Chicago is the First Municipal District, and unlike the suburban districts it is not one building. An arrest in the city sends you to a neighbourhood branch court, and possibly to bond court before that. Which branch depends on where the arrest happened and what you are charged with.
This page covers the branch courts and bond court, the buildings almost every Chicago case passes through first. Felony cases that move on to 26th and California are covered separately. Our attorneys are former Illinois prosecutors who worked these courtrooms, which is a different thing from having read about them.
Current Chicago misdemeanor branch courts
A misdemeanor or ordinance case in Chicago is heard at the branch location covering the arrest. The current Cook County listing identifies these three locations and their branch numbers. Traffic cases are handled through the Traffic Section at the Daley Center.
Branches 23 and 29: Grand and Central
5555 West Grand Avenue, Chicago(opens in a new tab)
- Branch 23: 9:00 a.m. for Chicago Police Districts 15, 16, and 17; 1:00 p.m. for District 25; 2:30 p.m. for District 14.
- Branch 29: 9:00 a.m. for Districts 18, 19, and 20; 1:00 p.m. for District 24.
Branches 35 and 38: Pullman
727 East 111th Street, Chicago(opens in a new tab)
- Branches 35 and 38: 9:00 a.m. for Districts 3, 4, and 5; 1:00 p.m. for Districts 6 and 7; 2:30 p.m. for Districts 8 and 22. The location also handles felony preliminary hearings.
Branches 43 and 44: Harrison and Kedzie
3150 West Flournoy Street, Chicago(opens in a new tab)
- Branch 43: 9:00 a.m. for Districts 2, 9, and 11; 1:00 p.m. for Districts 1, 10, 12, and 13.
- Branch 44: The same 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. district groupings for felony preliminary hearings.
The public court pages now identify Branches 23, 29, 35, 38, 43, and 44 for these hearings. Older references to Branches 34 and 46 should not be used as a current location guide. Confirm the branch, date, and time on your own paperwork before traveling.
Felony preliminary hearings
Many Chicago felony cases begin with a preliminary hearing at Branch 23/29, Branch 35/38, or Branch 43/44. The current Cook County misdemeanor and felony-preliminary-hearing page(opens in a new tab) lists those three branch locations.
Some felony categories, including felony traffic offenses, homicide, felony sex offenses, and fugitive warrants, are heard in the Pretrial Division at Leighton instead. The preliminary hearing tests whether probable cause supports moving the case forward; it is not a trial.
The preliminary hearing is the first real test of the State’s case, and it is routinely treated as a formality. It is not one.
For a step-by-step overview of what follows a DUI arrest, read our guide to the Illinois DUI court process before the first appearance.
Where a felony case goes after the branch court
If the case survives the preliminary hearing it leaves the branch court and is assigned to the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 2600 S California Ave, known as 26th and California. That building, its courtrooms and what to expect on a first appearance there are covered on our page about felony cases at 26th and California.
Bond court
If you were arrested Monday to Friday, your bond hearing is at one of the branch courts above. If you were arrested over the weekend, you go to Central Bond Court at the Leighton courthouse, which starts at 12:30 p.m. and hears felony and misdemeanor cases from across the county.
Bring the hearing notice, case number, and any paperwork given to the defendant. The court’s bond decision depends on the charge, the allegations, and the information presented to the judge; a family member should not assume that a particular document guarantees release.
Because the branch locations are inside Chicago Police Department stations, entry rules and parking options vary by building. Check the court’s current cellphone and electronic-device policy(opens in a new tab), allow time for screening, and call the branch listed on your notice if you are running late.
The branch court and bond court work we take
- DUI defense if you were arrested for driving under the influence
- Criminal defense for misdemeanor and felony charges
- Traffic ticket defense for citations and license issues
- Gun charges, which are common in the Chicago branch calls
A preliminary hearing is the first real test of the State’s case, and it is routinely treated as a formality. Nicholas Ktenas is a former Cook County prosecutor and has stood on the other side of that hearing. Alexander Ktenas, our managing partner, has conducted hundreds of criminal and DUI trials. What that buys you is an honest read on whether the State’s case is as solid as it looks on the first date.
Request a free, confidential case review.
For the suburban districts, see Cook County court districts.
Questions about Chicago’s branch courts and bond court
It depends on where the arrest happened and what you are charged with, not on your home address. Current Cook County information identifies three branch locations with six branch numbers: 23/29, 35/38, and 43/44. The branch is printed on your citation or bond paperwork. Confirm that address against the current court listing before you travel.
Weekend arrests go to Central Bond Court at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse, which starts at 12:30 p.m. and hears felony and misdemeanor cases from across Cook County. An arrest made Monday through Friday instead has its bond hearing at one of the branch courts listed on this page.
No. A felony case starts with a preliminary hearing at one of six branch locations, and if it survives that hearing it moves to the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse at 26th and California for the remainder. The preliminary hearing is the first real test of the State’s case, so it is worth taking seriously rather than treating it as a formality.
Several branch numbers sit in the same building, including Branches 23 and 29, 35 and 38, and 43 and 44. The address alone will not tell you which courtroom or which call you belong to. Check the branch number on your own paperwork rather than relying on the street address.
Yes. Gun charges are common in the Chicago branch calls, and a felony weapons charge goes through the same preliminary hearing process as any other felony in the city. What happens at that early hearing can shape how the case is described once it reaches the Leighton Courthouse.
Find out which branch court has your case
Chicago’s branch system is the part people get wrong most often, because the address on the paperwork does not always tell you which courtroom or which call you belong to. Tell us what you were charged with, which building you were told to appear at, and when.
You will speak to an attorney, not an intake screener, and you will get a straight read on what the charge carries and what is realistically arguable.
If you were just arrested, bring the citation, bond paperwork, and any notice you received to your case review so an attorney can help you understand what happens before the first court date.
Start a free, confidential case review. If we are not the right firm for your case, we will say so.
For current locations and schedules, use the official First Municipal District listing(opens in a new tab) and misdemeanor and felony-preliminary-hearing page(opens in a new tab).
Last reviewed 08/26/2026
