Cass County Courts 2018/2019
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2018/2019 BIENNIAL REPORT CASS COUNTY COURTS 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM CHIEF JUDGE SUSAN L. DOBRICH 5 JUDGES SERVING THE CASS COUNTY COURTS 6 COURT TEAM MEMBERS 7 HISTORICAL ROSTER OF CASS COUNTY JUDGES 8 MICHIGAN’S CHIEF JUDGE RULE 9 CIRCUIT COURT AUTHORITY 10 PROBATE COURT AUTHORITY 11 CIRCUIT & PROBATE JUDGE CASE ASSIGNMENT 12 DISTRICT COURT AUTHORITY 13 CIRCUIT COURT FILINGS 14 FAMILY DIVISION COURT FILINGS 15 PROBATE COURT FILINGS 16 DISTRICT COURT FILINGS 17 2018 CASE FLOW MANAGEMENT 18 PUBLIC SATISFACTION TRENDS 19 COURTS’ COLLECTION PROGRAMS 20 FRIEND OF THE COURT CHILD SUPPORT COLLECTIONS 21 FRIEND OF THE COURT PERFORMANCE MEASURES 22 PROBLEM-SOLVING/TREATMENT COURTS 23 FAMILY TREATMENT COURT 24 ADULT TREATMENT COURT/SOBRIETY COURT 25 SWIFT & SURE SANCTIONS PROBATION PROGRAM 25 MENTAL HEALTH COURT 26 3 YEAR-$400,000 OJJDP GRANT AWARDED TO FTC 26 4 YEAR-$500,000 GRANT AWARDED TO ATC 27 $678,000 AWARDED TO PROBLEM-SOLVING COURTS, FY 2019 27 FTC’S OJJDP THREE YEAR ENHANCEMENT GRANT 28 FY 2020 STATE GRANT AWARDS 28 MICHIGAN TRIBAL-STATE-FEDERAL FORUM 29 3 JUVENILE COURT FUNDING—CHILD CARE FUND (CCF) 30 “HEARSAY” COURT NEWSLETTER 31 COURT IMAGING PROJECT 32 MICHIGAN LEGAL HELP SELF-HELP CENTERS 33 ALL COURTS STAFF MEETINGS 34 COURTS’ & CLERK PERSONNEL POLICY HANDBOOK 34 ASSESSMENTS & PRE-TRIAL SERVICES INITIATIVE 34 LAW DAY 2018 35 REUNIFICATION DAY 2018 36 MJI COURT LEADERSHIP ACADEMY 37 UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN 2018 FAURI LECTURE 39 ADOPTION DAY 2018 40 FRIEND OF THE COURT “PARENTING ACADEMY” 41 COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) 42 JUDICIAL COUNCIL 43 MICHIGAN INDIGENT DEFENSE COMMISSION (MIDC) 44 BAXTER THE THERAPY DOG 45 LAW & COURTS BUILDING SECURITY COMMITTEE 47 JUVENILE LIFERS 48 CASS COUNTY COURTS ARE NOW ON TWITTER 48 BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS REVIEW & MODIFICATION PILOT IN CASS COUNTY FRIEND OF THE COURT 49 LAW DAY 2019 50 ELDER ABUSE TRAINING 2019 51 REUNIFICATION DAY 2019 52 CASS COUNTY COURTS NEW WEBSITE 53 IT SECURITY AUDIT, JULY 2019 55 CASS, BERRIEN & ST. JOSEPH COUNTIES’ FEDERAL GRANT FUNDED TRAUMA TRAINING 56 2019 RECOVERY FILM FESTIVAL 57 100 YEAR FRIEND OF THE COURT CELEBRATION 58 4 FOC FACTS FROM 100 YEAR CELEBRATION 60 CASS COUNTY MURALS BY ARTIST JOHN VANDYKE 62 ADOPTION DAY 2019 63 TOYS FOR TOTS DRIVE 2019 64 CASS COUNTY COURTS’ CONTACT INFORMATION 65 5 MESSAGE FROM CHIEF JUDGE SUSAN L. DOBRICH We are pleased to present the 2018/2019 Biennial Report for the Cass County Courts. My colleagues and I are proud of our diligent Court staff who work so hard to make our Courts accessible, efficient, & effective. We measure our performance to improve outcomes, implement technology to increase access & improve efficiency, & fine-tune court operations to be responsible stewards of public resources. This report highlights Chief Judge recent achievements made possible Susan L. Dobrich by the enthusiasm, compassion, & caring of our dedicated Court professionals. I wish to extend my personal gratitude and sincere appreciation to all of our dedicated Court personnel, whether named in this report or not, for the important work each and every one of them perform on a daily basis. I am confident that we will continue to improve our court operations and maintain the public's trust & satisfaction. 