D60 Explores Appreciative Inquiry as a Model for Change Management

By Patrick A. Finnegan, Court Administrator, 60th District Court (Muskegon County)

During the summer of 2016, the 60th District Court in Muskegon County was facing a number of significant challenges: an abrupt vacancy in the administrator position; budget constraints from the funding unit; significant employee turnover; diminishing morale among staff; and a general sense of uncertainty about the future.  In an effort to provide stability, maintain court operations, and lay a foundation for the future, Chief Judge Raymond J. Kostrzewa approached retired Region V Administrator Jim Hughes about the prospect of serving as interim administrator.  What Jim Hughes brought with him to the 60th District Court turned out to be more than a calming presence and 20 + years of court administration experience—he introduced to the court’s judges, managers, and staff to the concept of Appreciative Inquiry (AI).

Justice on a Planet with No Atmosphere

By Steve Capps, Director, Friend of the Court Bureau

Imagine you are on a planet with no atmosphere.  Much like our moon, there may be great mountains, stunning vistas, sweeping plains, and more beauty than you could ever imagine.  But with no atmosphere, your experience can never be complete because you are shielded by a spacesuit. 

Beat the Judge!

By The Honorable Robert S. Sykes, Ionia County Probate Court

The Michigan Code of Judicial Conduct allows judges to participate in extrajudicial, avocational, and civic activities provided such involvement does not detract from the dignity of the office or interfere with the performance of judicial duties.   

Five Years of Helping People with Legal Trouble: Another Milestone for Michigan Legal Help

By:  Martha Gove, Staff Attorney/Program and Outreach Coordinator, Michigan Legal Help Program

Can you believe we’re five years old this month? It seems like only yesterday that we were drafting our first articles and planning the original design of the Michigan Legal Help website.  Despite its youth, Michigan Legal Help (MLH) is recognized throughout the state as the single most reliable source for free, accurate, up-to-date tools and referrals for civil legal problems.  

Marshaling the Public Satisfaction Survey to Improve Services

By Jeff Albaugh, (Retired) Court Administrator, 37th Circuit Court (Calhoun County)

To say we were just a bit apprehensive when we learned that we would be required to periodically conduct a customer satisfaction survey -- and then would be encouraged to publicize the results -- is putting it mildly.  Who in their right mind would think it is a good idea to survey people about their experience when they just paid a traffic ticket, found out their child support is being raised, lost their small claims case, or completed their weekly probation visit?  On top of that, the survey gives them space to actually write comments!  Well, you get the picture. 

Certification of Michigan's Problem-Solving Courts

By Thomas Myers, SCAO Problem-Solving Court Analyst

Michigan’s problem-solving courts will — for the first time — become certified programs.  And that’s good news for Michigan, for the trial courts, and, most of all, for the participants in these programs.  But what does certification mean, why is it important, when does it go into effect, and how does a program achieve certification?

MSP Launches the Angel Program to Address Addiction

By Michigan State Police

The Michigan State Police (MSP) has joined a new nationwide movement that started in Gloucester, Massachusetts, in June 2015 when the Gloucester Police Department realized they could not arrest their way out of the opiate epidemic, and instead started inviting those needing treatment into their building to ask for help. 

On the ADR Horizon -- What the Current Literature Suggests

By Doug Van Epps, Director, Office of Dispute Resolution

Breaking with this column’s typical focus on current alternative dispute resolution (ADR) initiatives, the next few paragraphs will focus on recent publications that envision the possible roles of ADR in our trial courts in the near future. 

‘¿Por que?’ Why You Might Need a Registered Interpreter in Court

By Stacy Westra, Management Analyst, SCAO, Trial Court Services

Many people don’t realize it, but it is a reality that trial courts have established relationships with foreign language interpreters in their geographic locations.  These relationships have grown over time and, absent any outside challenge, continue today.  This is despite MCR 8.127(C) requiring all foreign language interpreters who are certified, qualified, and qualified employees to register with the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO). 

