14B District Court

14B District Court Hours & Location
Monday - Friday, 8:30am – 12:00pm and 1:00pm - 4:30pm

The Court is closed in observance of all legal holidays.

John B. Collins 14B District Court
7200 S. Huron River Dr. Ypsilanti, MI 48197

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The John B. Collins 14B District Court processes all cases arising in Ypsilanti Township. The 14B District Court is one of three district courts in Washtenaw County that process:

• Criminal misdemeanors where the penalty is less than 1 year in jail
• Civil infractions such as traffic tickets and dog licensing violations
• Municipal civil infractions such as property maintenance code and zoning violations
• Civil cases where the claim amount is $25,000 or less
  • Apply for Waiver of Filing Fees in a civil case (not applicable to traffic or criminal cases)
• Landlord/Tenant Cases & Information
  • DC 539, Rental Assistance Form
  • Tenant Advice of Rights Presentation
  • If you are facing challenges paying your rent, contact the following as soon as possible before your court date:
    • Michigan Department of Health and Human Services: 734.481.2000 or mibridges.michigan.gov
    • Housing Access of Washtenaw County: 734.961.1999
    • Housing Bureau for Seniors (age 55+): 734.998.9339
    • Washtenaw County Veterans Affairs: 734.973.4540
    • Your landlord
• Small Claims cases
• Potential Jurors - Update your address and phone number, respond to your summons, or find out what date you are to report by accessing Jury Online Response & Reporting Schedule.

Video Appearance Information
If you have been instructed by the court to provide your contact information you may use the Contact Information Sheet.
Prior to your first court hearing you will need to read and fill out an Advice of Rights Form.

Other Resources

• Online Warrant Review
• Probation Reporting
• Pre-Sentence Interview Packet
• Financial Statement/Payment Request
• MiCourt Case Search
• Michigan Legal Help
• United Way of SE MI Community Service Opportunities

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Honorable Judge Erane C. Washington
14B District Court Judge

Erane C. Washington was elected Judge of the 14B District Court, situated in Ypsilanti Township, on November 4, 2020. Prior to her election, her career was varied; she served as an Assistant Public Defender for the Washtenaw County Public Defender’s Office for seven years from 1994 until 2001 and was then recruited by then Chief Judge of Washtenaw Circuit Court, Judge Donald E. Shelton to become his Judicial Attorney. After working with Judge Shelton for six years, she left public service to start her own law practice. She handled a multitude of case types, including but not limited to criminal defense, general civil, probate, and real estate until taking the bench on January 1, 2021.

Judge Washington is a proud graduate of the James Madison Residential College located at Michigan State University (Class of 1985) where she studied Justice, Morality and Constitutional Democracy. She graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1993.

Judge Washington has resided in Ypsilanti Township for almost 30 years, along with her husband Anthony; both sons attended Lincoln Schools. She currently serves as an elected State Bar of Michigan Commissioner, Board of Director for the Huron Valley Habitat for Humanity and is a member of the Vanzetti Hamilton Bar Association and Business and Professional Women’s Club.

Judge Washington is the Chief Judge of the 14B District Court and presides over Landlord-Tenant, Criminal, and General Civil matters, while managing the Recovery and Human Trafficking Court and a Domestic Violence specialty docket.

View 14B District Court Proceedings: Judge Erane C. Washington

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Magistrate/Court Administrator Hilary Braley
14B District Court Magistrate

Attorney Hilary Braley was appointed to the position of Magistrate/Court Administrator by Judge Washington in December of 2023.

Prior to being appointed Magistrate, she worked as a legal aid attorney, serving with Monroe County Senior Legal Services until 2020 and, most recently, with the United Community Housing Coalition.  At UCHC, she provided tenant defense in eviction matters in the 36th District Court in Detroit and assisted defendants in accessing COVID Emergency Rental Assistance (CERA) funding.

Magistrate Braley grew up in Delaware and Southeast Pennsylvania, and earned her Bachelor's degree from York College of Pennsylvania in 2007.  She developed an appreciation for civil service while working in various roles at the Montgomery County Assistance Office.

She came to Michigan with her husband in 2012 and took a year off to write a book, after which she took a position as a clerk at the Friend of the Court at the 22nd Circuit Court in Ann Arbor.  From there, she went to Wayne State University Law School, graduating and passing the bar in 2018.
Magistrate Braley, her husband, and their three children have lived in Ypsilanti Township since 2014.

View 14B District Court Proceedings: Magistrate Hilary Braley