Limits & Logistics
Document Limits
Courtesy Copies
Motion, Response
Communication
Chambers
Clerk
Phone
Court-wideClerk
Document Filing Requirements7 rules
If the motion is granted, the order must specifically state the name of the defendant (if there are multiple defendants) and whether it resolves all issues pertaining to your client and whether the case is dismissed in its entirety.
***If there are multiple defendants, you must specifically state which parties are dismissed.
Counsel must indicate in the order whether it resolves all issues and closes the case.
The requested voir dire, jury instructions, and verdict form must be provided to the law clerk no later than Monday prior to commencement of trial.
Final witness list and exhibits must be exchanged and marked by counsel, and the requested voir dire, jury instructions and verdict form must be provided to the law clerk no later than Friday prior to commencement of trial.
Cobbs proposals must include a calculation of the PSI guidelines, the sentence proposed by counsel, and the reason for the proposal.
All motions, settlement conferences, and hearings are held in person; however, motions without opposition may be held through Zoom. Zoom ID: 3014202951. Be sure to sign in with your name, client, and file number of the case you are appearing on.
Filing & Service rules
Electronic Filing Rules
Do not submit motions, pleadings, or orders by email; mail or hand-deliver them, including the appropriate number of copies and a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want filed copies returned.
**DO NOT SUBMIT MOTIONS/PLEADINGS/ORDERS VIA EMAIL. Mail or hand deliver them with the appropriate number of copies and stamped, self-addressed envelope if you need filed copies returned to you.
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Filing Timing and Cure Windows
Responses to dispositive motions are due one week before the motion.
Responses to dispositive motions are due one week prior to the motion.
Page 2 | MOTIONS
Responses to general motions are due the Wednesday before the motion date.
Responses to general motions are due Wednesday prior to date of motions.
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Motions in Limine must be filed and heard no later than three weeks prior to trial date.
Motions in Limine must be filed and heard no later than three weeks prior to trial date.
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Service and Proof of Service Rules
Final witness list and exhibits must be exchanged and marked by counsel, and the requested voir dire, jury instructions and verdict form must be provided to the law clerk no later than Friday prior to commencement of trial.
Final witness list and exhibits must be exchanged and marked by counsel, and the requested voir dire, jury instructions and verdict form must be provided to the law clerk no later than Friday prior to commencement of trial.
Page 3 | CRIMINAL MATTERS
Final witness materials and exhibits are to be exchanged and marked.
Final witness and exhibits are to be exchanged and marked.
Page 3 | CIVIL MATTERS
Final witness and exhibit lists and trial briefs are to be exchanged at the settlement conference.
Final witness and exhibit lists and trial briefs are to be exchanged at the settlement conference.
Page 3 | CIVIL MATTERS
Filing Fees and Waivers
File motions for reconsideration without a hearing date, and pay the standard motion fee.
Motions for Reconsideration are to be filed without a hearing date; however, the standard motion fee is required.
Page 2 | MOTIONS
Courtesy Copy Requirements
Submit judge’s copies of all motions and responses directly to the judge’s office; failure may cause delay, waiver of arguments, or fees.
Judge’s copies of all motions and responses shall be submitted directly to the judge’s office pursuant to MCR 2.119(A)(2)(D). Failure to do so may result in delay, waiver of arguments, or assessment of fees.
Page 2 | MOTIONS
Pre-Motion Conference Requirements
Seek opposing counsel’s concurrence before filing a motion to extend dates.
You must seek concurrence from opposing counsel before filing a motion to extend dates.
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All motions, motions in limine, and disputes concerning voir dire, jury instructions and verdict form must be heard no later than two weeks prior to trial.
All motions, motions in limine, and disputes concerning voir dire, jury instructions and verdict form must be heard no later than two weeks prior to trial.
Page 3 | CRIMINAL MATTERS
All motions, motions in limine, and disputes concerning voir dire, jury instructions and verdict form must be heard no later than three weeks prior to trial.
All motions, motions in limine, and disputes concerning voir dire, jury instructions and verdict form must be heard no later than three weeks prior to trial.
Page 3 | CIVIL MATTERS
Adjournment & Extension Requirements
When seeking an adjournment, the responding party must first contact the moving party; only the moving party may adjourn a motion, and a motion cannot be adjourned without a date.
The responding party must first contact the moving party when seeking an adjournment as only the moving party may adjourn motions. Motions may not be adjourned without date.
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Before requesting an adjournment from the Court, approval must be sought from the prosecutor handling the case.
Prior to requesting the Court for an adjournment, approval must be sought from the prosecutor handling the case.
Page 4 | CRIMINAL MATTERS
Although scheduling orders are strictly enforced, the Court permits stipulated orders extending dates for good cause.
The orders are strictly enforced; however, the Court does allow stipulated orders to extend dates for good cause.
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Chambers Communication Rules
Dates for dispositive motions, including adjourned dates, require judge’s staff approval before filing or re-noticing; counsel should contact the office well before the cutoff because only four dispositive motions are scheduled per day.
All dates for dispositive motions (including adjourned dates) must be approved by the judge's staff prior to filing the motion or re-notice of hearing. Counsel should contact our office well in advance of the cutoff date inasmuch as dispositive motions are capped at four motions per day.
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Before calling the office to ask about docket status or whether an order or pleading was filed or received, review the Register of Actions or Court Schedules online.
***BEFORE CALLING OUR OFFICE TO INQUIRE WHETHER A MOTION IS ON THE DOCKET OR WHETHER AN ORDER OR PLEADING HAS BEEN FILED OR RECEIVED, PLEASE VISIT 7th Judicial Circuit Court AND CLICK ON “CASE SERACH” TO REVIEW THE REGISTER OF ACTIONS OR “COURT SCHEDULES” TO REVIEW UPCOMING MOTION OR TRIAL DOCKETS.
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Defense counsel must contact the court before every hearing date to ensure the defendant is transported from GCJC.
It is the responsibility of defense counsel to contact the court prior to all hearing dates to ensure that the defendant is transported from GCJC.
Page 3 | CRIMINAL MATTERS
Counsel may email the office the agreed requested discovery period so the office can generate a scheduling order.
Counsel may agree and email our office with the requested amount of time for discovery and the scheduling order will be generated from that information. kdearlove@geneseecountymi.gov.
Page 2 | CIVIL MATTERS