Lorain Municipal Court
Prepare For Your Criminal Case at Lorain Municipal Court
Time is of the essence when you or someone you love faces criminal charges handled out of the Lorain Municipal Court. Delaying your search for legal counsel can mean losing precious time that could be spent on building an effective defense.
The territorial jurisdiction of Lorain Municipal Court includes the cities of Lorain and Sheffield Lake, as well as Sheffield Township. If you live within this region, there’s a good chance your case will be heard at Lorain Municipal Court. Our legal team at Patituce & Associates is familiar with this court and its operations, and we can render the legal services you need to defend against your charges.
About Lorain Municipal Court
Lorain Municipal Court conducts hearings from 9 a.m. to noon and from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Court operations are overseen by the Lorain City Council, which also controls the court’s budget. The court’s two presiding judges and Clerk of Courts are elected positions.
- Address: 200 W Erie Avenue, Lorain, OH 44052
- Phone number: (440) 204-2140
- Business hours: 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
- Court website: Lorain Municipal Court website
- Judges: Thomas J. Elwell Jr., Mark J. Mihok
Types of Cases Heard at Lorain Municipal Court
Lorain Municipal Court has jurisdiction to hear cases involving misdemeanors and violations of any ordinance belonging to the city of Lorain, including traffic violations. The court also has jurisdiction to hold preliminary hearings for felony cases involving incidents that allegedly occurred within Lorain, and the court additionally has jurisdiction to recognize or commit such defendants.
Traffic Violations
The court’s traffic division handles cases involving alleged violations of laws that govern traffic safety within its territorial jurisdiction. If you wish to fight a citation for speeding, running a red light, making an improper lane change, or a similar traffic offense, the Lorain Municipal Court will adjudicate your dispute. It will also handle the processing of any fines, fees, or other costs associated with your dispute.
Criminal Misdemeanors
Although criminal misdemeanors are less serious than felonies, convictions for serious misdemeanors can result in a jail sentence up to a year in addition to heavy fines. The Lorain Municipal Court is equipped to handle the entire misdemeanor process from arraignment to trial and sentencing.
Preliminary Felony Hearings
The Lorain Municipal Court conducts preliminary hearings for those charged with felonies within its territorial jurisdiction. These hearings prepare your case for trial and may involve legal motions, evidence reviews, and plea negotiations.
Award-Winning Firm
Do I Need a Criminal Defense Lawyer at Lorain Municipal Court?
You are not required to have legal representation when you are charged with a crime, but it can be highly beneficial to have someone represent you during court proceedings. Most people aren’t as familiar with the criminal justice process as an experienced criminal defense attorney is, and hiring one can provide you with considerable benefits.
By hiring legal representation, you don’t have to leave everything to chance. An experienced criminal defense lawyer can provide the assistance you need whether you’re facing a misdemeanor or felony charge. Representing yourself can be risky, especially when your freedom and reputation are on the line. You can feel more confident about receiving justice by having a criminal defense lawyer guide you through the process and advocate on your behalf.
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- Martha L.
Seeking representation for federal charges against my husband led me to engage with an attorney from this firm. Swiftly connected with Joe Patituce, we made the decision to enlist his services that very day, a choice we're grateful for.
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- Cora B.
Their friendly and approachable team provided unwavering support. They worked diligently to build a robust defense, ensuring my side of the story was heard and considered!!!
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- Former Client
Cate Purdum was present, attentive, always returned my calls (I had attorneys before who never call you back), answered my questions and never ignored my calls. If I ever need an attorney in the future I will definitely go back to her.
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- Roberto M.
Catherine Meehan did an amazing job. Very responsive, friendly, and obviously very good with words. She kept me out of jail and home with my kiddo. For that I can't ever repay the favor. Much appreciated hope I never need your assistance again but if so I'll definitely give you a call. Thank you again.
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- Thomas S.
I am very satisfied with Rachelle and Joe they were talking me through my whole case and when I told them I wanted a trial they agreed and said let’s go to trial with out hesitation they were very professional and I couldn’t ask for a better law firm to have my back in my court case thank you Rachelle and Joe I highly recommend them to everybody
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- Levi G.
Joe helped my brother beat a serious RICO charge. He is simply the best criminal defense lawyer out there, and provides a clear-cut path to victory. I am extremely impressed and thankful for the hard work and dedication the team at Patituce & Associates put in on this case. It feels great to come out on the winning side, and not have to sweat a thing during the whole process. I highly recommend hiring Joe and his expert staff if you ever find yourself in any legal trouble. Thank you Joe!
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So kind and helpful! Don’t know what I would’ve done without him. Joe was kind and informative throughout the whole- Maddy P.
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- Glenn G.
I engaged Joe Patituce's services for my DUI case in Rocky River, and I couldn't have made a better choice. He and his team demonstrated excellence throughout, managing my case with remarkable skill and professionalism.
Why Should I Choose Patituce & Associates?
Patituce & Associates can provide the legal defense services you need regardless of the seriousness of your charges. We proudly represent clients charged with misdemeanors and/or felonies, and we rely on our 70 years of experience to formulate innovative and effective legal defense strategies for them.
Not only are we trial-tested attorneys who have taken more than 200 cases trial, but we also have former prosecutors on our team. These criminal defense advocates have a deep understanding of how the government prosecutes cases, which helps us anticipate and counter the strategies used against our clients.
Reach out to us if you were charged with a crime involving:
- Domestic Violence
- Drug Crimes
- DUI/OVI
- Federal Crimes
- Juvenile Crimes
- Property Crimes
- Sex Crimes
- Theft Crimes
- Violent Crimes
- White Collar Crimes
Recent Case Results
Patituce & Associates has a track record of achieving favorable outcomes for clients accused of a variety of offenses.
Consider these recent results we helped our clients achieve:
- Case dismissed: In Bay Village v. Crider, our client was accused of OVI, and we fought to suppress evidence all the way up to the presiding judge. The judge agreed with us, and all relevant evidence against our client was thrown out, causing a case dismissal.
- Not guilty at trial: In the State v. Brandon Detliskey, our client was charged with attempted murder and felonious assault for stabbing another person with a knife during a fight. At trial, we demonstrated the unreliability of the prosecution’s witnesses by showing that they had motives and even assisted in the assault on our client. A jury found our client not guilty of his charges.
- Reduced charges: In the State v. Bailey, our client faced five years in prison for credit card fraud because of purchases made on certain cards. The FBI was involved and accused our client of being involved in a credit card fraud ring. We demonstrated that our client wasn’t involved in this ring and had no prior criminal record, which reduced their felony charges to a misdemeanor.
- No charges: In the State v. Banks, Port Clinton, our client was accused of rape and sexual misconduct. With our legal assistance, however, we helped them avoid criminal charges and put the matter behind them.
- Case dismissed: In the State v. McClintick, Portage County, our client was indicted on rape charged and faced over 10 years in prison. They maintained their innocence and refused to accept a plea deal, as was suggested by a prior attorney. We fought hard for this client and our efforts led the prosecutor to dismiss the charges.
Our legal team at Patituce & Associates dedicates itself to seeking justice for our clients. When you are fighting against unfair criminal accusations, you need a dedicated lawyer on your side. We can help you build a criminal defense strategy that can provide the help you need during this time.
When you’re facing criminal charges at the Lorain Municipal Court, don’t hesitate to reach out to Patituce & Associates for legal support.
