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Public Notice
The Court is currently in Phase 3 of re-opening. In-person services are available. However, guidance supports continuing use of alternative service options. Therefore, all court proceedings, probation interviews and other services involving the public will be conducted via phone, video conferencing , mail or other alternative means as much as possible.
Filings can be submitted via mail or placed in the drop boxes located in the lobby of the Justice Center.
For assistance, please contact the Traffic/Criminal Division 734.794.6750, option 1, or the Civil Division 734.794.6752, option 4, during normal business hours.
Visit the State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) website for the Judicial Branch's response to COVID-19 and for a complete list of Administrative Orders impacting court operations.
Case Evaluation Schedule for September 2020
- Case evaluation dockets scheduled for September 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29 will be held via Zoom.
- For future dates: Summaries and checks need to have the correct case number(s) marked upon them. Items can be submitted by drop box, mail or email.
- Email address: D15ADR@a2gov.org. One case summary per email. In the subject line include the case number. Please note file size is limited to 25 MB per email. If more than one email per case is necessary, include a note in the subject line, e.g. "email 1 of 2".
- Summaries received after 4:30 PM, whether in-person, by mail or email will be marked received on next business day.
- Any questions regarding this process should be emailed to the ADR Clerk at D15ADR@a2gov.org.
Civil Schedule for the week of September 8-11, 2020
-
IF YOUR GENERAL CIVIL
(PROVIDER) CASE HAS SETTLED PLEASE fax the clerk’s office at 734-794-6753.
- All civil proceedings will continue to be conducted via Zoom video conferencing unless parties are notified otherwise by the Court.
- September 16 - All cases set for Status Conference will be referred for Case Evaluation
and scheduled for Final Pretrial. You will receive dates by
mail.
- September 16 - All cases set for Final Pretrial will be scheduled by the Court for Final
Settlement Conference and Jury Trial dates. You
will receive dates by mail.
- September 16 - Motions
(other than MSD) will be held via Zoom. Meeting
invites are forthcoming. Please note motions will be heard at 1:30
p.m.
- September 16 - Cases set for Entry of Order will be dismissed by the Court if an order closing the case has not been received.
- September 18 - Final Settlement Conferences will be held via Zoom. Meeting invites are forthcoming.
- Livestream video is available on the Court's YouTube channel.
- Stay updated by subscribing to the Court's Twitter Account, @15thAnn.
Criminal Misdemeanor Schedule
The Court has the ability to conduct hearings via Zoom technology. Hearings will be scheduled every 20 minutes from 9 a.m. through 1:40 p.m. on the dates listed below for each case type. If you would like to have a Zoom hearing, see the "Court Appearances via Zoom" section below for contact information.
State Pretrial Dockets
Parties whose cases are assigned to Judge Hines may request a hearing via Zoom on: September 4 or September 28.
Parties whose cases are assigned to Judge Valvo may request a hearing via Zoom on: September 11 or September 25.
City Pretrial dockets
Parties whose cases are assigned to Judge Valvo may request a hearing via Zoom on: September 18 or September 28.
Parties whose cases are assigned to Judge Hines may request a hearing via Zoom on: September 25.
Domestic Violence dockets
Parties whose cases are assigned to Judge Hines may request a hearing via Zoom on: September 9 or September 23.
Additional dates may be given for emergency hearings as needed.
Landlord-Tenant Schedule beginning July 7, 2020
Landlord-Tenant dockets are held every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. Parties may request to participate via Zoom.
Any questions regarding this process should be emailed to the Landlord-Tenant Clerk at D15LLT@a2gov.org. Do not sumbit pleadings to this email address unless directed to do so by the Court.
Notice to Landlords: Filing New Landlord-Tenant Summary Proceedings Actions after March 27,2020
All landlords preparing to file new landlord-tenant cases are encouraged to review the federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act), Public Law No. 116-136, Section 4024. The Act was signed into law on March 27, 2020. The Act Prohibits initiating notices to vacate and/or initiating legal actions to recover possession of certain properties which participate in federally covered housing programs until after July 25, 2020.
