58, MCL 436.1703 and 436.1915.

    (viii) Part 5 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.501 to 324.513.

    (ix) Part 89 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.8901 to 324.8907.

    (x) Part 435 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.43501 to 324.43561.

    (xi) Part 731 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.73101 to 324.73111.

    (xii) Chapter LXXXV of the Michigan penal code, 1931 PA 328, MCL 750.546 to 750.552c.

    (b) To arraign and sentence upon pleas of guilty or nolo contendere for violations of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.1 to 257.923, except for violations of sections 625 and 625m of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625 and 257.625m, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 625 or 625m of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625 and 257.625m, if authorized by the chief judge of the district court district and if the maximum permissible punishment does not exceed 93 days in jail or a fine, or both. However, the chief judge may authorize the magistrate to arraign defendants and set bond with regard to violations of sections 625 and 625m of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625 and 257.625m, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to section 625 or 625m of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.625 and 257.625m.

    (c) To arraign and sentence upon pleas of guilty or nolo contendere for violations of part 811 or 821 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81101 to 324.81150 and 324.82101 to 324.82160, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to a provision of part 811 or 821 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81101 to 324.81150 and 324.82101 to 324.82160, except for violations of sections 81134, 81135, 82128, and 82129 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81134, 324.81135, 324.82128, and 324.82129, or a local ordinance substantially corresponding to sections 81134, 81135, 82128, and 82129 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81134, 324.81135, 324.82128, and 324.82129, if authorized by the chief judge of the district court district and if the maximum permissible punishment does not exceed 93 days in jail or a fine, or both. However, the chief judge may authorize the magistrate to arraign defendants and set bond with regard to violations of sections 81134, 81135, 82128, and 82129 of the natural resources and environmental protection act, 1994 PA 451, MCL 324.81134, 324.81135, 324.82128, and 324.82129.

    (d) To arraign, if authorized by the chief judge of the district court district, for a contempt violation or a violation of a condition of probation if either arises directly out of a case for which a judge or district court magistrate conducted the arraignment under subdivision (a), (b), or (c), or the first appearance under section 8513, involving the same defendant. This subdivision applies only to offenses punishable by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or a fine, or both. The district court magistrate may set bond and accept a plea but shall not conduct a violation hearing or sentencing.

    (e) To issue warrants for the arrest of a person upon the written authorization of the prosecuting or municipal attorney, except written authorization is not required for a vehicle law or ordinance violation within the jurisdiction of the magistrate if a police officer issued a traffic citation under section 728 of the Michigan vehicle code, 1949 PA 300, MCL 257.728, and the defendant failed to appear.

    (f) To fix bail and accept bond in all cases.

    (g) To issue search warrants, if authorized to do so by a district court judge.

    (h) To conduct probable cause conferences and all matters allowed at the probable cause conference, except for the taking of pleas and sentencings, under section 4 of chapter VI of the code of criminal procedure, 1927 PA 175, MCL 766.4, when authorized to do so by the chief district court judge.

History: Add. 1968, Act 154, Imd. Eff. June 17, 1968 ;-- Am. 1969, Act 182, Imd. Eff. Aug. 5, 1969 ;-- Am. 1970, Act 238, Eff. Jan. 1, 1971 ;-- Am. 1976, Act 402, Imd. Eff. Jan. 5, 1977 ;-- Am. 1984, Act 290, Imd. Eff. Dec. 20, 1984 ;-- Am. 1990, Act 266, Imd. Eff. Oct. 17, 1990 ;-- Am. 1996, Act 79, Imd. Eff. Feb. 27, 1996 ;-- Am. 1999, Act 75, Eff. Oct. 1, 1999 ;-- Am. 2008, Act 95, Imd. Eff. Apr. 8, 2008 ;-- Am. 2014, Act 124, Imd. Eff. May 20, 2014

Compiler's Notes:

    Section 2 of Act 402 of 1976 provides:

    “District court magistrates may exercise any authority or duty added by this amendatory act with regard to violations occurring before, on, or after the effective date of this amendatory act.”

    Enacting section 2 of Act 124 of 2014 provides:

    "Enacting section 2. This amendatory act applies to cases in which the defendant is arraigned in the district court or the municipal court on or after January 1, 2015."

