Circuit courts are the trial courts with the broadest powers in Michigan. In Michigan, circuit courts handle all felony criminal cases that could result in confinement to prison. They also deal with all civil cases for claims in excess of $25,000.00. There are 57 circuit courts in the state of Michigan. Judges are elected for six-year terms. In Michigan, circuit courts are divided into two divisions: general division and family division.
Organization
As of 2023, there are 57 judicial circuits that are set by the legislature. The number of judges in each circuit is set by the legislature. Since Michigan has 83 counties, some circuit courts cover several counties; judges elected in multi-county circuits must travel from one county to another to hold court.
To be eligible to be elected as a circuit court judge in Michigan, the person must be a qualified elector, a resident of the judicial circuit, a member of the Michigan Bar in good standing, and under the age of 70 years old.
Family Division The family division of the circuit court has exclusive jurisdiction over all family matters in the circuit, including adoptions, child support, custody, divorce, juvenile proceedings, name changes, parenting time, paternity, and personal protection orders.
Business Courts By statute, Michigan established business court dockets within all circuit courts having three or more judges. The statute lists case types of a business or commercial nature that fall within the business court's jurisdiction, as well as case types falling outside the business court's jurisdiction. There are currently 17 circuit courts with business court dockets, each of which is required to have a local administrative order addressing procedures in its business court. The business court judges in these circuits have issued hundreds of written opinions since the business court's inception. The Michigan judicial institute is required to provide training to the business court judges. The Michigan Bar Journal has a regular column addressing developments and practice in Michigan's business courts, Touring the Business Courts.
History In 1833, all the county courts in all counties in the territory of Michigan except Wayne were abolished and replaced by one circuit court of the territory of Michigan. In 1836, the state was divided into 3 circuits. The 1850 Michigan Constitution made the office of circuit court judges elected officials and set the term of office to six (6) years.
In 1908, the Constitution provided for judicial circuits which are drawn around county lines.
List List of Circuit Courts Court County Number of Judges Courthouse location(s) Image Source1st CircuitHillsdale1Court Website2nd CircuitBerrien133rd CircuitWayne614th CircuitJackson45th CircuitBarry26th CircuitOakland187th CircuitGenesee98th CircuitMontcalm and Ionia29th CircuitKalamazoo510th CircuitSaginaw511th CircuitLuce, Mackinac, Schoolcraft, and Alger112th CircuitHoughton, Baraga and Keweenaw113th CircuitLeelanau, Antrim and Grand Traverse214th CircuitMuskegon415th CircuitBranch216th CircuitMacomb1217th CircuitKent1018th CircuitBay319th CircuitBenzie, Manistee120th CircuitOttawa421st CircuitIsabella222nd CircuitWashtenaw523rd CircuitIosco, Arenac, Alcona, Oscoda324th CircuitSanilac125th CircuitMarquette226th CircuitAlpena, Montmorency127th CircuitOceana, Newaygo228th CircuitWexford, Missaukee129th CircuitGratiot, Clinton230th CircuitIngham731st CircuitSt. Clair332nd CircuitOntonagon, Gogebic233rd CircuitCharlevoix134th CircuitOgemaw, Roscommon135th CircuitShiawassee136th CircuitVan Buren337th CircuitCalhoun438th CircuitMonroe339th CircuitLenawee240th CircuitLapeer241st CircuitIron, Dickinson, Menominee342nd CircuitMidland243rd CircuitCass144th CircuitLivingston245th CircuitSt. Joseph146th CircuitOtsego, Crawford, Kalkaska247th CircuitDelta148th CircuitAllegan249th CircuitOsceola, Mecosta250th CircuitChippewa151st CircuitMason, Lake352nd CircuitHuron153rd CircuitCheboygan, Presque Isle154th CircuitTuscola155th CircuitClare, Gladwin256th CircuitEaton357th CircuitEmmet1
References
External links Michigan Courts at Mi.Gov