6 JUDGES SERVING THE CASS COUNTY COURTS 43rd CIRCUIT COURT The Honorable Mark A. Herman 2017-Present PROBATE COURT & CHIEF JUDGE The Honorable Susan L. Dobrich 1995-Present 4th DISTRICT COURT The Honorable Stacey A. Rentfrow 2009-Present 7 COURT TEAM MEMBERS 43rd CIRCUIT COURT Honorable Mark A. Herman, Judge Karen Moran, Judicial Assistant Honorable Susan L. Dobrich, Chief Judge Julia Smith, Judicial Assistant Joseph Lotarski, Law Clerk Carol Montavon Bealor, Court Administrator 43rd CIRCUIT COURT FILE ROOM Monica McMichael, Clerk/Register of Deeds Lindsey Muzzey, Deputy Clerk Emily Bogue, File Room Supervisor Mary Parmley, Deputy Clerk FAMILY/JUVENILE COURT Honorable Susan L. Dobrich, Chief Judge Lizzie Strukel, Judicial Assistant Carol Montavon Bealor, Court Administrator Dee Duszynski, Bailiff Leigh A. Feldman, Attorney Referee Alexi Fuller, Juvenile Probation Officer Joni Patzer, Juvenile Register/Fin. Officer Sarah Zhang, Juvenile Probation Officer Claire Collins, Deputy Juvenile Register Justin Vaughn, Juvenile Probation Officer Lisa Withers, Judicial Assistant Dawn Mallo, Family/Juvenile Caseworker PROBATE COURT Honorable Susan L. Dobrich, Chief Judge Cheryl Hess, Probate Court Clerk Kelley James-Jura, Probate Register Carol Montavon Bealor, Court Administrator Linda Kramb, Deputy Probate Register FRIEND OF THE COURT Carol Montavon Bealor, Director Fern Turney, Interstate & PT Specialist Sarah Mathews, Deputy FOC Tracie Kuriata, Financial Caseworker Melissa Sytsma, Attorney Referee April McKee, Enforcement Caseworker Tina Butler, Enforcement Supervisor Valerie Clark, Medical/Financial CM Specialist Donella Kujawa, Financial CM Supervisor Cheri Dolan, Financial CM Clerk/Scheduler Chelsea Olkowski, Rev/Mod & PT Specialist Debra Troche, Receptionist Deputy Tim Gondeck, Warrant Officer Barbara Daniels, Enforcement Clerk Dawn Mallo, IV-D Caseworker 4th DISTRICT COURT Honorable Stacey A. Rentfrow, Judge Nancy Brown, Court Administrator/Magistrate Chris Rockafellow, Bailiff/Magistrate Sheila Brown, Deputy Civil Clerk Kate Oosterwal, Probation Officer Cindy Brunt, Deputy Criminal/Traffic Clerk Sandy Tidey, Probation Officer/Magistrate Diana Jurgenson, Deputy Collections/Civil Clerk Audra Springsteen, Judicial Assistant Susan VanTuyle, Deputy Criminal Clerk Lori Niswonger, Deputy Traffic Clerk 8 HISTORICAL ROSTER OF CASS COUNTY JUDGES Probate 1. Honorable Elias B. Sherman, 1831-1837 2. Honorable Ulysses S. Eby, 1913-1920 3. Honorable George M. Fields, 1921-1950 4. Honorable George J. Kabrine, 1950 5. Honorable Mable B. Fields, 1950-1956 6. Honorable Edgar Probst, 1957-1964 7. Honorable Wilson G. Eby, 1965-1977 8. Honorable Michael E. Dodge, 1977-1982 9. Honorable Herbert E. Phillipson, Jr., 1982-1994 10. Honorable Susan L. Dobrich, 1995-present Circuit 1. Honorable Glen Warner, 1924-1948 2. Honorable Carl D. Moiser, 1948-1960 3. Honorable David Anderson, Jr., 1960-1968 4. Honorable James E. Hoff, 1969-1982 5. Honorable Michael E. Dodge, 1982-2016 6. Honorable Mark A. Herman, 2017-present District 1. Honorable Steg Lignell, 1969-1978 2. Honorable Herman Saitz, 1979 3. Honorable Paul E. Deats, 1979-2008 4. Honorable Stacey A. Rentfrow, 2009-present Check out the collection of Judicial Portraits hanging in the Law & Courts Building. The Cass County Bar Association funded the framing and hanging of the Judicial Portraits to memorialize an important piece of Cass County’s legal history. 