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9th Judicial Circuit Court

Trial Division

Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center

The Circuit Court's Trial Division is located at the Judge Charles A. Pratt Justice Center, 330 Eleanor Street, Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49007.

The entrance 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:

Criminal
Honorable Kenneth N. Barnard - Court 5600
Honorable Paul J. Bridenstine - Court 5400
Honorable Pamela L. Lightvoet, Presiding Judge of the Trial Division - Court 5300

Civil
Honorable Curtis J. Bell - Court 5100

The types of cases heard by the Trial Division include:

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

The Circuit Court operates under a central assignment system that allows judges to assist with each other's 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.

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 dispositive motions must be scheduled and heard not later than 14 days before case evaluation, unless otherwise ordered by the court. Ordinarily, dispositive motions filed under MCR 2.116(C)(10) will not be heard until the conclusion of discovery or upon a demonstration that all relevant discovery has occurred on the issue addressed by the motion. All other motions, including motions in limine, must be scheduled and heard no later than 14 days before trial. If a motion for adjournment of the trial date is necessary, the same shall be filed not later than 14 days prior to the scheduled trial date. If the trial is to be adjourned by stipulation, the stipulation shall be filed not later than 14 days prior to the trial date. 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 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 or below.

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.