Third Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan Document Format Requirements

CRITICALCivil cases

Orders must not be submitted on letterhead or they will be rejected.

DO NOT SUBMIT ORDERS ON LETTERHEAD If you submit an order on letterhead, the court will reject it.

CRITICALCivil cases

All copies submitted under this instruction must be bound.

ALL COPIES MUST BE BOUND.

CRITICALCivil cases

Hard copies must be securely bound with a staple, metal fastener, or binder; loose pages and binder-clip copies will be rejected and must be resubmitted.

All hard copies must be securely bound (staple, metal fastener, or binder). Loose pages or copies with binder clips will be rejected and must be resubmitted.

CRITICALCivil cases

All judge’s copies must be bound.

ALL JUDGE'S COPIES MUST BE BOUND.

CRITICALCivil cases

At least one copy of each order presented for the Judge’s signature must have original signatures, and orders with handwritten annotations or corrections will not be accepted.

Original signatures must appear on at least one copy of orders presented for Judge’s signature – the Court does NOT accept orders with handwritten annotations or corrections.

CRITICALCivil cases

The parties must highlight the pertinent portions of relevant exhibits cited in support of their arguments.

The parties shall highlight pertinent parts of the relevant exhibits for the Court so the court does not have to search for, or guess at, the support cited to it.

CRITICALCivil cases

Videos must be set up before trial.

Videos must be set up before trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

All exhibits must be marked before trial.

All exhibits must be marked before trial.

CRITICALCivil cases

Plaintiff must identify exhibits by number, and Defendant must identify exhibits by letter.

a. Plaintiff shall list exhibits by number. b. Defendant shall list exhibits by letter.

CRITICALCivil cases

Applies to

Joint jury instructions

Email the joint jury instructions as a Word Document to the Judicial Attorney 48 hours before the final pretrial conference; include the specified indexes and make each instruction a separate, 14-point, case- and gender-specific page.

48 hours prior to the Final Pretrial Conference, Counsel shall email a Word Document copy of the joint jury instructions to the Judicial Attorney at Victoria.Lencione@3rdcc.org . The instructions shall include separate indexes titled “Preliminary Jury Instructions” and “Final Jury Instructions,” each index listing the JI number and title. Each instruction shall be on its own separate page, in size 14 font, case specific, and gender specific.

CRITICALCivil cases

The parties must follow the protocols' sample format for the JFPTO and file it on time.

A sample of the format of the JFPTO can be found at the end of these protocols. The parties must follow that format. The JFPTO must be timely filed.

CRITICALCriminal cases

All exhibits must be marked before trial.

All exhibits are to be marked before trial.

CRITICAL

Submitted video or audio must be in MP3 or MP4 format.

Any videos or audio that needs to be submitted must be in MP3/MP4.

CRITICAL

Label exhibits and send each as an individual PDF or photo; do not combine multiple exhibits into one document.

Exhibits shall be labeled and sent as individual PDF’s or photos so each exhibit may be considered on its own. DO NOT send multiple exhibits as one document.

CRITICAL

Trial exhibits must be electronic, labeled, separated as directed by the Final Pretrial Order, and emailed to the Court.

Exhibits: All exhibits are to be in electronic form, labeled, and separated per the final pretrial order and emailed to JudgeCholack-Court@3rdcc.org.

CRITICAL

Each party must mark their exhibits and number them consecutively.

Each party is responsible for marking his or her exhibits and numbering them consecutively.

CRITICAL

All motion exhibits must be tabbed.

All exhibits must be tabbed.

CRITICAL

The hearing date must appear in the upper-right corner of every judge’s copy of a motion, response, reply, or e-filed supplemental pleading.

The HEARING DATE of the Motion must be placed in upper right-hand corner of every Judge's copy of a Motion, Response, Reply, or supplemental pleading e-filed.

CRITICAL

Jury instructions must comply with the form and content requirements of MCR 2.512 and MCR 2.513(A) and (N)(3).

Instructions must comply with the form and content requirements of MCR 2.512 and MCR 2.513(A) and (N)(3).

CRITICAL

Exhibits must be tabbed for court acceptance.

Exhibits must be tabbed to be accepted by the court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Each exhibit in the emailed Judge Copy must highlight the language or deposition testimony the Court should review, or it will be returned.

Each Exhibit must be properly highlighted with the language/deposition testimony you wish the Court to review in support of your Motion/Response. Otherwise, it will be returned to you.

CRITICALCivil cases

Provide the Court with a tabbed binder of the specific exhibits to be presented to the jury on the morning of trial.

A tabbed binder of specific Exhibits you wish to be presented to the Jury must be provided to the Court on the morning of Trial.

CRITICAL

Summary-disposition motions must use separately numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single assertion.

All motions for summary disposition MUST be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, limited as far as practicable to a single assertion.

CRITICAL

The form and typography requirements of MCR 2.119(A)(2) are strictly enforced.

MCR 2.119(A)(2) is also strictly enforced as written as to form and typography.

CRITICAL

Motions must use separately numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single assertion.

All motions MUST be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, limited as far as practicable to a single assertion. See MCR 2.113(B).

CRITICAL

Responses must use separately numbered paragraphs that fully and fairly answer each motion paragraph, and responsive briefs are required.

All responses SHALL likewise be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, fully and fairly responding to each corresponding paragraph of the motion. Responsive briefs are likewise required in accordance with MCR 2.119(A)(2).