Related Documents:
Notice to landlords, effective immediately: All persons filing new Landlord Tenant cases must provide a copy of the filing to Legal Services. (Printable Notice)
Information for tenants:
Tenant Rights Insert
"What Can You Do" Flyer
Tenant's Declaration - Federal Eviction Moratorium
Jury Selections/Jury Trials - September 21 & 22, 2020
Cases scheduled for jury selection and jury trial on Monday, September 21 and Tuesday, September 22 have been resolved.
Jurors summoned for September 21 and September 22 do not need to appear. Your jury service is complete.
Small Claims Mediation September 2020
Small claims cases will be scheduled for online mediation through the Washtenaw County Dispute Resolution Center (DRC). Notices will be mailed along with the information sheet for the online platform, MI-Resolve (text format) or Zoom mediation, that the parties have been assigned to use.
DRC MI-Resolve Information Sheet
DRC Zoom Mediation Information Sheet
Court Appearances via Zoom
Parties who wish to participate in their hearings via Zoom should email the contact person for their assigned Judge at least 24 hours in advance during normal business hours in order to schedule a Zoom hearing. Parties will receive an email from the Court containing a link to the Zoom hearing.
Virtual Appearance Information Sheet
During the COVID-19 state of emergency, the 15th District Court is, where possible, conducting hearings remotely, using Zoom videoconferencing. While limitations on public access to the courthouse are in effect, the Court will make hearings accessible to the public by livestreaming all Court hearings ultilizing YouTube, except those cases made non-public by law. You may access the Courts' proceedings by follwing these links:
Magistrate Garwood
Judge Burke
Judge Valvo
Judge Hines
About the Court:
The 15th Judicial District Court is located in downtown Ann Arbor in the Ann Arbor Justice Center. The court is presided over by three judges; the Honorable Elizabeth Hines, the Honorable Joseph F. Burke and the Honorable Karen Quinlan Valvo, as well as one appointed magistrate, the Honorable Tamara Garwood. Daily court operations are overseen by Court Administrator Shryl Samborn.
The court is comprised of four divisions: Administration, Civil, Traffic/Criminal, and Probation. Administration is responsible for the administrative management of all non-judicial functions of the Court. The Civil Division maintains the court files for general civil, landlord-tenant, and small claims cases. The Traffic/Criminal Division maintains the records for all traffic and criminal misdemeanors, civil infractions, ordinance violations, and University of Michigan Regents violations. The Probation Department is responsible for pre-sentence investigations, alcohol assessments, supervision, counseling, and referrals to outside assessment and treatment programs for those who are placed on probation.
The 15th Judicial District Court has jurisdiction over cases which include but are not limited to:
- Civil Cases where the disputed amount is $25,000 or less
- Small Claims cases where the disputed amount is $6,000 or less
- Landlord/Tenant disputes
- Criminal & Traffic Misdemeanors punishable by 1 year or less in jail
- Arrest Warrant &Search Warrant Issuance
- Ann Arbor City Ordinance Violations
- Traffic & State Civil Infractions
- University of Michigan Regents Ordinance Violations
- Felony Probable Cause Conferences & Preliminary Exams
Notice to Visitors
If you will be visiting the court, please note that all visitors to the Ann Arbor Justice Center must successfully pass through the security screening process to enter. All visitors and their belongings are subject to search by Court Security Officers. All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors. All purses, briefcases, or other containers are required to pass through an x-ray machine. The following items are prohibited:
- Weapons, e.g. cutting edge instruments such as pocket knives
- Any other items that may be construed as weapons by Court Security Officers
- Food & Beverages
Please do not bring any prohibited items with you into the courthouse; leave them at home or in your vehicle.
Requests for ADA Accommodations or Foreign Language Interpreters
Please contact the court prior to your visit if you will need an ADA accommodation or a Foreign Language Interpreter. Request forms are located the court's Forms web page in the Miscellaneous section. Additional information can be found on the Local Administrative Orders web page. Questions should be directed to Court Administrator Shryl Samborn at 734.794.6757 or
slsamborn@a2gov.org.
For information regarding disability resources, including parking, please visit the
City of Ann Arbor Streets, Buildings, and Parking web page.
