Preparing for Court

The Court asks that when you come to the Municipal Courthouse you please follow these simple rules:
  • No food items, drinks or gum. These items will not be held for you by security staff.
  • No animals are allowed in the courthouse.  Service dogs only.
  • Come to the correct building: 5694 Second Avenue (not City Hall)
  • Dress appropriately: No shirts with offensive slogans or pictures.  This is a court of law, and you must be professional.
  • No hats are allowed in the courtroom.  If you do wear a hat, you will be asked to remove it while you are in the courtroom.  Exceptions will be made for clothing worn for religious beliefs or medical purposes.
  • No cell phones or electronic devices.  Cell phone use is not permitted in the courthouse.  Please turn devices off while in court.
  • Sit quietly in the courtroom whenever court is in session.
  • No smoking.
  • Avoid bringing children to court.  If you must, please monitor their behavior so that they remain quiet at all times.  Parents will be asked to leave the courtroom if their children become noisy or unruly.

Security information

If you are feeling ill or running a fever, please contact the court and your attorney for instructions.

In an effort to keep both the public and courthouse employees safe, all people entering the Municipal Courthouse are subject to security screening including:

  • Passing through a metal detector.
  • Having handbags, backpacks, purses, briefcases and other carried items searched.
  • And if necessary, being checked by a handheld metal detector wand.

No Weapons allowed

Weapons of any kind are strictly prohibited.  Other prohibited items include, but are not limited to, the following:
  • Guns, ammunition and explosive materials.
  • Swords, utility blades, knives, razor knives and razor blades.
  • Pepper spray and mace.
  • Illegal substances, including illegal drugs.
  • Any type of dangerous or hazardous property or materials
Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.

Public Defender Information

How to get a public defender
  • You must first complete an application to see if you qualify for a court-appointed attorney under State and Federal guidelines.  Applications are confidential and do not become part of the public record.  Applications and screening are completed at your first appearance.
  • If you do not qualify for a court-appointed attorney, you may choose to privately hire an attorney to represent you.  Court staff by law cannot give legal advice or refer you to an attorney.

Legal Information

Municipal Court staff provide information, not legal advice.  If you need legal advice, please contact an attorney. 
 
Court staff can:
  • Tell you the status of a specific case, unless the case or information in the case is confidential.
  • Give you general information on court rules, procedures and practices.
  • Provide court approved or required forms or tell you where you can find forms.  Forms are not available for all legal proceedings.
  • Provide court schedules and information on how to get matters scheduled.
Court staff cannot:
  • Advise you about whether you should take any particular action in a case.
  • Tell you what words to put on a form.
  • Tell you what to say in court.
  • Tell you what decision the judge will make or what sentence the judge will impose.
  • Apply the law nor give directions about how to respond in any aspect of the legal process.
  • Change an order signed by the judge.
  • Let you talk to a judge outside of court.
Please note:
The court staff may not know the answers to all questions about court rules, procedures and practices.

Ferndale Court Rules