'We will never be the same, but we will serve': Honoring the Courthouse Heroes in Berrien County

By the Honorable Gary J. Bruce, Chief Judge, Berrien County Trial Court

For those of us that spend our days in the justice system, the work we do, while notable to the layperson, can seem mundane at times.  Likewise, while the activity in the courthouse may appear chaotic, it’s actually a well-orchestrated process in which each employee plays a part, many behind the scenes, getting cases ready for the decision-making process.  When litigants and attorneys at last enter the courtroom it may appear that the judge is at the helm guiding participants through the maze of statutes, rules, and procedures.  In fact, the director of this production, the one who prepares the set, gathers the actors, and calls out, “Action!” is the bailiff.  

Success Stories in the Courts: How Michigan Business Courts are Driving Change

By Jacklyn Thomas, MSC Public Information Office


Marking passage of legislation to fine-tune their jurisdiction, the Michigan Supreme Court has released a report highlighting the successful efforts of the state’s 16 business courts to facilitate timely, efficient, and consistent resolution of thousands of complex business cases. The report profiles four business court judges who are helping our state pioneer the expansion and continuous improvement of these innovative courts. The Michigan Senate has given final approval to legislation tailoring the courts’ jurisdiction, adding cases that can benefit from this specialized process and removing others that do not.

A Few Good Reasons to Consider Strategic Planning

By Zenell Brown, Executive Court Administrator, Third Circuit Court (Wayne County)

A Google search for “reasons for strategic planning” returns 7,650,000 results.  Concerns about the costs and the amount of time and resources required for strategic planning can overshadow all 7.65 million responses.

20th Circuit's Adult Drug Treatment Court Selected as Mentor Court

By Andy Brown, Program Coordinator, 20th Circuit Court (Ottawa County)

The 20th Judicial Circuit Adult Drug Treatment Court in Grand Haven (drug court), a specialty program for non-violent felony offenders with acute substance use disorders, has been selected as one of nine “mentor courts” in the United States by the Department of Justice and the National Association of Drug Court Professionals (NADCP).  This distinction is awarded to high-performing drug courts that demonstrate exemplary practices and operate with fidelity to the drug court model.

Third Circuit Court's Juvenile Mental Health Court Program Celebrates One-Year Anniversary with Graduation Ceremony

By The Honorable Edward J. Joseph, Third Circuit Court (Wayne County)

The Third Circuit Court’s Juvenile Mental Health Court, one of only six such programs in the state of Michigan, held its first graduation ceremony on March 8, 2017, at Michigan State University’s Detroit Center.  Four youth graduated from the program.  The celebration was attended by judges, clinical professionals, and administration throughout the Third Circuit Court.  The graduating participants received certificates of completion, and Jonathan Edison, a renowned motivational speaker, delivered the keynote address.  Summer employment opportunities were made available to the graduates.

New Bench Card Lists Top Reasons to Consider ADR in Each Case, and Also Best Practices

By Doug Van Epps, Director, Office of Dispute Resolution

Mediation is gradually replacing case evaluation as the default alternative dispute resolution (ADR) process in many courts.  It’s easy to see why.  SCAO’s studies have shown that mediation results in a case disposition rate of approximately 75 percent, compared to 22 percent for case evaluation. 

Electronic Docket Display: A 'Trial' Run

By Nicole Evans, Court Administrator, 54B District Court (East Lansing)

So what’s the big deal about having a monitor display a docket outside of a courtroom or in the lobby?  The 54B District Court was invited to participate in a JIS pilot of its electronic docket display in December 2016 and we piloted the docket display for two months to determine whether to implement its use as part of our daily operations.  We were fortunate to have existing equipment and a public Wi-Fi connection, which helped us obtain feedback from unrepresented parties, attorneys, judges, and staff. 

