History of the Court

Royal Oak became a City on June 21, 1921. The City Charter adopted a Manager form of government on November 8, 1921. John E. Brondige was appointed Justice of the Peace on that same day and held court in the old Village Hall on Main Street at the southwest corner of Third Street. Judge Brondige served the citizens of Royal Oak 34 years as the Justice of the Peace from 1921-1949 and as Royal Oak's Municipal Judge from 1949-1955.

In 1925 the Courthouse moved to Troy and Third streets in a new city hall where the Royal Oak Police station now stands. On November 4, 1949 the City Charter was amended establishing a Municipal Court and Justice of the Peace John E. Brondige became Royal Oak's first Municipal Judge. In 1953, the Courthouse moved to a new location, a temporary home, on the 3rd floor of the City Municipal building. In 1968 the State Legislature established the District Court System. The first building designed and built specifically as a courthouse in the City of Royal Oak was dedicated on May 1, 2001, on the site south of Eleven Mile Road and east of Troy Street.

Unlike many District Courts throughout the State which handle cases for several cities; example, the 45th District Court in Oak Park serves as the District Court for Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak Township and Huntington Woods, the 44th District Court because of the size of Royal Oak, serves just the City of Royal Oak. This was set up by the Legislators in Lansing based on the population and discussions with the community leaders.

Justices of the Peace and Municipal Judges

John Brondige (1921-1955)

William Sevald (1949-1959)

Fletcher Renton (1955-1959)

District Court Judges

Keith Leenhouts (1959-1969)

Elmer Hartwig (1959-1972)

John Osgood (1969-1982)

Francis X O Brien (1972-1978)

John R Mann (1978-1990)

Daniel Sawicki (1982- )

Terrence H Brennan (1991- )