Bridgman Criminal Defense Attorney
Bridgman is a small lakeshore city in southwest Berrien County, with its own I-94 exit and Warren Dunes State Park just to the south. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout Bridgman and Berrien County. If you have been arrested, or you know you are under investigation, talk to a defense lawyer before you talk to anyone else. The call is free and I am available 24/7 at 616-438-6719.
Where Your Bridgman Case Will Be Heard
Berrien County runs its courts as a single Berrien County Trial Court — the 2nd Circuit and 5th District Courts under one administration — with two courthouses: St. Joseph, at 811 Port St, and Niles, at 1205 N Front St. Which one hears a criminal case is set by the court's own administrative order and turns on where the offense is charged as having happened, not where you live. Bridgman is the one city the order splits: state-law charges go to the St. Joseph Courthouse, 811 Port St, while city ordinance violations are heard at the Niles Courthouse, 1205 N Front St. Which one you are charged under — the state statute or the city ordinance — decides where you need to be.
Knowing the building is the easy part. What matters is knowing how that particular bench handles a first offense, which prosecutor has room to negotiate, and what the local diversion options actually are — see my 5th District Court page for how these cases run.
The Charges I See Most in Bridgman
The Bridgman Police Department is a small department of full-time, part-time and reserve officers. It is one of the few Berrien cities with an I-94 exit inside its own limits, and summer traffic to Warren Dunes and the nearby lakeshore brings OWI, minor-in-possession and open-intoxicant cases along with the highway stops.
- OWI and drunk driving on I-94 and Red Arrow Highway
- Minor in possession and open intoxicant charges in beach season
- Drug possession from highway stops
- Driving on a suspended license
- Disorderly conduct and other ordinance charges
- Domestic violence and theft
What Is Actually at Stake
Whether a Bridgman charge is written under state law or city ordinance matters for more than the address of the courthouse. It affects who prosecutes, what penalties apply and sometimes how the conviction is reported. An ordinance charge can also be a negotiating target in its own right — reducing a state charge to a local ordinance violation is one of the more useful outcomes available in a small-city case.
What to Do Next
Look at the citation for the statute or ordinance number, and check which courthouse it names. If you are unsure, bring it to the consultation — going to the wrong building on the day of a hearing is an easy way to end up with a warrant.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which courthouse hears a Bridgman case?
It depends on the charge. Under the Berrien County Trial Court's administrative order, Bridgman city ordinance violations are heard at the Niles Courthouse, 1205 N Front St, while state-law charges go to the St. Joseph Courthouse, 811 Port St.
What is the difference between a state charge and an ordinance charge?
A state charge is brought under Michigan statutes and prosecuted by the county; an ordinance charge is brought under the city's own code. Penalties, prosecutors and reporting can differ, and reducing a state charge to an ordinance violation is sometimes a realistic negotiated outcome.
I was stopped on I-94 near Bridgman. Who arrested me?
It may have been the Bridgman Police, the Berrien County Sheriff or the Michigan State Police. The agency is on your citation and it holds the reports and video — which are the first things I request.
Talk to a Bridgman Defense Lawyer Today
A criminal charge moves fast, and the first days matter most. Call me directly at 616-438-6719 for a free, confidential consultation — 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.