• criminal matters in which the potential sentence is incarceration of one year or more
• domestic relations matters
• juvenile matters pertaining to delinquency or criminal activity
• child protective proceedings
• adoptions
• name changes
• emancipations
• general civil actions involving claims of $25,000 or more
• county wide appeals from District Court, Probate Court, administrative agencies of state government and local government boards.

Gull Road Courthouse 1400 Gull Road Kalamazoo, MI 49048 (269) 385-6000 Family Division: child protective proceedings domestic proceedings juvenile proceedings personal protection orders

Michigan Avenue Courthouse 227 W. Michigan Avenue Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 383-8837 Trial Division: appeals from district court, probate court and administrative agencies civil proceedings criminal proceedings Friend of the Court show cause hearings

Crosstown Center Courthouse 150 E. Crosstown Parkway Kalamazoo, MI 49001 (269) 383-8666 Family Division Matters: adoptions ancillary proceedings emancipations name changes

Friend of the Court Office 201 W. Kalamazoo Avenue 4th Floor Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 384-8200

Juvenile Home 1424 Gull Road Kalamazoo, MI 49048 (269) 385-8550 Detention Services Day Treatment Program Youth Center School Intensive Learning Center

Youthful Offender Transitions Program Park Trades Center 326 W. Kalamazoo Ave., Suite 304 Kalamazoo, MI 49007 (269) 978-0767

ORGANIZATION OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT COURT

The seven full-time judges of the Circuit Court (five Circuit judges and two Probate judges serving in the Circuit Court) serve in either the Family Division or the Trial Division. However, the Circuit Court operates under a central assignment system that assigns judges to assist with each other's dockets as needed. If a Family Division judge is unavailable for a scheduled hearing, the proceeding may be transferred to an available Family Division judge or one of the Trial Division judges. Likewise, if a Trial Division judge is unavailable for a scheduled hearing, the proceeding may be transferred to an available Trial Division judge or one of the Family Division judges.

Service units directly support the Family and Trial Divisions:

• Automation & Technology/Chief Court Clerk
• Finance
• Drug Treatment Courts and Planning
• Friend of the Court
• Juvenile Home

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Chief Circuit/Probate Judge: Honorable Stephen D. Gorsalitz
Chief Judge Pro Tempore: Honorable Gary C. Giguere, Jr.
Presiding Judge of Family Division: Honorable Curtis J. Bell
Presiding Judge of Trial Division: Honorable Pamela L. Lightvoet
Circuit Court Administrator: Suzanne M. Darling
Trial Division Administrator: DeVona I. Jones
Family Division Administrator: Katherine B. Flack
Administrator of Problem Solving Courts: Ann E. Filkins
Finance Services Administrator: Susan M. Sayles
Technology Administrator/Chief Court Clerk: Ruth A. Gruizenga
Friend of the Court: K.Nigel Crum
Juvenile Home Administrator: Travis J. Faulds

If you require special accommodations to use the court because of a disability or if you require a foreign language interpreter to help you fully participate in court proceedings, please contact the court to make arrangements.

Interpreter Needed

     Family Division (269) 385-6069

     Trial Division (269) 383-8842

Disability Accommodations (269) 383-8928

If you have thoughts about how we might make this web site more helpful, please e-mail Amanda Mulholland.