47th District Court Judge Marla Parker in Farmington Hills

The Farmington Hills District Court is located at 31605 W Eleven Mile Rd, Farmington Hills, MI 48336. The Court handles all misdemeanor offenses and the initial stages of felony matters.

The Honorable Marla Parker

The defense bar views Judge Marla Parker in Farmington Hills as a thoughtful and considerate judge. Although she may regularly adopt the prosecutor and the probation department’s view on cases, she is not a “rubber stamp.” Judge Parker is open to creative and well-reasoned criminal defense arguments on behalf of a client. She will follow the law, even if it results in a dismissal of charges or a sentence without jail time.

Judge Parker is one of two district judges in the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills. The 47th District Court serves the cities of Farmington and Farmington Hills. Judge Marla Parker is currently serving her 16th year as a judge. Before her election to a judgeship, Judge Parker was a magistrate for the Court and maintained a private law practice in Farmington Hills. She has served several terms as the Court’s chief judge.

Judge Marla Parker’s Professional Activities

Judge Parker is a member of the State Bar of Michigan, the Oakland County Bar Association (OCBA), the Women’s Bar Association, the National Association of Women Judges, and the American Bar Association. She is a past president of the Oakland County District Judges Association and is a former member of the OCBA Board of Directors. A frequent speaker at seminars for new lawyers, she has also been on the faculty of the Michigan Judicial Institute’s new judges’ seminar. Judge Marla Parker in Farmington Hills obtained her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Michigan and her Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School.

Community Involvement and Personal Facts

Judge Marla Parker is on the Board of the Farmington Hills/Farmington Community Foundation for Youth and Families. She is a member of the Exchange Club and the Call-to-Action Coalition. She is also a member of the joint Farmington Hills and Farmington Commission on Children, Youth, and Families, where she has spent many years chairing the volunteer committee. Judge Parker is married and has one daughter.

Types of Criminal Cases Handled by the 47th District Court in Farmington Hills

District judges, like Judge Marla Parker in Farmington Hills, handle various criminal matters, from misdemeanors to felony charges. Misdemeanors are criminal offenses carrying potential jail time, ranging from 30 days to 1 year. Unless a motion to expunge is granted years after a conviction, a misdemeanor never expires and will remain indefinitely on a person’s criminal history. A judge or magistrate sets a bond in potential jail cases. A bond can be personal (not requiring money) or require a cash deposit with the Court or a bonds person. After the arraignment, the Court will schedule hearings until the matter is concluded. Judge Parker is likelier to impose jail time in situations with egregious allegations or if a defendant has a prior criminal history.

The most severe criminal hearings district judges handle are felony preliminary exams. Preliminary exams are probable cause hearings held in district courts with jurisdiction over where the crime allegedly occurred. The district judge’s job is to hear testimony and decide whether a crime has occurred and whether there is probable cause to believe the defendant committed it. If so, the district judge “binds over” the case to the county circuit court, which has the authority to handle felony cases (cases that carry a penalty of more than one year in prison). The judge will dismiss the case if the prosecutor fails to prove that the crime was committed or that the defendant committed the alleged crime. Of course, a felony charge may be plea-bargained down to a misdemeanor in the district court, where the district court has the authority to sentence the defendant.

Finally, Judge Marla Parker will hear any allegations of probation violation in Farmington Hills. She will not hesitate to order the defendant to serve time in jail if a probation violation is proven. However, she is well known for being fair, and if an experienced criminal defense lawyer can present her with a reasonable alternative, she will consider non-custodial options.

47th District Court Judge James Brady in Farmington Hills, Michigan

Examples of misdemeanors cases handled in Farmington Hills:

Retail Fraud 2nd and 3rd Degree
Operating While Intoxicated or Driving Under the Influence 1st and 2nd Offense (OWI)
Domestic Violence
Driving While License Suspended or Revoked
Misdemeanor Drug Offenses
Assault and Battery
Aggravated Assault
Misdemeanor Weapons Charges

Examples of felony cases scheduled for a preliminary exam before Judge Marla Parker in Farmington Hills include:

Felonious Assault
Retail Fraud 1st Degree
Home Invasion
Armed and Unarmed Robbery
Felony Drug Cases
Felony Operating While Intoxicated 3rd Offense
Weapons Charges, Including Carrying a Concealed Weapon and Felon in Possession
Sex Crimes and Child Pornography (CSAM)

A Firm That Regularly Handles Cases in Judge Parker’s Court

If a committed and zealous defense attorney puts the time and thought necessary into the defense of a charge, Judge Parker will carefully and patiently consider it. This is all any criminal defense attorney can hope for in court: a fair shot with an open-minded, unbiased judge. The best criminal defense attorneys go above and beyond merely “going through the motions.” Judge Parker appreciates an astute defense attorney’s thoughtful, creative, legally well-founded argument.

The attorneys at LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. regularly appear before Judge Parker. We have had outstanding experiences in her courtroom and have a mutually respectful relationship. Judge Parker appreciates preparation and professionalism, and we always meet Judge Parker’s standards. If you have a case before Judge Parker, call LEWIS & DICKSTEIN, P.L.L.C. for a free consultation. We will find a way to help you!

Call us today at (248) 263-6800 for a free consultation or complete an online Request for Assistance Form. We will contact you promptly and find a way to help you.