Best Practice for Court Recordings and Verifiable Verbatim Transcripts.

Zoom Hearing
Michigan Trial Court Standards favor digital audio and video recording of court proceedings because "[d]igital recording enables the courts to establish a transcript management system that efficiently and effectively manages the life cycle of transcripts from initiation of the transcript request through the electronic or paper distribution and filing of the transcript."  The Michigan Supreme Court, the State Court Administrative Office, and the Michigan Judicial Institute are incre...
Read More

The Michigan Judicial Institute Supports “Using Zoom to Record for the Court’s Recorder”

Instant Verbatim Record Remember waiting up to 56 days for a transcript when facing a 21 day filing deadline? Just as the "horseless carriage" allowed for faster arrivals, the Michigan Supreme Court, State Court Administrative Office, and Michigan Judicial Institute support for using Zoom to record for the Court's Recorder means that there is no longer any need to wait up 56 days to read the transcript for a verbatim record while facing 21-day filing deadlines: you can now and hea...
Read More

Does Michigan Have Court Rules for Virtual Court?

A "new chapter" in Michigan Civil Procedure is developing in real time as Michigan has logged over one million hours of Zoom hearings. Since the pace of virtual practice has outpaced the formal rule-making process, this "new chapter" is taking shape as via Standards and Guidelines as published by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office. If you would like to contribute to ongoing bench, bar, and administrator discussions to improve access to civil procedure and the cour...
Read More

Which Courts Use E-Filing?

Click here to see the E-Filing Courts in MichiganDownload Are E-Filing courts developing "best practices?" Yes. For example, all Michigan E-Filing Courts except one have a location for attorneys and pro se litigants to access computers and obtain help with E-Filing. Are you aware of a "Best Practice" that can improve access and efficiencies in the administration of justice? Your insights are welcome. Send an e-mail info@stawskilawoffice.com and write "Best Practice Ex...
Read More

Michigan’s New Virtual Courtroom Directory: Keeping Courtrooms Open to the Public (Since 1776)

Every courtroom has a public galley, and the public's seats are still there. Public access to courtroom proceedings remains intact since 1776. Step 1: Visit Michigan's Virtual Courtroom Directory Web Page. Here's the link: Michigan Virtual Courtroom Directory. The hearing schedule is on your court's website.* It's extremely simple to link a .pdf of hearing schedules the court's web site. (Posting on-line can be completed in less time than it took to post at the door ...
Read More