CRITICAL

The time-stamped judge’s copy must be clearly marked “JUDGE'S COPY” on its cover sheet.

This TIME STAMPED judge's copy must be clearly marked JUDGE'S COPY on the cover sheet.

CRITICAL

Responses to summary-disposition motions must use separately numbered paragraphs that fully and fairly answer each corresponding motion paragraph.

All responses to motions for summary disposition SHALL likewise be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, fully and fairly responding to each corresponding paragraph of the motion.

CRITICALCivil cases

All exhibits attached to a brief must be tabbed.

Any and all exhibits attached to a brief must be tabbed.

CRITICALCivil cases

Format

DOCX

The proposed joint jury instructions and verdict form must be submitted in Word document format.

Counsel are required to email the same in Word Document Format to lisa.damphousse@3rdcc.org.

CRITICALCivil cases

Binder clips, rubber bands, and boxes are insufficient for binding; staples or two-prong fasteners are acceptable.

Merely using a binder clip, rubber band, or box is insufficient and will be rejected by the Court. Staples or two prong fasteners are sufficient.

CRITICAL

Provide the court with a tabbed binder containing all exhibits to be presented to the jury on the morning of trial.

A tabbed binder of all Exhibits to be presented to the Jury must be provided to the Court on the morning of Trial.

CRITICAL

Each jury instruction must appear on a separate page, use 14-point font, and be case- and gender-specific.

Each instruction must be on separate page, in size 14 font, case specific, and gender specific.

CRITICALCivil cases

Trial briefs must be bound and tabbed.

Parties shall submit trial briefs (bound and tabbed) to the Court and to opposing counsel no later than seven (7) days before trial, unless otherwise ordered by the Court.

CRITICALCivil cases

Attorneys must bring their own stickers to mark trial exhibits.

Attorneys must bring their own stickers for marking exhibits to trial.

CRITICAL

Each jury instruction must appear on a separate page, use 14-point font, and be case-specific and gender-specific.

Each instruction must be on separate page, in size 14 font, case specific, and gender specific.

CRITICALCivil cases

Orders submitted by e-file for signature must not contain firm lettering, or they will be rejected.

ORDERS SUBMITTED VIA E-FILE FOR SIGNATURE SHOULD NOT CONTAIN FIRM LETTERING. ORDERS THAT CONTAIN FIRM LETTERING WILL BE REJECTED.

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Documents submitted for the Court's consideration must be PDFs, with each document attached as a separate PDF.

Any documents for consideration by the Court must be sent in .pdf format. Each document must be attached in an email as a separate PDF.

CRITICAL

Responses must use separately numbered paragraphs that fully and fairly answer each motion paragraph, and responsive briefs are required.

4.All responses SHALL likewise be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, fully and fairly responding to each corresponding paragraph of the motion. Responsive briefs are likewise required in accordance with MCR 2.119(A)(2).

CRITICAL

Responses to summary-disposition motions must use separately numbered paragraphs that fully and fairly answer each motion paragraph.

All responses to motions for summary disposition SHALL likewise be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, fully and fairly responding to each corresponding paragraph of the motion. Failure to so respond may result in the motion being treated as unopposed.

CRITICAL

Motions must use separately numbered paragraphs, each limited as far as practicable to a single assertion.

1.All motions MUST be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, limited as far as practicable to a single assertion. See MCR 2.113(B).

CRITICAL

Summary-disposition motions must use separately numbered paragraphs limited as far as practicable to one assertion and must fully state their arguments; threadbare motions relying on the brief may be rejected or denied.

All motions for summary disposition MUST be set forth in separately numbered paragraphs, limited as far as practicable to a single assertion. The substance of all arguments must be fully set forth through such paragraphs. Threadbare motions merely pointing to reliance on "the reasons more fully set forth in the brief" (or the like) do not comply with Michigan's Court Rules and will be REJECTED/DENIED. See MCR 2.113(B); see also MCR 2.116(G)(1),(4).

CRITICAL

Format

PDF

Documents submitted for the Court’s consideration must be PDFs, with each document attached to an email as a separate PDF.

Any documents for consideration by the Court must be sent in .pdf format. Each document must be attached in an email as a separate PDF.

WARNINGCivil cases

Format

PDF

Proposed orders should be emailed to JudgeGlendening-Court@3rdcc.org in pdf format for the Court's review.

Proposed orders should be emailed to JudgeGlendening-Court@3rdcc.org in pdf format for the Court's review.

WARNINGCivil cases

A party must identify or highlight the specific pertinent portion of each exhibit on which it relies.

The party must identify/highlight the specific, pertinent part of an exhibit it relies upon.

WARNINGCivil cases

Parties must highlight the pertinent portions of relevant exhibits for the Court.

The parties shall highlight the pertinent part of the relevant exhibits for the Court.

WARNINGCivil cases

Briefs should not contain underlined portions.

Please refrain from underlining portions of briefs.

WARNINGCivil cases

A brief must not contain a separate introduction, background, history, or other redundant section.

The brief shall not contain a separate section for introduction, background or history or other redundancies.

WARNINGCivil cases

A Judge’s copy of an emergency preliminary-injunction request must be provided in Word format for review.

Please provide a Judge's copy in word format for review.

WARNINGCivil cases

Written discovery must be served in PDF and Word or native format.

Written discovery shall be served in both a PDF and Word (or native) format.