Michigan Supreme Court

The courts of Michigan comprise one of the three great constitutional institutions of our state, the judicial branch.  These courts—district, probate, circuit and appellate—are each responsible for maintaining and preserving the responsible and equal rule of law in Michigan while ensuring that our system of justice is made readily and fairly available to all of the people of our state.

In a democracy such as ours in which the judiciary is elected by the people, it is critical that “we the people” are informed of the operations and decisions of their courts.  It has been an important mission of this Court  that these operations and decisions be made as transparent as possible.  This website is designed to assist in that effort.  You are also invited to visit the Hall of Justice in Lansing across the mall from the State Capitol and at the corner of Allegan and Martin Luther King Boulevard.  In particular, we call to your attention the Learning Center within the Hall which has become a regular stop for students and classes touring the capitol city.

Visit the Hall of Justice and its Learning Center, tour the nearby Michigan Historical Center, or watch an appellate argument before the Court of Appeals or the Supreme Court.  Each of these experiences, I am confident, will remind you of the role that the rule of law plays in our democratic, representative and constitutional form of government, as well as in furthering the great aims of government etched at the front entrance of the Hall, “freedom, truth, equality and justice.”

 

 

  

 

​The Clerk’s Office is pleased to announce the availability of the Supreme Court’s Internal Operating Procedures (IOPs) that interpret and implement the Subchapter 7.300 court rules.  The IOPs are bookmarked and include a hyperlinked table of contents and index for easier navigation. 

 

MCR 7.300 IOPs​ (PDF version)

 

 

 

Civil and Criminal Pro Per Application Forms​

The Clerk’s Office of the Michigan Supreme Court has designed two forms for use by unrepresented litigants in preparing applications for leave to appeal in civil and criminal cases. The forms satisfy the formatting and structural requirements of the court rules if they are completed in accordance with the accompanying instructions. The instructions and forms are not intended to provide legal advice on whether you should file the application, what factual information you should include, or what issues you should raise and argue. Providing these forms should not be viewed as encouraging anyone to act in propria persona (i.e., without the assistance of counsel) in the Supreme Court. There are many strategic and procedural decisions that must be made during the appeal process, and an attorney’s assistance might be critical to the success of your application. ​

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Michigan Supreme Court Rules of Etiquette & Conduct

  

The Michigan Supreme Court's Rules of Etiquette and Conduct is a two-page brochure that provides important information to practitioners and members of the general public about properly conducting one's self inside the Michigan Hall of Justice, especially while observing or participating in oral arguments in the Supreme Court courtroom.

 

  

Oral Argument Guide

Attorneys who appear for oral arguments before the Michigan Supreme Court have a valuable new resource: a comprehensive guide on preparing for and arguing their cases. The Guide for Counsel in Cases to Be Argued in the Michigan Supreme Court was prepared by Supreme Court staff with extensive input from several prominent appellate practitioners. Topics include preparation for oral argument, filing, brief writing tips, oral argument procedures, and more. It is especially designed for those attorneys making their first appearance before the Court. The guide includes general information plus a directory of offices and programs. Click on the icon (left) to open the guide.

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