Self-represented parties may participate in the e-filing program but will not be required to do so.
Case Evaluation
Due to revisions in the Case Evaluation Court Rules, the 15th Judicial District Court ceased its practice of referring all No Fault Provider cases valued at $5,000.00 or more to case evaluation. If a case has already been docketed for case evaluation, the case evaluation hearing will take place as scheduled. Any case that has not been scheduled, will not be scheduled. However, parties may agree to case evaluation by submitting a stipulation and proposed Order to the Court. The Stipulated Order must be submitted to the Court by the Status Conference date and time.
Upcoming dates:
- CASE EVALUATION DOCKET ON 12/10/2024 WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM
Please see the Civil Division page for more information.
Civil Schedule for the week November 25- Dec 6, 2024
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If your General Civil case has settled, PLEASE submit settlement documentation to MiFile.
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If you would like to ADD or CHANGE an attorney within the SAME law firm, PLEASE submit an
APPEARANCE. Currently, the MiFile e-filing system is significantly delayed in processing a Substitution of Counsel if an attorney is already listed in the JIS case management system.
- All civil proceedings will continue to be conducted via Zoom video conferencing unless parties are notified otherwise by the Court.
- NO CIVIL DOCKET THE WEEK OF NOVEMBER 25-NOVEMBER 29
- THE COURT WILL BE CLOSED ON THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28 & FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 29
- December 4 - Oral Motions for Summary Disposition (MSD): For cases in which the Court will hear oral argument via Zoom at 9:30 a.m., the Attorney of Record will receive a Zoom invitation via email.
- December 4 - Motions, other than motions for summary disposition, will be held via Zoom. Parties will receive a Zoom invitation via email. Zoom invitations are only sent to the Attorney of Record. Please note motions will be held at 1:30 p.m.
- December 4 - All cases set for Pretrial at 2 p.m. will be scheduled by the Court for Final Settlement Conference and Jury Trial or Bench Trial, if there was no jury demand. No appearance required.
- December 4 - Cases set for Entry of Order at 3 p.m. will be dismissed by the Court if an order closing the case has not been received by this date. No appearance required.
- December 5 - Bench Trial at 10 a.m. will be held in-person. Parties should appear at their scheduled time in Courtroom 2 on the 5th floor of the Ann Arbor Justice Center.
- December 6 - Final Settlement Conferences at 10 a.m. will be held in-person. Parties should appear at their scheduled times in Courtroom 2 on the 5th Floor of the Ann Arbor Justice Center. Final Settlement Conference Instructions for Civil Provider Cases
- December 6 - Motions for Summary Disposition (MSD) scheduled at 11 a.m.: In those cases which the Court has dispensed with oral argument pursuant to MCR 2.119(E)(3), the Court will render a written Opinion and Order. No appearance required. In those cases which the Court will hear oral argument via Zoom, the Attorney of Record will receive a new Notice to Appear with a Zoom invitation via email and MiFile. Please note oral argument cases will be adjourned to the next available Wednesday at 9:30 a.m.
- 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. 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 Perry may request a hearing via Zoom on December 4 and December 18.
Parties whose cases are assigned to
Judge Valvo may request a hearing on December 12 and December 23.
City Pretrial dockets
Parties whose cases are assigned to
Judge Valvo may request a hearing on December 5 and December 19.
Parties whose cases are assigned to
Judge Perry may request a hearing via Zoom on December 12 and December 23.
Domestic Violence dockets
Parties whose cases are assigned to
Judge Perry may request a hearing via Zoom on December 11 and December 23.
Additional dates may be given for emergency hearings as needed.
Landlord-Tenant Schedule
Landlord-Tenant dockets are held every Tuesday starting at 1:30 p.m. Dockets are held by Zoom unless parties are notified by the Court that they need to appear in person.
**During the weeks of Christmas and New Years, the Landlord-Tenant dockets will be held Monday afternoons at 1:30 p.m.**
Small Claims
Pursuant to MCL 600.8407(2)(a), the Court will not accept from a person, sole proprietor, partnership, or corporation more than five (5) small claims filings per week.
Small Claims Mediation
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 Mediation Information Sheet
Court Appearances via Zoom
Some parties who are scheduled to appear in person are able to appear via Zoom. You must email the contact person for your assigned Judge to request a Zoom hearing. This must be done at least 24 hours in advance during normal business hours. If approved, parties will receive an email from the Court containing a link to the Zoom hearing.
Virtual Appearance Information Sheet
The 15th District Court is fully open to the public during normal business hours. A judge or magistrate may use his or her discretion in deciding whether or not to livestream public court hearings on YouTube. You may access the Courts' proceedings by following these links:
Magistrate Garwood
Judge Burke
Judge Valvo
Judge Perry
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 Joseph F. Burke, the Honorable Miriam A. Perry and the Honorable Karen Quinlan Valvo. There is also 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 $7,000 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
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. These items are not allowed:
- 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. More 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
[email protected].
For information about disability resources, including parking, please visit the
City of Ann Arbor Streets, Buildings, and Parking web page.
