The Trial Division of the Circuit Court is located at the Michigan Avenue Courthouse, 227 West Michigan Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan. The entrance to the Michigan Avenue Courthouse is monitored by security equipment and security personnel. The following items may not be brought into the building: guns, knives (including small pocket knives), razors, scissors, box cutters, any type of spray, and food/beverages (except for identified jurors and staff). All packages may be inspected. Dangerous or illegal objects may be seized. Litigants should arrive early for court proceedings to allow time for security measures.

Four judges serve in the Trial Division:

Honorable Gary C. Giguere, Jr. - Court A - Presiding Judge of the Trial Division
Honorable J. Richardson Johnson - Court B
Honorable Pamela L. Lightvoet - Court C
Honorable Alexander C. Lipsey - Court D

Each Trial Division courtroom consists of a courtroom team including a judge, a judicial aide, and a law clerk.

• criminal felony cases with a potential sentence of one or more years incarceration
• civil actions with claims of $25,000 or more
• appeals from District Court, Probate Court and administrative agencies of state government and local government boards.

The Circuit Court operates under a central assignment system that allows judges to assist with each others dockets as needed. If a Trial Division judge is unavailable for a scheduled hearing, the proceeding may be transferred by scheduling staff to an available Trial Division judge or one of the Family Division judges.

Courtroom Information Project
The 9th Circuit Court is registered with the National Center for State Courts Courtroom Information Project www.courtroominformationproject.org. This site provides photographs as well as a description of the technology and equipment available in each of our courtrooms. After entering the site, select "Court Search - State" from the navigational menu.

Trial Division Caseflow and Scheduling Information

Documents Filed in Support of Pleadings/Motions are Public Documents:
Attorneys and parties are reminded that documents filed in support of pleadings and motions are public information. There is no authority for court personnel to redact social security numbers or other identifying information from original documents unless ordered by the court. Redaction of identifying information is not applicable to inspection of documents/files. With the eventual on-line public access to court files through the court's Odyssey case management system, attorneys/parties should be aware that identifying information may be viewed unless the file is designated non-public or sealed under order of the court.

Civil Scheduling Deadlines:
All summary motions must be scheduled and heard at least 14 days before case evaluation. All other motions, including motions in limine and motions to adjourn, must be scheduled and heard at least 14 days before trial. Please check the Civil Proceedings Scheduling Order for other deadlines and requirements.

Trial Division Stipulation-Motion-Order Regarding Adjournment:
In an effort to monitor adjournments, the Circuit Court Trial Division requests that attorneys/parties use the court's local form 9CC-0010 for stipulation or motion for adjournment of a court proceeding. If the form is used as a motion, a motion filing fee will be required for civil cases. The form may be obtained in each Trial Division courtroom. An electronic version of the form for use with Microsoft Word may be obtained by contacting Sue King at skking@kalcounty.com.

Notice: The court will not automatically provide updates to forms that are provided electronically to attorneys/parties. It is the responsibility of the recipient to contact the Circuit Court Clerk's Office to determine the date of the most recent version, indicated on the lower left corner of the form.