Marquette County Circuit Court Overview
The 25th Judicial Circuit Court serves Marquette County as its court of general jurisdiction. Michigan grants circuit courts the widest trial power of any state court. The bench takes felony crimes, civil suits above $25,000, and all divorce and family cases. It also hears personal protection orders, equity claims, and appeals that rise from the District Court and from state agencies. The court works inside the Marquette County Courthouse Complex at 234 W. Baraga Avenue in downtown Marquette. The main phone line is (906) 225-8330.
Michigan's trial system runs on more than one level. Circuit, district, and probate courts each hold different case types. The 96th District Court covers smaller matters. The Probate Court handles estates and guardianships. Above them all sit the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Michigan Supreme Court. Marquette County falls in the 25th Judicial Circuit for its felony and major civil work.
Circuit judges also share juvenile and family duties with the probate bench. That blend is common in smaller Michigan counties, where one bench must cover a lot of ground.
Note: Marquette County courts run modified dockets with remote options, so anyone scheduled should confirm with the court whether an in-person appearance is required.
Marquette County Circuit Court Judges
Three judges share the circuit workload in Marquette County. Each keeps chambers in the courthouse complex on West Baraga Avenue. Hon. Andrew G. Griffin and Hon. Matthew J. Wiese sit as circuit judges. Hon. Cheryl L. Hill serves as Chief Probate and Circuit Judge, a role that ties the family and probate work to the circuit bench.
| Judge | Role / Chambers | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Hon. Andrew G. Griffin | Circuit Judge, South Chambers | (906) 225-8217 |
| Hon. Matthew J. Wiese | Circuit Judge, North Chambers | (906) 225-8205 |
| Hon. Cheryl L. Hill | Chief Probate and Circuit Judge | (906) 225-8300 |
Judge Wiese is the newest name on the bench. He was sworn in during January 2024 after Governor Gretchen Whitmer appointed him to the seat. The change followed the resignation of the prior circuit judge. Docket schedules for each judge are posted through the county court pages, and remote hearing options stay in use for many proceedings.
What the 25th Circuit Court Handles
The 25th Circuit Court holds general jurisdiction, so its docket runs wide. It takes the cases that carry the most weight. Felony charges move here once the District Court finds probable cause. Big-money civil suits, divorce, and custody fights also belong to the circuit bench. The court can grant equitable relief, such as an injunction, that a limited court cannot.
- Felony criminal cases after bindover from the 96th District Court
- Civil lawsuits with more than $25,000 in dispute
- Divorce, paternity, custody, parenting time, and family support
- Personal protection orders and related safety petitions
- Equity actions, injunctions, and original writs
- Appeals from the District Court and from state administrative agencies
Family cases form a large share of the load. The court works with the Friend of the Court on support and parenting orders. Some family and juvenile files stay confidential under Michigan law.
Circuit Court vs District Court vs Probate Court
Marquette County splits trial work across three benches. Each court has its own limit, its own case types, and its own appeal route. Knowing which one holds a file saves a wasted trip. The table below sets the three side by side.
| Circuit Court | District Court | Probate Court | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it handles | Felonies, large civil suits, divorce and family, PPOs, equity, appeals | Misdemeanors, traffic, small claims, landlord-tenant, preliminary felony steps | Estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, conservatorships, mental-health cases |
| Dollar / case thresholds | Civil disputes over $25,000 | Civil up to $25,000; small claims up to $5,500 | Value of the estate or the protected person's assets |
| Where appeals go | Michigan Court of Appeals | 25th Circuit Court | Circuit Court or Court of Appeals by case type |
The 96th District Court in Marquette County
The 96th District Court is the county's limited-jurisdiction bench. It handles the high-volume cases that touch the most residents. Traffic tickets, misdemeanors, and small claims all begin here. The court also runs the first stages of every felony, including arraignment and the preliminary exam. Hon. Roger W. Kangas and Hon. Karl A. Weber serve as its judges, backed by several magistrates.
The county's 96th District Court page lists those judges, the magistrates, and the court's core duties.
Those duties feed the circuit docket, since a felony file passes upward once the District Court binds the case over. The two courts share the same courthouse, so records often move a short distance.
District Court also answers many everyday questions about court process. Its public help pages cover hearings, payment deadlines, and bench warrants.
A District Court FAQ page walks through traffic hearing choices, small claims, and how a bench warrant can issue.
A missed hearing or an unpaid ticket can trigger a warrant, and that entry then shows on the case docket for anyone who searches it.
Civil and Small Claims Cases in Marquette County
General civil cases up to $25,000 stay in the District Court. These include contract claims, damage suits, and landlord-tenant disputes. Filing fees rise with the amount in dispute. A jury demand and a motion each carry their own set fee.
The District Court's general civil page lists the summons, the filing fees, and the motion fee.
Those fee tiers help sort which claims land in District Court and which climb to the circuit bench. The fee schedule scales in clear steps.
| Claim amount | Filing fee |
|---|---|
| Up to $600 | $35 |
| $601 to $1,750 | $55 |
| $1,751 to $10,000 | $75 |
| $10,001 to $25,000 | $160 |
| Jury demand | $50 |
| Motion fee | $20 |
Small claims offer a simpler path for minor disputes. The limit is $5,500 per claim in Marquette County. Parties speak for themselves, and lawyers are barred unless the lawyer is a party. Each party is capped at five new claims per week.
The court's small claims page sets out the limit, the self-representation rule, and the service options.
A small claims judgment can still be enforced, and the case file stays a public District Court record long after the hearing.
How a Case Moves Through the Marquette County System
A criminal case in Marquette County moves along a set track. It starts in the District Court and can climb to the circuit bench. The turning point is the bindover, when a felony is sent up for trial. Appeals then follow a clear ladder toward the state's high courts.
Felony path: Arrest › District Court arraignment › Probable cause conference › Preliminary exam › Bindover to Circuit Court › Arraignment on the information › Pretrial › Trial › Sentencing
Appeal path: 96th District Court › 25th Circuit Court › Michigan Court of Appeals › Michigan Supreme Court
Civil cases follow a parallel route. A complaint opens the file, then discovery, motions, and often mediation come before trial. A losing party may appeal the judgment up the same chain.
Note: The bindover step marks where a felony leaves the District Court, so the full trial file for a serious charge lives on the circuit docket.
Concurrent Jurisdiction and the Friend of the Court
Marquette County runs its trial courts under a concurrent-jurisdiction plan. The Michigan Supreme Court approved it through Administrative Order No. 2013-16. The plan links the 25th Circuit Court, the 96th District Court, and the Probate Court. Under it, the courts may share judges and workload to keep cases moving.
Family cases lean heavily on the Friend of the Court. That office keeps support records and enforces custody, parenting time, and child support orders. It reviews support amounts and can pursue interstate support actions. The Friend of the Court can be reached at (906) 225-8262.
Searching Marquette County Circuit Court Records
Circuit case records are searched through MiCOURT, the state's public case portal. The county links its circuit docket as court C25. A search returns the register of actions, not always the full document images. For a certified copy or an older file, the County Clerk holds the circuit court records.
The County Clerk doubles as the clerk of the circuit court and can pull divorce files and name searches. Broader guidance on finding any case file lives in the Marquette County court records overview, while copy fees and request steps sit with the County Clerk office.
- Open the county court directory and choose the circuit court, listed as C25.
- Search by party name or by case number where the field is shown.
- Read the result as a register of actions, with filings, hearings, and orders.
- Call or email the County Clerk for a certified copy or a sealed or missing file.
Some records stay confidential. Juvenile, adoption, and mental-health files are not open to the public.