What Are The Functions Of Michigan Circuit Court?

The Michigan Circuit Court is the highest trial court in the state and has broad jurisdiction over civil, criminal, and family cases. The court is divided into judicial circuits and has 57 locations in the state. The Circuit Court also has appellate jurisdiction over cases from the Michigan District or Municipal Courts, local government boards, and administrative agencies. Although the Circuit Court has separate divisions, court practices and processes are uniform across courts and are carried out as provided in the Local Court Rules and Michigan Court Rules (MCR).

Article VI § 13 of the state’s constitution authorizes the Michigan Circuit Court to hear and dispose of the following cases for which it has original and appellate jurisdiction:

• Original jurisdiction: The Circuit Court has jurisdiction over civil cases where the amount in claims exceeds $25,000 and felony criminal cases. Domestic/juvenile cases are handled by the family division of the circuit court and include matters involving:
• Domestic relations: including divorce, support, paternity, child custody, and parenting time
• Juvenile matters: adoption, delinquency, guardianship, emancipation, child abuse and neglect, child protection, and other juvenile offenses
• Other family matters: including personal protection actions, name changes, treatment/testing of infectious diseases, and safe delivery of newborns

• Appellate jurisdiction: As given by MCR 7.103, the Circuit Court’s appellate jurisdiction extends to cases from the state’s District Courts and the final judgments and orders of certain administrative agencies. The court hears both appeals of right and by leave. Appeals of right that may be filed in the court include:
• Final orders/judgments of the District or Municipal courts (excluding judgments from guilty pleas)
• Final orders/decisions of administrative agencies
• Any final order/decision that, as provided by law, may be appealed to the Circuit Court

Appeals by leave are permission requests to file an appeal in the Circuit Court. A leave of appeal may be filed when a party is not given the right to appeal under Michigan statutes or constitution, and when the appeal was not filed within given time limits (21 days). Appeals by leave heard by the court include:

• Final orders/judgments and interlocutory orders of administrative agencies
• Late appeals from administrative agencies, where the appeal is authorized by law
• Parole decision of the Michigan Parole Board
• Any final orders/judgment that may be appealed by leave as provided by law

The Circuit Court also handles cases that are outside the jurisdiction of the other trial courts. Because the court hears and resolves different types of civil, family, and criminal cases, and appeals, the length of time a case may take from filing or arraignment to disposition or adjudication varies. Civil and criminal proceedings in the Circuit Court are conducted as directed by the Civil and Criminal Procedures. These procedures may be viewed in the Michigan Court Rules or by a specific circuit in the Local Court Rules. The court’s appellate procedure is established under Subchapter 7.100 of the state’s court rules handbook.

In Michigan, Circuit Court judges remain in office for six years. Judges are nominated from the judicial circuits in which they reside and are elected at non-partisan elections. To qualify for election to the post of a Circuit Court judge, a candidate must:

• Be a registered and qualified voter within the circuit of residence and prospective office;
• Be licensed to practice law and must have been admitted to the practice for at least five years;
• Be under 70 years old.

Each judicial circuit consists of one to four courts located in the state’s counties. However, some circuits may have two or more judges. For instance, the third judicial circuit, the largest Circuit Court in the state, has 58 judges in its three divisions.

The Michigan Supreme Court selects chief judges of the Circuit Court to oversee the court’s operations, and the chief judges may select the chief judges pro tempore if the Supreme Court does not do so. All Circuit Court judges are mandated by law to comply with the Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct’s rules. Judges who violate these rules may be censured, suspended, removed, or retired.

The Michigan Circuit Court does not provide a singular system like the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals, where court dockets and case information may be conveniently searched or viewed. Instead, the individual divisions of the court provide docket information on their official websites. This information may also be obtained via the judicial circuits’ websites. Available docket information includes the party’s name, time of a hearing, case number, and other hearing information, such as the place of a hearing. A way to find Michigan courts’ or circuits’ websites is through the Trial Court Directory.

