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The Supreme Court Clerk's Office is currently closed to the public.  Filers may leave their documents at the front security desk in the Hall of Justice and they will be delivered to the Clerk’s Office. If you need to meet with someone in the Clerk's Office during your visit, you must phone the office at (517) 373-0120 to make an appointment in advance.


 
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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​Court Calendar

Schedule of Cases to Be Argued Download ​Case Statistics​​​​

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What's New

No. 162891, ​In re Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission for State Legislative and Congressional District's Duty to Redraw Districts by November 1, 2021.

This is an original action filed by the Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission and the Secretary of State, petitioning the Supreme Court to extend the redistricting process deadlines due to the delay in receiving the 2020 census results from the U.S. Census Bureau.  

Petition

Brief in support of petition


​No. 162949, Unlock Michigan v Board of State Canvassers

The plaintiffs filed this original action seeking to compel the defendants to certify the signatures on their initiative petitions.

Complaint for Mandamus

Brief in support of complaint ​



Dates of the 2021 Appellate Defender Commission meetings​

 

Ordering Certificates of Good Standing by Email

Effective immediately, the Supreme Court Clerk's Office will accept requests for Certificates of Good Standing by email, 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​.


 

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.​

  

​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.  
 

Forms for Self-Represented Litigants​

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 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 Self-Represented Litigants 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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Court Hours

8:30AM-5:00PM

Monday-Friday

ADA Coordinator

Peggy Ruiz-Helmic

Ruiz-HelmicP@courts.mi.gov​

 

​Recent Decisions 

 

 Opinions

 
 

 Orders of Note

 

Mailing Address:

PO Box 30052

Lansing, MI 48909 

Street Address:

Michigan Hall of Justice

925 W. Ottawa Street

Lansing, MI 48915 

Phone: (517) 373-0120

Driving Directions

Court Holidays

FAQs 

 

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View the Michigan Supreme Court's Rules of Etiquette & Conduct?

 

View the Michigan Appellate Opinion Manual?

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