Hickory has no courthouse of its own, and the city spans three counties. Catawba County cases from Hickory are heard at the Catawba County Justice Center in Newton; offenses in the Burke or Caldwell County parts of the city go to Morganton or Lenoir. Most city arrests are made by the Hickory Police Department. Our Charlotte office serves Hickory clients. Call (704) 842-3411.
Hickory Criminal Defense Lawyers
Arrested or charged in Hickory?
 Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free. En español: (704) 764-1518.
Tell us about your Hickory case
Which courthouse hears a Hickory case
| Catawba County part (most of the city) | Catawba County Justice Center, 100 Government Dr, Newton, NC 28658, (828) 695-6100 |
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| Burke County part | Burke County Courthouse, 201 S Green St, Morganton, NC 28655, (828) 433-3200 |
| Caldwell County part | Caldwell County Courthouse, 216 Main St NW, Lenoir, NC 28645, (828) 759-3503 |
| Prosecutor | District Attorney, Prosecutorial District 36, which covers all three counties |
The county is set by where the offense happened. Check your court date and courtroom on the eCourts Portal. Court details are from the North Carolina Judicial Branch, current as of October 2026.
Police agencies in Hickory
| Hickory Police Department | Floyd W. Lucas Jr. Police Headquarters, 347 2nd Ave SW, Hickory, NC 28602. Administrative (828) 324-2060; non-emergency communications (828) 328-5551. |
|---|---|
| Campus | Lenoir-Rhyne University is in Hickory; campus incidents can also involve the university’s own process. |
Agency details are from each agency’s official website as of October 2026. In an emergency, call 911.
What to know about a Hickory charge
Even though the city crosses three county lines, all three counties are in Prosecutorial District 36, so one District Attorney’s office handles Hickory cases wherever they are heard. What changes is the courthouse. Catawba County cases go to the Catawba County Justice Center in Newton; check your citation for the county before you drive.
Hickory Police Department reports and public records requests go through the department, not the court. Ask for the report early; it shows the stated reason for a stop or arrest, which is often the first thing a defense lawyer examines.
DWI checking stations
North Carolina law (G.S. 20-16.3A) lets officers run DWI checking stations, but only under a written policy and a pattern for which vehicles are stopped that is set in advance. A checkpoint that does not follow those rules can be challenged in court.
Police video
Body camera and dash camera video is not a public record in North Carolina. Under G.S. 132-1.4A, a person shown in a recording may ask the agency to let them view it, and getting a copy released requires a court order. A defense lawyer can ask the court to order release when the video matters to the case.
Areas we serve
We represent people from across Hickory.
For county court details, recovery courts, and family law, see our Catawba County page. We take criminal cases from the Catawba County part of Hickory only. In the Burke and Caldwell County parts, we handle family law only; see our Burke County and Caldwell County family law pages.
Family law
Our Raleigh family law team handles divorce, custody, and support cases for Hickory families.
Your Hickory legal team
Hickory clients work with our Charlotte office team.
Where to find us
Martine Law, Charlotte office
5960 Fairview Rd, Suite 438
Charlotte, NC 28210
(704) 842-3411Phones and chat are answered 24/7, with AI covering when no staff is free.
Hickory FAQs
Where are Hickory criminal cases heard?
Most Hickory cases are in Catawba County and go to the Catawba County Justice Center at 100 Government Drive in Newton. Hickory also reaches into Burke and Caldwell Counties, where cases go to Morganton or Lenoir. Your citation or the eCourts Portal shows the county and courtroom.
How do I contact the Hickory Police Department?
Hickory Police headquarters is at 347 2nd Avenue SW. The city lists (828) 324-2060 as the administrative number and (828) 328-5551 for non-emergency communications. For a report, have the date, location, and any case number from your paperwork ready. In an emergency, call 911.
Who prosecutes Hickory cases?
The District Attorney for Prosecutorial District 36, which covers Catawba, Burke, and Caldwell Counties. Because one office handles all three, a person with charges in more than one part of the Hickory area deals with the same prosecutors. Tell your lawyer about every open case.
More local information
County page: Catawba County and Burke County (family law only) and Caldwell County (family law only).
Nearby cities: Mooresville.
See every county served by our Charlotte office.
This page provides general information about North Carolina law and local courts. It is not legal advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Court locations, hours, and procedures change; confirm details with the court or with us. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.