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WHAT'S NEW 
(Bypass Applicati​ons No. 161333, Martinko v Governor and No. 161377, House of Representatives v Governor)


​​administrative order 2020-4 tolls The filing deadlines for documents in the Supreme Court and Court of appeals until the expiration of executive order 2020-100​.  
Administrative Order 2020-4​ has the effect of freezing, or not starting, the times for filing applications, original actions, briefs, answers, replies, motions, etc. with the Supreme Court for the period that the governor's latest "stay at home" order, Executive Order 2020-100, is in effect.  
 
That is, you will have the same number of days to file your document when the "stay at home" order expires on June 12 that you did on March 24 when the original "stay at home" order, Executive Order 2020-21, took effect. Time periods that would otherwise begin during the period of the "stay at home" order will not start until the expiration of the order on June 12.  If a new deadline falls on a weekend or Court holiday, the filing will be considered timely if filed on the next business day.  The AO’s provisions apply to all filing deadlines that are provided by appellate rule.​  
 
To the extent possible, filers are encouraged to file their documents even during the "stay at home" period to minimize the delay in processing cases once the period is over.  ​If you have a specific question on how AO 2020-4 affects your filing deadline, please phone the Clerk's Office at (517) 373-0120.  
 

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Click HERE​ for information about having the new attorney Oath of Admission administered remotely.
 
 

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Clerk's Office of the Michigan Supreme Court will be closed to filers starting on Monday, March 23.  If you need to file a hard copy document, it can be dropped off at the front security desk in the Hall of Justice.  Staff of the Clerk's Office will retrieve the filings periodically and will docket them as being received on the day they are dropped off.  During the period of the closure, there will also be limited phone availability.  Please leave a voicemail message and someone will return the call as soon as possible.  

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Stop Coronavirus

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Click link for the judicial branch's response to the COVID-19 outbreak.


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A message fro​m 

Chief Justice Bridget M. Mc​Cormack

Welcome to the Michigan Supreme Court.

 

My colleagues and I are privileged to serve the people of the state of Michigan.  Our role in Michigan’s system of government demands that we interpret the law​ dispassionately, ensure that justice is available to everyone, remain responsive to the needs of our communities, and resolve disputes efficiently.  We take these responsibilities seriously.  

 

To those ends, our work is guided by four fundamental principles.


INDEPENDENCE.  Unlike the executive and legislative branches, the judicial branch is nonpartisan.  This means that politics must not inform our work.  Our judicial decisions must be based instead on neutral application of the law.   

 

ACCESSIBILITY.  Justice must be available to everyone, not just to those who can afford it.  We must work diligently to ensure that our courts are open to all.  This means we will continue to search for new ways to remove barriers to our judicial system.

 

ENGAGEMENT.  The judiciary must also be adaptive to the needs of those it serves, and attuned to the problems and concerns of the communities that most depend on our work.  This means that judges must be willing to engage with civic organizations and community leaders to ensure that we are responsive to the needs of those we serve.

 

EFFICIENCY.  The judiciary also must be careful stewards of public resources.  This means we must provide the best possible service to the individuals and businesses that appear before us.  We must not lose sight of the time and money at stake in any judicial proceeding.  We will continue to find ways to serve the public as efficiently as practicable. 

 

These fundamental principles inform the opinions and orders we issue in cases that come before us, the administrative rules that govern how Michigan courts operate, and our management of the state’s trial courts.

 

While we are proud of the work the Michigan Supreme Court does, we must always aim to do better.  Going forward, we will continue to look for ways to serve you better.  Michigan’s judiciary will do all we can to serve the people of our great state.  


 

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What's New

Bypass Application in No. 161333, Martinko v Governor

Given the amount of public interest in this case, the pleadings are posted below:

Bypass Application

AT Appendices

Motion for Immediate Consideration

Answer

AE Appendices​


Bypass Application in No. 161377, House of Representatives v Governor

Bypass Application

Motion for Immediate Consideration​

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Ordering Certificates of Good Standing by Email or Phone

Effective immediately, the Supreme Court Clerk's Office will accept requests for Certificates of Good Standing by email or phone, and paid with a credit or debit card, using this FORM.  If the purpose of the certificate does not require it to be issued by the Supreme Court, you should consider ordering the State Bar's version of the certificate, which can be ordered online at no charge for the present time. The webpage for ordering the SBM's certificate is https://www.michbar.org/programs/cogs.

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Mandatory E-Filing for ​Attorneys: 

Effective February 1, 2020, attorneys are required to make all filings with the Michigan Supreme Court and Michigan Court of Appeals electronically using the MiFILE system unless excused by court order upon a motion for good cause.  See revised Administrative Order 2014-13​.


2019 Michigan Appellate Bench Bar Conference Summary Report

The 2019 Michigan Appellate Bench Bar Conference Committee recently issued a press release announcing that the Conference Summary Report is now available.  The Report may be found online here: 2019 Michigan Appellate Bench Bar Conference Summary Report​.


E-Briefs

Beginning on October 23, 2019, filers may submit electronic briefs with the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals that are formatted to accommodate viewing on electronic displays and that allow for a maximum word count instead of a page limitation.  Click HERE to read Administrative Order 2019-6:

 

MiFILE for Supreme Court and Court of Appeals

On September 6, 2019, the Michigan Supreme Court and Court of Appeals transitioned from TrueFiling to MiFILE, the statewide e-filing system that is used by several state trial courts. You need to be aware of the following information and take the necessary steps so that you can use the MiFILE system for appellate court filings:

 

Internal Operating Procedures (IOPs)

​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 only)

 

Please provide any comments or suggestions regarding the IOPs to the Clerk’s Office by email at MSC_Clerk@courts.mi.gov or by phone at (517) 373-0120.​

  

​New and Improved Administrative Orders

The Administrative Orders of the Supreme Court​ are more user friendly thanks to several enhancements, including a table of contents and a subject matter index.  The table of contents lists the numbers and titles of the Administrative Orders and identifies those that have been rescinded by subsequent Court order.  Both the table of contents and the index are hyperlinked so you can quickly jump to a specific order.  
 

Pro Se Forms​

The Clerk’s Office of the Michigan Supreme Court has designed two forms for use by self-represented 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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Forms for the most common types of motions, for a proof of service, and for a notice of filing are available on the Pro Se Forms page.  Attorneys are also welcome to use the forms. 


Oral Argument Guide

image: Guide for CounselAttorneys 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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ADA Coordinator

Abigail Tithof

TithofA@courts.mi.gov 

 

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