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 14 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1977–2024 · leading case: Rouch v. Enquirer & News, 487 N.W.2d 205 (Mich. 1992).
Sort: Relevance Newest Treatment
Rouch v. Enquirer & News, 487 N.W.2d 205 (Mich. 1992). · cites it 4× “104(G), a majority of the Court being unpersuaded that we should reach this issue, the opinion does not address it.”
In re James, 821 N.W.2d 144 (Mich. 2012). · cites it 2× “Even more troubling, respondent required the magistrate to sign bench warrants in violation of MCL 600.8511. 22 As a consequence, approximately 15,000 bench warrants were improperly issued and had to be reissued after respondent’s suspension.”
Billie M. Ireland v. Gary L. Tunis, Richard Thompson, John Meiers, & Richard D. Kuhn, 113 F.3d 1435 (6th Cir. 1997). “See Mich. Comp. Laws Ann. § 600.8511 (b) (West Supp.”
People v. White, 423 N.W.2d 225 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). · cites it 4× “MCL 600.8511(b); MSA 27A.8511(b). In contrast, magistrates have the general power "to issue search warrants, when authorized to do so by a district court judge.”
People v. Rogers, 475 N.W.2d 717 (Mich. 1991). · cites it 2× “…drivers on the highway. The Legislature contemplated snowmobiles on highways in § 12. [2] MCL 764.15; MSA 28.874. [3] MCL 600.8511; MSA 27A.8511.”
People v. Delongchamps, 302 N.W.2d 626 (Mich. Ct. App. 1981). “They have limited jurisdiction, MCL 600.8511, 600.8512; MSA 27A.8511, 27A.”
City of Plymouth v. McIntosh, 804 N.W.2d 859 (Mich. Ct. App. 2010). · cites it 2× “236 of the Public Acts of 1961, as amended, being section 600.8511 of the Compiled Laws of 1948.”
People v. Farmilo, 358 N.W.2d 350 (Mich. Ct. App. 1984). “MCL 600.8511(b); MSA 27A.8511(b). Further, MCL 600.”
People v. Paul, 512 N.W.2d 20 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). · cites it 16× “MCL 600.8511; MSA 27A.8511 was added to the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) in 1968.”
Ireland v. Tunis, 893 F. Supp. 724 (E.D. Mich. 1995). · cites it 2× “§ 600.8511. Finally, Michigan’s Code of Criminal Procedure describes when and how arrest warrants may be issued: (1) A magistrate shall issue a warrant upon presentation of a proper complaint alleging the commission of an offense and a finding of reasonable cause to believe that…”
People v. Brooks, 254 N.W.2d 926 (Mich. Ct. App. 1977). “The most recent formulation of MCLA 600.8511; MSA 27A.8511, the statute enumerating "jurisdiction and duties” of magistrates, reads in pertinent part as follows: "(8)(b) To issue warrants for the arrest of any person upon the written authorization of the prosecuting or municipal…”
People of Michigan v. Janelle Vaness (Mich. Ct. App. 2024). · cites it 2× “The circuit court noted that MCL 600.8511 neither authorized nor prohibited a magistrate from taking a plea, and it concluded that it was “not prepared to get behind” defendant’s argument that the magistrate was empowered to take defendant’s plea.”
Show all 14 citing cases →
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8511(b) — 4 cases
People v. White, 423 N.W.2d 225 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). “MCL 600.8511(b); MSA 27A.8511(b). In contrast, magistrates have the general power "to issue search warrants, when authorized to do so by a district court judge.”
People v. Farmilo, 358 N.W.2d 350 (Mich. Ct. App. 1984). “MCL 600.8511(b); MSA 27A.8511(b). Further, MCL 600.”
Ireland v. Tunis, 893 F. Supp. 724 (E.D. Mich. 1995). “§ 600.8511. Finally, Michigan’s Code of Criminal Procedure describes when and how arrest warrants may be issued: (1) A magistrate shall issue a warrant upon presentation of a proper complaint alleging the commission of an offense and a finding of reasonable cause to believe that…”
People of Michigan v. Janelle Vaness (Mich. Ct. App. 2024). “The circuit court noted that MCL 600.8511 neither authorized nor prohibited a magistrate from taking a plea, and it concluded that it was “not prepared to get behind” defendant’s argument that the magistrate was empowered to take defendant’s plea.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8511(c) — 1 case
People v. Paul, 512 N.W.2d 20 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). “MCL 600.8511; MSA 27A.8511 was added to the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) in 1968.”
— Mich. Comp. Laws § 600.8511(d) — 3 cases
People v. White, 423 N.W.2d 225 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988). “MCL 600.8511(b); MSA 27A.8511(b). In contrast, magistrates have the general power "to issue search warrants, when authorized to do so by a district court judge.”
People v. Paul, 512 N.W.2d 20 (Mich. Ct. App. 1993). “MCL 600.8511; MSA 27A.8511 was added to the Revised Judicature Act (RJA) in 1968.”
Richter v. Dep't of Nat. Resources, 432 N.W.2d 393 (Mich. Ct. App. 1988).
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