P14 2025-04J: Case Assignment LAO SCAO
Rescinds Administrative Orders 2016-06J (43rd Circuit Court) & 2016-06J (Cass County Probate Court).
IT IS ORDERED:
This administrative order is issued for the purposes of effective operation of the Circuit and Probate Courts, considering caseloads and efforts to develop and maintain subject matter expertise amongst the bench pursuant to authority given in MCR 8.110, 8.111, and 8.112.
1. Circuit Civil Cases
As of the effective date of this Local Administrative Order, all newly filed Circuit Court civil cases shall be assigned to the Circuit Court Judge. The Circuit Court Judge and Probate Court Judge shall create an agreed-upon transition plan to transition civil cases filed before the date of the local administrative order to the Circuit Court Judge that takes into consideration the status of the case(s) and docket availability.
2. Circuit Criminal Cases
As of the effective date of this Local Administrative Order, all newly filed Circuit Court criminal cases shall continue to be assigned to the Circuit Judge, and all current pending criminal cases shall continue as assigned to the Circuit Court Judge.
3. Divorces without children
As of the effective date of this Local Administrative Order, all newly filed Divorces Without Children cases shall be assigned to the Probate Court Judge with disqualifications or assignments due to the One-Family-One-Judge model being handled as outlined in the Cass County Courts’ Family Court Plan. The Circuit Court Judge and Probate Court Judge shall create an agreed-upon transition plan to transition pending cases filed before the date of the local administrative order to the Probate Court Judge that takes into consideration the status of the case(s) and docket availability.
4. All Domestic Relations Cases other than Divorces without children
As of the effective date of this Local Administrative Order, all newly filed Domestic Relations Cases other than Divorces Without Children shall be assigned to the Probate Court Judge as outlined in the Cass County Courts’ Family Court Plan. The Circuit Court Judge and Probate Court Judge shall create an agreed-upon transition plan to transition pending cases filed before the date of the local administrative order to the Probate Court Judge that takes into consideration the status of the case(s) and docket availability.
5. Disqualifications
When the Circuit Court Judge is disqualified from hearing a case, that case shall be reassigned to the Probate Judge. When the Probate Court Judge is disqualified from hearing a case, that case shall be reassigned to the Circuit Judge. If both the Circuit Court Judge and Probate Court Judge are disqualified, assignment procedures as dictated by the State Court Administrator’s Office will be followed.
6. Assignment of Cases
Any matter may be reassigned by the order of the Chief Judge upon his/her own motion or upon the request of others pursuant to the provisions of MCR 8.110 and MCR 8.111.
This Order shall be effective upon approval by the State Court Administrative Office.