Hope Not Handcuffs Offers Solutions for Addicts Seeking Help

By The Honorable Linda Davis, 41B District Court (Clinton Township)

The heroin/prescription drug epidemic has become the number one health crisis in the United States, as more and more people fall prey to addiction.

Consider these startling facts: 

Establishing a Mental Health Treatment Court in a Large Region

By Judge Mark Luoma, 93rd District Court, Alger and Schoolcraft Counties

Back in 2015, a particular individual came before the 93rd District Court in Manistique.  The case was unusual because the defendant was autistic.  I will call him “Joe” to maintain confidentiality, but his story is not uncommon.  

What's 'Triage'? This and Other News from Michigan Legal Help

By Martha Gove, Staff Attorney/Program and Outreach Coordinator, Michigan Legal Help Program

The Michigan Legal Help website is approaching its fifth birthday in August 2017, and we’re pleased to share with you recent content updates, program news, and other exciting developments!

Staying Safe Online

MJI Publications

The MJI Publications Team continues to provide regularly-updated publications and improve its delivery of publications materials. What follows is a reader’s guide to understanding the MJI publications’ process.

From Sixth Grade To College in A Year: How Mental Health Court Helped Point One Participant in the Right Direction

By The Honorable Joseph S. Skocelas, 57th District Court, Allegan County

Josh Murphy was a tall, lanky 26-year-old who always came to the Allegan County Mental Health Treatment Court for his review hearings with a big smile on his face.  When he entered the mental health court program, he had a sixth grade education.

Making Peace in an Unlikely Place Through Alternative Dispute Resolution

By Kate Kesteloot-Scarbrough, Executive Director, Mediation & Restorative Services

Prison might not be the first place you think of when you imagine alternative dispute resolution, but more than 40 men at E.C. Brooks Correctional Facility in Muskegon have been trained as community mediators and they are making peace every day.

Community can mean a town or an intentional gathering of like-minded people, as in a church community or a work place.  It can also be a school or a neighborhood.  I suspect we rarely think of a prison as a community, but I would suggest that prisons are their own communities and they are part of our community, and that is why a Community Dispute Resolution Center trained men to become mediators at E.C. Brooks. 

Swift and Sure in 2016: Year in Review

By Thomas Myers, Management Analyst, SCAO, Trial Court Services

Last year was a big year for Michigan’s Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program.  Let’s look back at some highlights.

Justice 101: Educating our Youth on the Court System

By the Honorable Derek Meinecke, 44th District Court, Royal Oak

District courts are generally referred to as community courts because of their proximity to everyday citizens.  That puts district court judges in a unique and advantageous position to partner with local leaders and create projects that can make a real and substantial impact.  It is within this spirit of community cooperation that the “Justice 101” program was formed.

‘To Voir Dire or Not to Voir Dire’: That is the Question

By Stacy Westra, Management Analyst, SCAO, Trial Court Services

Doesn’t it seem ironic to begin a story about foreign language interpreters with a French legal term?  That may be, but it is necessary.  Failure to voir dire could jeopardize the successful appointment of a foreign language interpreter at the time of trial.  The term voir dire means “to speak the truth,” and while most often used when referring to the juror process, it is important to understand how it applies to foreign language interpreters.

Exploring Process: The Viewpoint of the Self-Represented Litigant

By Angela Tripp, Director, Michigan Legal Help Program, and
Martha Gove, Staff Attorney/Program & Outreach Coordinator, Michigan Legal Help Program

Sometimes the best way to understand how others experience your product is to be your own customer.  Michigan Legal Help staff recently conducted user testing to get real-time, in-person feedback about the website – its layout, wording, and the new features we’re adding.  Similarly, an attorney colleague recently used Michigan Legal Help to represent herself in her divorce, moving through the courts for the first time as a self-represented litigant instead of as an attorney.  What she had to say about the experience was as illuminating as any user testing we could have done, and speaks a great deal to the experiences of self-represented litigants.

