Maesen Law defends criminal cases across Grand Rapids and the communities of Kent County, from the courthouse on East Beltline Avenue to the courthouse on Ottawa Avenue and back to the district court divisions in Walker, Grandville and Kentwood. Below is the coverage map: which court hears a case from your community, and where to find me when you need to talk.
Free, confidential consultation. No obligation.
Each page below covers the court that hears cases from that community, the practice areas that come out of it, and what to do first if you have been charged.
Michigan district courts are organized by city and township, and a case is filed where the charge arose. Here is the coverage map for Grand Rapids and the eleven Kent County communities this practice serves.
| Community | District court | Address | Felony court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Rapids | 61st District Court | 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Kentwood | 62B District Court | 4740 Walma Ave SE, Kentwood, MI 49512 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Walker | 59th District Court | 4343 Remembrance Road NW, Walker, MI 49534 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Grandville | 59th District Court | 3161 Wilson Ave SW, Grandville, MI 49418 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Rockford | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Forest Hills | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| East Grand Rapids | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Comstock Park | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Caledonia | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Hudsonville | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Allendale | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
| Plainfield | 63rd District Court | 1950 E Beltline Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49525 | 17th Circuit Court, 180 Ottawa Ave NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 |
Misdemeanor, traffic and preliminary felony cases are docketed in the district court listed above. Felony charges are bound over to the 17th Circuit Court of Kent County. If the paperwork names a court that does not match this table, confirm it with your attorney before the hearing date.
Every community in this list is served by the same practice and the same attorney, so the depth of the work does not change with the postcode. These are the practice areas I handle every day.
Note the court and the date on your citation or arrest paperwork, and confirm them against the court docket.
Do not consent to a search, and do not answer questions beyond identifying yourself.
Get an attorney involved before the first appearance so the charge is reviewed on the record.
Gather the citation, the bond paperwork, and the names of anyone who actually witnessed what happened.
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Ryan Maesen has defended accused people in Grand Rapids and across West Michigan since 2007.
More than 80 criminal cases taken to trial, where the verdict is decided by a judge and jury, not a plea.
Rated 4.7 out of 5 across 84 Google reviews by clients and their families.
The office is at 3265 Walker Ave NW in Grand Rapids, which puts it within a short drive of the 61st, 62B, 63rd and 59th District Courts and the 17th Circuit Court. I am available for consultations during the day and for new criminal matters outside regular business hours.
The practice covers Grand Rapids and eleven communities in Kent County: Kentwood, Walker, Grandville, Rockford, Forest Hills, East Grand Rapids, Comstock Park, Caledonia, Hudsonville, Allendale and Plainfield. The work is handled from the same office for every community, and the case is defended in the court that has jurisdiction over the charge.
It depends on where the charge arose. The 61st District Court at 180 Ottawa Ave NW in Grand Rapids handles the City of Grand Rapids. The 62B District Court at 4740 Walma Ave SE handles the City of Kentwood. The 59th District Court handles the City of Walker at 4343 Remembrance Road NW and the City of Grandville at 3161 Wilson Ave SW. The 63rd District Court at 1950 E Beltline Ave NE handles the rest of Kent County. Felony cases from anywhere in the county are tried in the 17th Circuit Court at 180 Ottawa Ave NW in Grand Rapids.
Fees depend on the charge, the number of appearances, and whether the case is resolved by negotiation or tried. I explain the fee structure in writing at the first consultation, and the consultation itself is free. Some matters are handled at a flat fee and others hourly. What matters is that you know the cost before you make a decision rather than after.
Say nothing beyond identifying yourself, do not consent to a search, and ask for an attorney. Then call a defense attorney as soon as possible, ideally before the first appearance. The window between the arrest and the first hearing is where the case is usually decided, because that is when the prosecutor decides what to charge and the court decides what bond to set.
You should talk to one before you plead to anything, and it is worth doing sooner rather than later. The first appearance is where a plea is entered, and a plea to a misdemeanor can still create a criminal record with consequences for employment, housing, and immigration. A prosecutor may also be willing to dismiss or reduce a charge that has been reviewed by an attorney, which does not happen as often when the person appears alone.
Yes, and you should. The consultation is free and confidential, and there is no obligation. It is the fastest way to understand what the charge means, what the prosecutor is likely to do, and what your options are before you answer for anything in a courtroom.
If you have been charged anywhere in Kent County, call and tell me what happened. I will tell you which court has your case and what the first step should be.
