Justice Requires Timely Access to Treatment

By Milton L. Mack, Jr., State Court Administrator

Diana was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, anxiety, and depression shortly after her son’s birth.  Her condition deteriorated when her daughter was born a year later and ultimately culminated with an arrest and three days in jail.  Diana eventually received the mental health treatment she required and both her children have gone on to excel in school.  While Diana’s recovery is heartwarming, her story highlights our mental health system’s inability to effectively respond to mental illness before individuals are arrested, lose parental rights, or suffer some other type of crisis.  Put simply, our current legal framework operates as an “inpatient model in an outpatient world.” 

36th District Court Promotes and Rewards Employee Engagement

By Kelli Moore Owen, Court Administrator, 36th District Court (Detroit)

“A new idea becomes a great idea when you let it out.” – Unknown

The 36th District Court revamped its intranet (the HUB) and added a new feature that allows employees to submit their comments, complaints, and suggestions via the HUB either anonymously or signed.  

The Evolution of the Phoenix Court for Youth Victims of Human Trafficking

By:  Scott LeRoy, Deputy Court Administrator
        Annette Ellison, Clinical Social Worker
        Rebecca Stowell, Senior Juvenile Court Officer

In early 2017, the Juvenile Division of the 30th Judicial Circuit Court embarked on developing a treatment court to address the issue of sexual exploitation and commercial trafficking of Ingham County youth.  As the plan unfolded, the court realized that this challenging work would require a multidisciplinary approach.  After months of research, training, site visits, and technical assistance through the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO), Phoenix Court began.  The court, formed by the vision of Judge Laura Baird, is a collaboration between the Circuit Court Juvenile Division, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, the Ingham County Prosecutor’s Office, and privately contracted attorneys.

Online Dispute Resolution: Part 2

By Doug Van Epps, Director, Office of Dispute Resolution

Part 1 of this article discussed the key features of Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) systems and the most common goals courts have in providing ODR services.  This article focuses on a pilot project by the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) to make ODR available in small claims, general civil, landlord/tenant, and neighborhood disputes using the network of 18 Community Dispute Resolution Program (CDRP) centers across the state.

MichiganLegalHelp.org and the Ideal Referral

By Ramzi Badwi, Program and Outreach Coordinator, Michigan Legal Help Program

The Michigan Legal Help Program (MLHP) has enjoyed a great relationship with Michigan courts for some time.  Many self-represented litigants need assistance that court staff are not able to provide, so a referral to MichiganLegalHelp.org makes perfect sense.  That being said, MichiganLegalHelp.org is not ideal for every legal issue, nor for every scenario possible within a particular legal issue.  We’d like to share some information about what services the website provides, what types of content the website covers, and who may be a good candidate for handling their legal problems with MichiganLegalHelp.org.

Jury Service and Secondary Trauma

By The Honorable Margaret Bakker, Chief Judge, 48th Circuit Court (Allegan County)


There is no doubt that the horrific evidence sometimes presented in court can have an emotional impact on the listener.  Secondary trauma is a frequent topic of conversation for those who work in the criminal justice system.  As judges, we have the ability, throughout the course of an evidentiary hearing, trial, or sentencing, to debrief with our staff and colleagues about the evidence we hear.  And as experienced listeners, we enter court with an emotional preparedness that can soften the blow to our mental health.

Business Court Assignment is Rewarding

By The Honorable M. Randall Jurrens, 70th District Court (Saginaw County)

Michigan’s business court statute, MCL 600.8031 et seq., requires every circuit court with at least three judges to operate a business court, MCL 600.8033(1).  Business court is a special docket comprised of circuit court civil cases in which “all or part of the action includes a business or commercial dispute,” 600.8035(1) and (3).  By Supreme Court appointment, I have served as Saginaw County’s Business Court judge since it was established in 2013.

Berrien’s “3 WINS” Program: A Better Way to Make Amends

By Elvin Gonzalez, Family Division Administrator, Berrien County Trial Court


Question:  How can you get restitution from juveniles who are too young to work and live in a community with a 13 percent unemployment rate and 50 percent poverty rate?


Answer:  3 WINS!!

Judge Meinecke: Helping Individuals Get Back in the Driver's Seat toward a Better Life

By Stacy Sellek, MSC Public Information Office

Information. Structure. Encouragement.

Those are the fundamental bricks in the road Judge Derek Meinecke is building through the 44th District Court in Royal Oak to help individuals who have lost their driver’s licenses navigate their way back toward a better life.  He started a license restoral program more than three years ago to find a different way of addressing driving offenses in court.