State of MIchigan Passes 2016 Federal Title IV-E Review

By Casey Anbender, Management Analyst, SCAO, Child Welfare Services Division

The 2016 Federal Title IV-E Onsite Review took place last September in Lansing.  The state of Michigan was found to be in substantial compliance by the federal government, citing a total of three case errors from the 80 cases randomly selected for review statewide.[1]  The federal government reviews state Title IV-E Programs approximately once every three years to determine whether the case files, court orders, licensing requirements, and payment records meet federal Title IV-E requirements as outlined in 45 CFR §1356.71 and §472 of the Social Security Act.

Finding the ‘KEYS’ to Success for Kalamazoo Youth

By Joseph L. Thomas, III, Juvenile Services Supervisor
Kalamazoo County Circuit Court

In 2015, the Family Division staff of Kalamazoo County Circuit Court met to discuss ways of improving service delivery, while better meeting the needs of our court-involved youth.  Judges, referees, administrators, managers, and juvenile probation officers identified gaps in the lives of youths resulting in delinquent behavior.  The team created an exciting and innovative program called Kalamazoo Empowering Youth for Success (KEYS) as a potential remedy.  The program targets areas such as gender-specific programming, after-school supervision, vocational readiness and placement, educational and community supports, and improved decision-making skills.

Use SCAO MCAP Help Desk for Reports and More

Have you ever received an error message while running an output report from the Delay in Criminal Proceedings application?  Or wondered what steps you should take to submit your caseload verification?  The Michigan Court Application Portal (MCAP) Help Desk team is available to answer these and many other questions about the various reporting applications on MCAP.

Kevin's Law Resources

Videos and training materials covering the recent changes to the Mental Health Code are now available for probate court staff at https://mjieducation.mi.gov/videos/navigating and for judges at https://mjieducation.mi.gov/videos/navigating (judges may be logged into the judges-only area to view).

St. Clair County Friend of the Court Offers a Class to Fill in the Gaps for its Customers

By Renae Topolewski, St. Clair County Friend of the Court

Let’s face it: the friend of the court is not a place where one would ideally choose to spend their time.  It gets a bad name from the public and those it serves.  Most of us know of someone who has gone through the FOC and have heard complaints made about their local office.  The truth is, however, the friend of the court gets a bad name because it’s dealing with frustrated parents placed into a mandated process when dealing with matters of the utmost importance to them: their children and their finances.  While some things cannot be changed, we can improve the customer’s frustration level with the process.  Generally, the public’s perception of the FOC is that it is not customer-friendly and it is difficult to get anything accomplished from a customer service standpoint.

Exit, Pursued by a Bear: Why Peacemaking Makes Sense in State Court Justice Systems

©2016. First published in the Judge’s Journal, Vol. 55, No. 4, Fall 2016, by the American Bar Association. Reproduced with permission. All rights reserved. This information or any portion thereof may not be copied or disseminated in any form or by any means or stored in an electronic database or retrieval system without the express written consent of the American Bar Association or the copyright holder 

By the Honorable Timothy Connors, 22nd Circuit Court, Washtenaw County

For some, Shakespeare’s famous stage directive is more than a visual transition. It is a metaphorical recognition that we need to take a different path. The bear is our collective self. It represents how we too often respond to conflict between each other in our justice systems. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. observed: “If we do an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, we will be a blind and toothless nation.” In the end, the bear consumes us all.

Some believe that tribal court peacemaking offers us that alternative path. This path leaves us with our sensibilities intact and our better selves renewed. I speak now of our collective selves. I speak of a justice system that views the healing of controversy as an institutional foundation to its public responsibility. As a state court judge who has embraced peacemaking in our state courts, I am one of those who believe.

In 2013, our Michigan Supreme Court asked our county to explore tribal court peacemaking philosophies, principles, and procedures and report on whether state courts could benefit from what we learned from our tribal neighbors. We did.

And we can.