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| Michigan Court Records- Listed below is contact information and/or links to websites containing resources to help in a search for Michigan court records. | |||
| Michigan Courts Systems and Public Records Search | |||
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Serving a population of more than 10 million people, the Michigan court system nonetheless declares itself to be “One Court of Justice.” Judicial power in Michigan is vested exclusively in one court of justice, which shall be divided into one supreme court, one court of appeals, one trial court of general jurisdiction known as the circuit court, one probate court, and courts of limited jurisdiction that the legislature may establish by two-thirds vote of the members elected to and serving in each house. Michigan Supreme Court The state’s court of last resort consists of seven justices who are elected to eight-year terms. Candidates are nominated by political parties, but elected on a nonpartisan ballot. Two justices are selected every two years (only one in the eighth year of each cycle), during November elections. Candidates must be qualified electors, licensed to practice law in Michigan for at least five years, and under 70 years of age at the time of election. Every two years, the justices select one of their own to serve as chief justice. Since 2005, the chief justice has been Clifford W. Taylor. The Michigan Supreme Court convenes in a term that begins Aug. 1 and runs through July 31 of the following year. The court hears oral arguments in Lansing beginning in October of each term. Decisions are reached throughout the term, following oral arguments. Each year, the Supreme Court receives more than 2,000 applications for leave to appeal from litigants, usually seeking review of decisions by the Michigan Court of Appeals. Each justice is responsible for reviewing each case to determine whether it should be heard. Cases accepted for oral argument may be decided by an order, with or without a court opinion. Orders might affirm or reverse the court of appeals’ decision, might remand a case to a trial court, or might adopt a correct Court of Appeals decision. The Supreme Court’s authority to hear cases is discretionary. The court grants leave to cases considered to be of great complexity and public import, where additional briefing and oral argument are essential to reaching a just outcome. In addition to its judicial duties, the Supreme Court is responsible for general administrative supervision of all courts in the state. It also establishes the rules for practice and procedure in all Michigan courts. Information on court opinions, Supreme Court orders and docket sheets, court rules and links to the public information office of the court are among the many resources available online. Michigan Court of Appeals Four courts comprise the Michigan Court of Appeals system, created by the state constitution of 1963. The courts of appeal began operations in 1965, with the bench at the Court of Appeals comprised of nine judges. Offices were originally located only in Lansing (District 4), Detroit (District 1) and Grand Rapids (District 3), but a Southfield office was opened in 1994 and later moved to Troy (now District 2) in 2004. In 1969, the state legislature expanded the size of the bench to 12 judges, and then to 18 judges in 1974, 24 judges in 1988 and ultimately the current roster of 28 judges in 1993. Michigan’s Court of Appeals has been an innovator in the judicial realm. Its central staff of research attorneys was the first of its kind in the country. Its mainframe docket computer system was a national prototype when first implemented in 1978; that mainframe served until July 1999. The court’s Internal Operating Procedures are of great value to the Michigan bar and their use of attorneys and individuals appearing before the court in pro per has improved the court’s ability to resolve each case smoothly and quickly. Michigan Circuit Courts There are 57 circuit courts in Michigan, with judges elected to six-year terms. Circuit courts are the trial courts with the broadest powers in the state. In general, the circuit court will handle all civil cases with claims of more than $25,000 and any criminal case where the defendant could be sent to prison. The family divisions of the circuit courts handles all divorce, paternity, spousal or child support, juvenile delinquency, child abuse and neglect, personal protection orders, emancipation, name changes, safe delivery of newborns, adoption and parental rights waiver cases. The circuit courts also hear cases appealed from other trial courts or administrative agencies. Not all Michigan circuit courts have extensive Web sites with online access to records. Those that do have Web sites and online record access are listed at the state court system’s Web site. Web links offer “self-help” to Internet users on the circuit court topics of domestic relations, emancipation of minors, garnishment of wages, name changes, personal protection orders, seizure of property and orders for testing of infectious diseases. Michigan District Courts Michigan’s district courts are often called “the people’s court.” More individuals have contact with the district court system than any other court in Michigan. These courts handle most traffic violations and hear both criminal and civil cases including small claims and landlord-tenant disputes. Civil disputes seeking monetary damages cannot exceed $25,000 in district court. All criminal cases involving suspects aged 17 and above originate in district court. The court explains the charge to the defendant, details the defendant’s rights and lists the potential consequences if convicted. The court also sets and collects bail. If the crime is a misdemeanor not punishable by more than a year in jail, the district court will conduct a trial and hand down the sentence should the defendant be found guilty. In felony cases, usually those punishable by more than a year in prison, the district court will set the bail amount and hold a preliminary hearing to determine probable cause to believe that a crime was committed, and committed by the defendant, before transferring the case to circuit court. There are roughly 100 district courts in Michigan, with judges elected to serve six-year terms. District Court self-help directions include the topics of garnishment of wages, landlord-tenant disputes and seizure of property. Michigan's Probate Court Probate courts in Michigan handle wills, administer estates and trusts, appoints guardians and conservators and orders treatment for the mentally ill and developmentally disabled. There are 79 probate courts in Michigan, with judges elected to six-year terms. Self-help for individuals with cases in the probate courts include: conservatorship; filing wills for safekeeping; estates; guardianship; mental commitment; protective orders; and registration of birth. Michigan Drug Treatment Court Michigan statute provides for “a court supervised treatment program for individuals who abuse or are dependent upon any controlled substance or alcohol.” Drug Treatment Court is specially designed to rehabilitate defendants and reduce recidivism and substance abuse among nonviolent offenders. An emerging issue in the drug courts is the litany of family problems brought on by substance abuse. Among other functions, family drug courts have been established to stop the cycle of abuse and neglect in families stricken by drug abuse, to provide parents with life and “survival” skills, to respond to dependency issues, provide a continuum of treatment and services, to reduce future incidents of abuse and neglect and to identify appropriate and timely permanent placements for children affected by parental drug abuse. Michigan Court of Claims The Michigan Court of Claims is part of the 30th Circuit Court, located in Ingham County. The court is a specialized venue with jurisdiction only over claims worth more than $1,000 filed against the state of Michigan or one of its departments. Claims for less than $1,000 are filed with the State Administrative Board. The court of claims might combine similar cases into one hearing. There is a fee for filing a case in the Court of Claims. All trials are heard by a single judge, not a jury. More extensive information on all Michigan courts is available at http://courts.mi.gov/.
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| Michigan Courts Online Web Site Access Public Records Search | |||
55th District Court for Ingham County 61st District Court, Grand Rapids 67th District Court, County of Genesee 89th District Court, Cheboygan Calhoun County Courts Home Page United States Bankruptcy Court - Eastern District of Michigan United States District Court - Western District of Michigan United States District Court - Eastern District of Michigan Michigan's 36th District Court - Search abandoned vehicle petitions. Find traffic, civil, small claims, real estate and criminal records information. Michigan Supreme Court Clerk's Office - Find useful information on how a case is decided, filing requirements and Supreme Court opinions and dockets. Michigan Trial Court - Search the trial Court Directory as well as court maps and court links. Michigan Court of Appeals - Search tools for the Michigan Court of Appeals including docket numbers, party names, attorney cases and time calculators. Michigan Court of Appeals - Opinion Search Options with Docket, Field, and Text Searches. State Bar of Michigan - A variety of informative resources such as court opinions, ethics opinions, law schools, legal forms, research resources and libraries. The University of Michigan Library - Documents center for laws, regulations and court system information. |
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| Michigan County Courthouses, Addresses and Phone Numbers | |||
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