District court magistrates do not have the authority to conduct formal hearings. “A formal hearing shall be conducted only by a judge of a court having jurisdiction over civil infraction actions under [MCL 257.741(2)].” MCL 257.747(1).
A formal hearing must be held upon the express request of a party, or if the violation involves a railway municipal civil infraction which requires a formal hearing pursuant to MCL 600.8717(4). MCR 4.101(F)(1). See also MCL 257.745(5) (when the defendant wishes to deny responsibility, “[t]he court shall schedule an informal hearing, unless the person expressly requests a formal hearing”).
For information about formal hearing procedure, see MCL 257.747 and the Michigan Judicial Institute’s Traffic Benchbook, Chapter 1.