New Buffalo Criminal Defense Attorney
New Buffalo is the first Michigan town most drivers reach on I-94 from Chicago — a Lake Michigan harbor city of about 2,000 year-round residents that swells past 15,000 in summer. I am Shawn Haff, and I defend people charged with crimes throughout New Buffalo 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 New Buffalo 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. Despite being in the far south of the county, New Buffalo is not one of the areas assigned to the Niles courthouse: its criminal cases are heard at the St. Joseph Courthouse, 811 Port St, roughly a half-hour drive north.
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 New Buffalo
The New Buffalo City Police Department patrols the city, and the surrounding New Buffalo Township — including the area around the Four Winds casino — contracts with the Berrien County Sheriff. I-94 enters Michigan from Indiana just south of town, and that shapes everything: a large share of the people charged here live in Illinois or Indiana, arrested on a summer weekend or on the way to or from the casino, often for OWI, marijuana or a traffic stop that turned into something more.
- OWI and drunk driving on I-94, US-12 and Red Arrow Highway
- Marijuana charges involving drivers heading back across the state line
- Driving on a suspended license, including out-of-state license problems
- Minor in possession and open intoxicant charges in beach season
- Disorderly conduct and assault
- Drug possession from interstate stops
What Is Actually at Stake
For a Chicago or Indiana resident, the Michigan case is only half the problem. A conviction here can be reported to your home state and affect your license there, a warrant for a missed Michigan date can surface at a traffic stop at home, and a plea that seems minor can carry more weight under another state's rules. Getting the out-of-state consequences right is part of the defense, not an afterthought.
What to Do Next
Call before you drive back for the first court date. I can often appear for you at routine hearings, and planning which dates actually require you in person saves a great deal of travel — and avoids the warrant that follows a missed appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is a New Buffalo case heard?
At the St. Joseph Courthouse, 811 Port St, St. Joseph. Although New Buffalo is in the south of Berrien County, the trial court's administrative order does not assign it to the Niles courthouse.
I live in Illinois. Do I have to come back for every hearing?
No, not for every hearing. As your attorney I can appear on your behalf at many routine proceedings, and I will tell you which dates require you personally. Ignoring the case is the one thing you must not do — a missed Michigan court date becomes a warrant that can follow you home.
I bought cannabis legally in Michigan. Can I still be charged?
Yes, in several ways. Michigan's legal limits on how much you may carry and how it must be stored in a vehicle still apply, driving while impaired by marijuana is an OWI offense, and Michigan's legal-cannabis rules stop at the state line. Each of those has its own defenses.
Talk to a New Buffalo 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.