The Michigan Circuit Court has 57 divisions that handle civil, family, or criminal cases, and appeals at the following addresses:

Alcona County

23rd Circuit Court

Alcona County Courthouse

106 5th Street

Harrisville, MI 48740

Phone: (989) 724–9400

Alger County

11th Circuit Court

101 Court Street

Munising, MI 49862

Phone: (906) 387–2076

Allegan County

48th Circuit Court

Allegan County Building

113 Chestnut Street

Allegan, MI 49010

Phone: (269) 673–0300

Alpena County

26th Circuit Court

Alpena County Courthouse

720 West Chisholm Street

Alpena, MI 49707

Phone: (989) 354–9573

Antrim County

13th Circuit Court

PO Box 520

Antrim County Courthouse

205 Cayuga

Bellaire, MI 49615

Phone: (231) 533–6353

Arenac County

23rd Circuit Court

Arenac County Courthouse

120 North Grove

Standish, MI 48658

Phone: (989) 846–6131

Baraga County

12th Circuit Court

Baraga County Courthouse

16 North Third Street

L’Anse, MI 49946

Phone: (906) 524–6183

Barry County

5th Circuit Court

Courthouse

220 West State Street

Hastings, MI 49058

Phone: (269) 945–1286

Bay County

18th Circuit Court

1230 Washington Avenue

Bay City, MI 48708

Phone: (989) 895–4265

Benzie County

19th Circuit Court

PO Box 377

448 Court Place

Beulah, MI 49617

Phone: (231) 882–9671

Berrien County

2nd Circuit Court

Berrien County Courthouse

811 Port Street

St. Joseph, MI 49085

Phone: (269) 983–7111

Branch County

15th Circuit Court

Branch County Courthouse

31 Division Street

Coldwater, MI 49036

Phone: (517) 279–4304

Calhoun County

37th Circuit Court

Calhoun County Justice Center

161 East Michigan Avenue

Battle Creek, MI 49014

Phone: (269) 969–6530

Cass County

43rd Circuit Court

Law and Courts Building

60296 M–62

Cassopolis, MI 49031

Phone: (269) 445–4412

Charlevoix County

33rd Circuit Court

Charlevoix County Building

301 State Street

Charlevoix, MI 49720

Phone: (231) 547–7243

Cheboygan County

53rd Circuit Court

PO Box 70

Cheboygan County Building

870 South Main Street

Cheboygan, MI 49721

Phone: (231) 627–8818

Chippewa County

50th Circuit Court

Chippewa County Courthouse

319 Court Street

Sault Suite

Marie, MI 49783

Phone (906) 635–6338

Clare County

55th Circuit Court

Clare County Courthouse

225 West Main

Harrison, MI 48625

Phone: (989) 539–7131

Clinton County

29th Circuit Court

Clinton County Courthouse

100 East State Street

St. Johns, MI 48879

Phone: (989) 224–5130

Crawford County

46th Circuit Court

Crawford County Courthouse

200 West Michigan Avenue

Grayling, MI 49738

Phone: (989) 348–2841

Delta County

47th Circuit Court

Delta County Building

310 Ludington Street

Escanaba, MI 49829

Phone: (906) 789–5103

Dickinson County

41st Circuit Court

PO Box 609

Dickinson County Courthouse

705 South Stephenson Street

Iron Mountain, MI 49801

Phone: (906) 774–2266

Eaton County

56th Circuit Court

Eaton County Courthouse

1045 Independence Boulevard

Charlotte, MI 48813

Phone: (517) 543–7500

Emmet County

57th Circuit Court

Emmet County Building

200 Division

Petoskey, MI 49770

Phone: (231) 348–1748

Genesee County

7th Circuit Court

Genesee County Courthouse

900 South Saginaw Street

Flint, MI 48502

Phone: (810) 424–4355

Genesee County (Division 2)

McCree Building

630 South Saginaw Street

Flint, MI 48502

Gladwin County

55th Circuit Court

Gladwin County Courthouse

401 West Cedar Avenue

Gladwin, MI 48624

Phone: (989) 426–9237

Gogebic County

32nd Circuit Court

Gogebic County Courthouse

200 North Moore Street

Bessemer, MI 49911

Phone: (906) 663–4211

Grande Traverse County

13th Circuit Court

Grand Traverse County Courthouse

328 Washington Street

Traverse City, MI 49684

Phone: (231) 922–4701

Gratiot County

29th Circuit Court

Gratiot County Courthouse

214 East Center Street

Ithaca, MI 48847

Phone: (989) 875–5224

Hillsdale County

1st Circuit Court

Courthouse

29 North Howell

Hillsdale, MI 49242

Phone: (517) 437–4321

Houghton County

12th Circuit Court

Houghton County Courthouse

401 East Houghton Avenue

Houghton, MI 49931

Phone: (906) 482–5420

Huron County

52nd Circuit Court

Huron County Building

250 East Huron

Bad Axe, MI 48413

Phone: (989) 269–7112

Ingham County

30th Circuit Court

PO Box 40771

Veterans Memorial Courthouse

313 West Kalamazoo Street

Lansing, MI 48901

Phone: (517) 483–6500

30th Circuit Court (Division 2)