9 MICHIGAN’S CHIEF JUDGE RULE Pursuant to Michigan Court Rule 8.110, a Chief Judge is appointed by the Michigan Supreme Court to serve a two (2) year term. Judge Dobrich was appointed as Cass County’s First Chief Judge for all three Courts (Circuit, Probate, and District) for a two (2) year term beginning January 1, 2014. Judge Dobrich has continued to serve as Chief Judge since that time, most recently being re-appointed for a two (2) year term beginning January 1, 2020. A Chief Judge shall act in conformity with the Michigan Court Rules, administrative orders of the Supreme Court, and local court rules. The Chief Judge is the presiding officer of the Courts and shall: • Call and preside over meetings of the Courts; • Appoint committees of the Courts; • Initiate policies concerning the Courts' internal operations and the Courts’ position on external matters affecting the Courts; • Represent the Courts in their relations with the Supreme Court, other courts, other agencies of government, the bar, the general public, and the news media, and in ceremonial functions; and • Counsel and assist other judges in the performance of their responsibilities. As director of the administration of the courts, the Chief Judge has administrative superintending power and control over the judges of the courts and all of the Courts’ personnel with authority and responsibility which includes: • Supervising caseload management; • Directing the apportionment and assignment of the business of the Courts; • Determining the hours of the Courts and the judges; • Supervising the performance of all of the Courts’ personnel; • Supervising the Courts’ finances, including financial planning, the preparation and presentation of budgets, and financial reporting; • Requesting assignments of visiting judges and direct the assignment of matters to the visiting judges; and, • Ensuring compliance by the Courts with all applicable court rules and provisions of the law. 10 CIRCUIT COURT AUTHORITY The 43rd Circuit Court is the trial court of general jurisdiction in Cass County and has county-wide jurisdiction or authority over all actions except those given by state law to another court, including: • Criminal matters with the potential for one year or more of incarceration • Domestic relations matters • Personal protection orders • Juvenile matters pertaining to delinquency or criminal activity • Child protective proceedings • Parental consent waivers • Adoptions • Name changes • Emancipations • General civil actions involving claims of $25,000 or more • Cases appealed from another court or by an administrative agency • Superintending control over other courts within the judicial circuit, subject to final superintending control of the Supreme Court Final decisions of the Circuit Court may be appealed to the Court of Appeals. Chief Judge Dobrich and Judge Herman share the