PUBLIC NOTICE

In light of the current State of Emergency, and as authorized by Michigan Supreme Court Administrative Order No. 2020-1, the 44th District Court will be implementing the following actions to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Court’s priority is the health of all staff and the public. Effective March 17, 2020, the following policies are in effect until further notice:

• IN GENERAL
o The courthouse will be open for essential matters only. The courthouse doors will be locked and security staff will admit persons only as it relates to those essential matters.
o Persons who are not a party or necessary to a case should not enter the courthouse.
o All payments should be made by utilizing the drop box located on the front of the building, online at www.govpaynow.com (using pay location code 3031) or via telephone by dialing 1-888-604-7888.. THERE WILL BE NO IN-PERSON PAYMENTS AT THE FRONT COUNTER.
o In efforts to remain accessible to the public and assist with any questions, the court will have limited staff on hand and the court’s phone lines will be open during regular business hours.

• CRIMINAL MATTERS
o Felonies – All felony arraignments, probable cause conferences and preliminary examinations will continue as scheduled. The court encourages all felony hearings to be conducted remotely. Attorneys should contact the court to make arrangements.
o Misdemeanors – Criminal trials, pretrials and sentencing hearings will be adjourned unless the defendant is in custody. Defaults or bench warrants will not be issued during the period of emergency.
o Bond violation and bond reduction motion hearings will continue to be heard at the discretion of the Judges and will be scheduled by court staff.

• CIVIL INFRACTIONS
o All informal/formal hearings will be adjourned.
o All due dates for pending civil infractions will be extended for 60 days, to allow individuals time to request an informal hearing if they wish to dispute the citation.

• PROBATION
o All probationers will report via phone, mail or email until further notice. Probationers should contact their individual probation officer with any questions or concerns.
o All probation review hearings and specialty court hearings will be adjourned.
o In the case of probation violation hearings, probationers should contact their probation officer immediately for further direction.

• SHOW CAUSE HEARINGS/COLLECTION MATTERS
o All show cause hearings and payment plan due dates will be adjourned.

• GENERAL CIVIL AND SMALL CLAIMS
o Civil jury trials that were scheduled for March 23, 2020 and April 27, 2020 will be adjourned to May 18, 2020 and June 22, 2020, respectfully. Parties should utilize the new jury trial dates in conjunction with any calendar orders to establish motion filing dates.
o All civil bench trials, civil motions, small claims and any other miscellaneous civil hearings will be adjourned.
o Pleadings must be mailed to the court with the filing fees.

• LANDLORD-TENANT
o All existing summary proceeding (landlord-tenant) hearings and trials are adjourned to a date after May 1, 2020.
o New cases will be set for hearing on or after May 1, 2020, except complaints alleging serious and continuing health hazard, etc., under MCL 600.5714(1)(d) which will be scheduled at the soonest available date.

IF YOUR CASE HAS BEEN ADJOURNED, THE COURT WILL NOTIFY YOU, VIA MAIL, OF YOUR NEW COURT DATE.

-Hon. Derek W. Meinecke, Chief Judge of the 44th District Court