PO Box 319

Courthouse

315 South Jefferson

Mason, MI 48854

Phone: (517) 483–6500

Ionia County

8th Circuit Court

Ionia County Courthouse

100 West Main Street

Ionia, MI 48846

Phone: (616) 527–5315

Iosco County

23rd Circuit Court

PO Box 609

Iosco County Building

422 Lake

Tawas City, MI 48764

Phone: (989) 362–3485

Iron County

41st Circuit Court

Iron County Courthouse

2 South Sixth Street

Crystal Falls, MI 49920

Phone: (906) 875–0659

Isabella County

21st Circuit Court

Isabella County Courthouse

300 North Main Street

Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858

Phone: (989) 772–0911

Jackson County

4th Circuit Court

312 South Jackson Street

Jackson, MI 49201

Phone: (517) 788–4268

Kalamazoo County

9th Circuit Court

Kalamazoo County Courthouse

227 West Michigan Avenue

Kalamazoo, MI 49007

Phone: (269) 383–8950

Kalkaska County

46th Circuit Court

PO Box 10

Kalkaska County Courthouse

605 North Birch

Kalkaska, MI 49646

Phone: (231) 258–3330

Kent County

17th Circuit Court

Kent County Courthouse

180 Ottawa Avenue, North West

Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Phone: (616) 632–5220

Keweenaw County

12th Circuit Court

Keweenaw County Courthouse

5095 Fourth Street

Eagle River, MI 49950

Phone: (906) 337–2229

Lake County

51st Circuit Court

Lake County

800 Tenth Street

Baldwin, MI 49304

Phone: (231) 745–4614

Lapeer County

40th Circuit Court

Lapeer County Complex

255 Clay Street

Lapeer, MI 48446

Phone: (810) 667–0320

Leelanau County

13th Circuit Court

8527 East Government Center Drive

Suttons Bay, MI 49682

Phone: (231) 256–9803

Lenawee County

39th Circuit Court

Rex B Martin Judicial Building

425 North Main Street

Adrian, MI 49221

Phone: (517) 264–4597

Livingston County

44th Circuit Court

204 South Highlander Way

Howell, MI 48843

Phone: (517) 546–8079

44th Circuit Court

Law Center

210 South Highlander Way

Howell, MI 48843

44th Circuit Court

2530 East Grand River

Howell, MI 48843

Luce County

11th Circuit Court

Luce County Government Building

407 West Harrie

Newberry, MI 49868

Phone: (906) 293–5521

Mackinac County

11th Circuit Court

Mackinac County Courthouse

100 Marley Street

St. Ignace, MI 49781

Phone: (906) 643–7300

Macomb County

16th Circuit Court

Macomb County Court Building

40 North Main

Mt. Clemens, MI 48043

Phone: (586) 469–5150

Manistee County

19th Circuit Court

415 3rd Street

Manistee, MI 49660

Phone: (231) 723–6664

Marquette County

25th Circuit Court

Courthouse

234 West Baraga

Marquette, MI 49855

Phone: (906) 225–8205

Mason County

51st Circuit Court

Mason County Courthouse

304 East Ludington Avenue

Ludington, MI 49431

Phone: (231) 845–0516

Mecosta County

49th Circuit Court

Mecosta County Courthouse

400 Elm Street

Big Rapids, MI 49307

Phone: (231) 592–0780

Menominee County

41st Circuit Court

Menominee County Courthouse

839 10th Avenue

Menominee, MI 49858

Phone: (906) 863–8981

Midland County

42nd Circuit Court

Midland County Courthouse

301 West Main Street

Midland, MI 48640

Phone: (989) 832–6657

Missaukee County

28th Circuit Court

PO Box 800

Missaukee County Courthouse

111 South Canal Street

Lake City, MI 49651

Phone: (231) 839–4967

Monroe County

38th Circuit Court

Monroe County Courthouse

106 East First Street

Monroe, MI 48161

Phone: (734) 240–7020

Montcalm County

8th Circuit Court

Montcalm County Courthouse

631 North State Street

Stanton, MI 48888

Phone: (989) 831–7363

Montmorency County

26th Circuit Court

PO Box 789

