Decatur Municipal Court

Decatur Municipal Court cases in Morgan County, Decatur, AL

Decatur Municipal Court is a municipal court serving the City of Decatur, Alabama. It exercises limited jurisdiction over prosecutions for violations of municipal ordinances and state-law misdemeanors adopted by ordinance that occur within the city or its police jurisdiction. Common matters include traffic and parking offenses, DUI, misdemeanor criminal violations, and other municipal code infractions. The court conducts arraignments and bench trials, accepts pleas, imposes fines and jail terms as authorized by law, orders probation, and issues warrants and subpoenas. It does not handle civil, family, juvenile, or felony cases; appeals from its judgments are taken de novo to the appropriate circuit court.

Decatur Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Decatur Municipal Court

Decatur Municipal Court serves as the city's first-level court for offenses within city limits. It handles traffic and parking citations; municipal ordinance and code enforcement; and limited misdemeanor-level offenses as allowed by state law. Public-facing services include case intake/filings for citations and complaints; docketing; arraignments, plea hearings, pretrial conferences, bench trials, and sentencing; warrants and bond settings; probation/compliance reviews; fine payment and payment plans; continuances; records and calendar access; and interpreter/ADA accommodations. The court may offer diversion, defensive driving/driver safety, deferred adjudication, or community service options where authorized. Protective orders are typically handled by county or state courts, not municipal court. Jury services depend on state law: many municipal cases are heard by a judge, with jury trials or transfers available only where permitted.