Daily Briefs

Chief judges appointed to Michigan courts


The Michigan Supreme Court Wednesday announced the appointment of chief judges for circuit, probate, district, and municipal courts statewide. With the appointment of 50 multicourt chief judges, the number of single court chief judges appointed to lead trial courts has been cut by two-thirds since 2010 (see table below).

“Chief judges play a critical role in driving change to help courts become more efficient, save tax dollars, and improve service to the public,” said Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Robert P. Young, Jr. “In particular, multicourt chief judges are better positioned to make the difficult decisions needed to help streamline court processes, share workloads, and implement best practices that improve outcomes.”

In the past, each circuit, probate, and district court had its own chief judge and related bureaucracy.  Through the appointment of multi-court chief judges, the total number of chief judges has been cut by more than 40 percent since 2010.

The appointment of multicourt chief judges is part of a comprehensive Supreme Court plan to reengineer the state’s trial courts to increase efficiency and improve service.  For example, rightsizing of the Michigan judiciary is already on course to trim 40 judgeships statewide, saving taxpayers $175 million.

The appointments are for a two-year term commencing on January 1, 2016.  The administrative order with a complete list of appointments is available online.

 

DMBA is currently accepting applications for Inn of Court season


The application and more information is available on the website, www.detroitlawyer.org  The application deadline is Oct. 19.  

The structure of the DMBA IOC is similar to other IOC models. Each team has a “Team Leader” who is a member of the judiciary. Each team also has several “Masters” who have at least 10 years (and typically more than 20 years) of practice. Other team members include “Barristers,” who have at least 5 years of practice, “Associates,” who are newer members of the bar, and “Law Clerks,” who are law students.

New this year is a format focused on skills building. All team members are responsible for developing and facilitating a program on their team’s assigned topic in a format that permits the other teams to practice their skills. When it is not that team’s month, the only requirement is enthusiastic participation during the other monthly meetings.

The monthly meetings will start in January 2016 and take place at the office of Dickinson Wright in Detroit.  The meetings are usually the third Monday of the month, will begin at 6 p.m. and will last no more than ninety minutes.

Membership and participation in the DMBA IOC is an exclusive benefit available only to DMBA members. Non-members must join the DMBA when they join the IOC.
Judge Kirsten Frank Kelly of the Michigan Court of Appeals is this year’s DMBA IOC Chancellor.  For questions or other information, please contact DMBA IOC Organizing Committee member Elizabeth Jolliffe, elizabeth@yourbenchmarkcoach.com.
 

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