Montmorency County Courthouse

12265 M32

Atlanta, MI 49709

Phone: (989) 785–8022

Muskegon County

14th Circuit Court

Michael E. Kobza Hall of Justice

990 Terrace

Muskegon, MI 49442

Phone: (231) 724–6251

Newaygo County

27th Circuit Court

PO Box 885

Newaygo County Courthouse

1092 Newell

White Cloud, MI 49349

Phone: (231) 689–7269

Oakland County

6th Circuit Court

Courthouse Tower

1200 North Telegraph Road

Pontiac, MI 48341

Phone: (248) 858–0345

Oceana County

27th Circuit Court

Oceana County Building

100 South State Street

Hart, MI 49420

Phone: (231) 873–3977

Ogemaw County

34th Circuit Court

Ogemaw County Building

806 West Houghton Avenue

West Branch, MI 48661

Phone: (989) 345–0215

Ontonagon County

32nd Circuit Court

Ontonagon County Courthouse

725 Greenland Road

Ontonagon, MI 49953

Phone: (906) 884–4699

Osceola County

49th Circuit Court

Osceola County Courthouse

301 West Upton

Reed City, MI 49677

Phone: (231) 832–3261

49th Circuit Court

410 West Upton Avenue

Reed City, MI 49677

Oscoda County

23rd Circuit Court

Oscoda County Courthouse

311 Morenci

Mio, MI 48647

Phone: (989) 362–3485

23rd Circuit Court

105 South Court Street

Mio, MI 48647

Otsego County

46th Circuit Court

800 Livingston Boulevard

Gaylord, MI 49735

Phone: (989) 731–7500

46th Circuit Court

County Building

225 West Main Street

Gaylord, MI 49735

Phone: (989) 732–6484

Ottawa County

20th Circuit Court

Ottawa County Building

414 North Washington Avenue

Grand Haven, MI 49417

Phone: (616) 846–8320

20th Circuit Court

12185 James Street

Holland, MI 49424

Presque Isle County

53rd Circuit Court

PO Box 110

Presque Isle County

151 East Huron

Rogers City, MI 49779

Phone: (989) 734–3288

Roscommon County

34th Circuit Court

Roscommon County Courthouse

500 Lake Street

Roscommon, MI 48653

Phone: (989) 275–1902

Saginaw County

10th Circuit Court

Courthouse

111 South Michigan Avenue

Saginaw, MI 48602

Phone: (989) 790–5470

St. Clair County

31st Circuit Court

County Building

201 McMorran Boulevard

Port Huron, MI 48060

Phone: (810) 985–2031

St. Joseph County

45th Circuit Court

PO Box 189

St. Joseph County Courthouse

125 West Main

Centreville, MI 49032

Phone: (269) 467–5500

Sanilac County

24th Circuit Court

Sanilac County Courthouse

60 West Sanilac

Sandusky, MI 48471

Phone: (810) 648–2120

Schoolcraft County

11th Circuit Court

PO Box 186

Schoolcraft County Courthouse

300 Walnut

Manistique, MI 49854

Phone: (906) 341–3655

Shiawassee County

35th Circuit Court

208 North Shiawassee Street

Corunna, MI 48817

Phone: (989) 743–2239

Tuscola County

54th Circuit Court

Tuscola County Courthouse

440 North State Street

Caro, MI 48723

Phone: (989) 673–3330

Van Buren County

36th Circuit Court

Van Buren County Courthouse

212 Paw Paw Street

Paw Paw, MI 49079

Phone: (269) 657–8218

Washtenaw County

22nd Circuit Court

PO Box 8645

Courthouse

101 East Huron

Ann Arbor, MI 48107

Phone: (734) 222–3270

Wayne County

3rd Circuit Court (Division 1)

Coleman A. Young Municipal Center

2 Woodward Avenue

Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: (313) 224–5261

3rd Circuit Court (Division 2)

Frank Murphy Hall of Justice

1441 St. Antoine Street

Detroit, MI 48226

Phone: (313) 224–5261

3rd Circuit Court (Division 3)

Lincoln Hall of Justice

1025 East Forest Avenue

Detroit, MI 48207

Phone: (313) 833–5600

Wexford County

28th Circuit Court

Serving Wexford County

Wexford County Courthouse

437 East Division

Cadillac, MI 49601

Phone: (231) 779–9490