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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. Box 40771
Veterans Memorial Courthouse
313 West Kalamazoo Street
Lansing, MI 48901
Phone: (517) 483–6500

30th Circuit Court (Division 2)
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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
P.O. 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