The 22nd Circuit Court
Washtenaw County is the 22nd Judicial Circuit under Michigan law. The 22nd Circuit Court is the general-jurisdiction trial court for the county. It handles felony criminal cases, civil cases above the district-court limit, family division matters, and appeals from district and probate courts and from administrative agencies. The court sits at 101 E. Huron Street in downtown Ann Arbor, inside the Washtenaw County Trial Court.
The Michigan Supreme Court sits at the top of the One Court of Justice. The Michigan Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court. Circuit court sits below those two. Beneath circuit court are district courts and probate court. The 22nd Circuit is the high-volume trial court for any case that sits above district-court limits.
22nd Circuit Court Jurisdiction
The 22nd Circuit Court handles a wide set of case types. Each one runs under Michigan statutes that define the court's reach. The list below covers the main categories.
- Felony criminal cases after bindover from district court.
- Civil cases above the district-court dollar limit.
- Family division: divorce, custody, parenting time, support, paternity, name change, juvenile, PPOs.
- Domestic relations enforcement work coordinated with Friend of the Court.
- Appeals from district court and probate court.
- Appeals from administrative agencies where the law allows.
- Equity matters, business disputes above district-court limits, and certain land disputes.
The family division is set out in MCL 600.1021. The statute groups divorce, custody, paternity, support, juvenile, and related family matters under one division of the circuit court.
How a Case Moves Through the System
A criminal case in Washtenaw County usually starts in a district court (most often 14A, 15th, or 14B) for arraignment and preliminary examination. Felony cases move up to the 22nd Circuit Court after bindover. Civil cases start in the court that matches the amount in dispute. Family cases are filed directly in the 22nd Circuit family division.
Felony case flow: Arrest › District court arraignment › Preliminary exam › 22nd Circuit Court arraignment › Pretrial › Trial › Sentencing › (Appeal to Michigan Court of Appeals)
Appeals from a district court generally go to the 22nd Circuit Court for review. Appeals from the 22nd Circuit go to the Michigan Court of Appeals. Appeals from the Court of Appeals go to the Michigan Supreme Court by leave.
22nd Circuit Court vs District Court vs Probate Court
The three Washtenaw trial courts each have their own role. The table below sets out the splits.
| Feature | 22nd Circuit Court | 14A District Court | Probate Court |
|---|---|---|---|
| Criminal scope | Felonies after bindover | Misdemeanors; felony preliminary work | None directly; mental health matters |
| Civil scope | Above district-court limit | Up to statutory limit; landlord-tenant; small claims | None directly; conservator and guardian work |
| Family scope | Divorce, custody, support, juvenile | Some PPO duties | Some juvenile-related work in mental health |
| Probate scope | None directly | None | Estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, mental health |
| Appeals up | Michigan Court of Appeals | 22nd Circuit Court | 22nd Circuit Court |
Family Division of the 22nd Circuit Court
The family division handles the personal disputes that run through circuit court: divorce, custody, parenting time, support, paternity, juvenile delinquency, child protective proceedings, name changes, and personal protection orders. Friend of the Court works alongside the family division to track custody, parenting time, and support orders.
Search family division case files through the Trial Court Public Access portal. Some FOC files and some juvenile files are restricted. See the Washtenaw marriage and divorce records page for the full family-side workflow.
Searching 22nd Circuit Court Records
The Trial Court Public Access portal is the main route to a 22nd Circuit case file. Search by case number when you have it; otherwise use last name and first name. The portal is set up to push users through a login page before some results show.
- Open the Trial Court Public Access portal.
- Search by case number, party name, or attorney name.
- Open the case and read the docket and register of actions.
- Note the next hearing date and the assigned judge.
- For documents or older files, visit Clerk of the Court-Court Services at 101 E. Huron Street.
The Trial Court also links MiFile / eFiling for some case types. Attorneys can access the Odyssey case management system through a separate attorney login.
Central Assignment and Court Administration
The Washtenaw Trial Court runs Central Assignment, set up in 1988 after a court reorganization plan. Central Assignment handles two functions: scheduling and case evaluation. That structure is unusual in Michigan; many counties keep scheduling and case evaluation separate or under different offices. Central Assignment has been a stable Washtenaw feature for more than three decades.
The court also lists courtroom technology, ADA accommodations, interpreters, media services, and jury reporting under the broader court operations heading on the Trial Court general info page.
22nd Circuit Court Contact
The 22nd Circuit Court counter sits inside the Trial Court at 101 E. Huron Street, Ann Arbor. Court Services handles filings and copies. Hours run 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on regular business days.
22nd Circuit Court
101 E. Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Hours 8:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Trial Court Records Request
101 E. Huron Street
Ann Arbor, MI 48104
Document and transcript routes
Appeals from the 22nd Circuit Court
Appeals from a 22nd Circuit Court ruling go to the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Court of Appeals is the intermediate appellate court for the state. From there, leave applications go to the Michigan Supreme Court.
Appeals from a district court in Washtenaw County go up to the 22nd Circuit Court first. Civil and small-claims appeals follow the same path. The Michigan Court of Appeals website at courts.michigan.gov publishes appellate procedure and form resources.
22nd Circuit Court History
Washtenaw County was created in the 1820s with Ann Arbor as the county seat. The 22nd Circuit Court has been the county's general trial court since Michigan's modern court structure was set up. Central Assignment was set up in 1988. The Public Defender Office was created in 1971 as a county government office for indigent defense in criminal, civil contempt, and juvenile matters across Washtenaw courts.
The Trial Court general info page notes the court's role in scheduling and case evaluation through Central Assignment. The court connects to the broader Michigan judicial branch overview at michigan.gov/government/branches-of-government/judicial-branch.
Judges of the 22nd Circuit Court
The 22nd Circuit Court has several judges who handle the county's full circuit-court docket. Judges are elected to set terms under Michigan law. The bench is split across general civil and criminal work, the family division, and specialty assignments. The Trial Court general info page links the court operations page that lists the current judicial roster.
Cases get assigned to a judge through Central Assignment when filed. The same judge usually stays with a case from filing through disposition. That single-judge model is common in Michigan circuit courts and tends to keep procedural rulings consistent across the life of a case.
Judges also rotate through specialty assignments such as the business court docket where the court runs one. Family division judges hear divorce, custody, and juvenile work on a longer-term assignment basis to build deep familiarity with families and parties.
Jury Service at the 22nd Circuit
Jury service in the 22nd Circuit Court is open to county residents who meet Michigan jury rules. Jurors are summoned by mail. The Trial Court general info page links the jury reporting resources, including parking, hours, and excusal requests.
Most jury trials in the 22nd Circuit are felony criminal trials or higher-value civil trials. Misdemeanor jury trials sit in district court. Many cases settle or plead before trial, so a summoned juror may not always serve on a sworn panel.
Filing in the 22nd Circuit Court
Filings in the 22nd Circuit go to Court Services at 101 E. Huron Street. Many case types can be filed through Michigan's MiFile eFiling system; the Trial Court page links the route. Paper filings are still accepted at the counter for cases not yet on eFiling.
Filing fees are set by Michigan statute and listed on the Trial Court Fees page. Fee waiver requests are available for parties who qualify under Michigan law and SCAO forms. The SCAO forms library publishes the approved forms used for circuit court filings.