[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6460582,"mediaKeyId","5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4","parentId",5844529,"title","Kent County probate judge proposes statewide judicial notices website to replace newspaper publication","audioSeconds",289,"startMs",258000,"endMs",547000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4&start=258&end=547","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4/thumbnail_258000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6460582/Michigan/Kent-County-probate-judge-proposes-statewide-judicial-notices-website-to-replace-newspaper-publication","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460582-3a5294858310324ab1ccbdbce9eb7f4d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773675892&Signature=c4bcC1bjC1dd9qNyNINl77wiw7yvZxjaQINMjmCo50tidPo6W5J9oyhoEJAk-d4yB8Io8j9voUuwGGlFEdIy~JHMGk-w3amId9VaD32NWyF48Hscb8o3RkVS4P7c4aC9qN03GYnPijyEeTbr4gkrZFSMdnRKsK53XXCUDylrVs7JLEs2SuWQt7d6BgP5KLCHAsm~JrNU6gJYdm~oJ-Ib51mwmbujZ3gpol6QpE5SV~4XrPM4fXiKrJLEYrOWryZcvVdTijyLNPdlUAAwXVr62~qVPJg8YU5Y69v41HmghNlpbpAwoRw-k~akUE6mHlzMbkDi-t8KUFFeTv4Vj-5iEw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Michigan Supreme Court","date","2025-09-23T17:47:32Z","article","Judge Avery Rose, a probate judge at Kent County Probate Court, told the Michigan Judicial Council that a single, public judicial notices portal could make court notice more reliable, searchable and less costly. He proposed two implementation paths: a “superseding” model that would make posting on a council‑managed site the legally sufficient publication method and a compromise model in which the portal supplements newspaper publication.

Rose said the portal would offer a guided form to generate required notice language, time‑stamp and lock content for an audit trail, provide automatic confirmation of publication to courts or filers, and allow public search by name, county or case type. “Effective notice is not cosmetic, it’s constitutional in nature,” Rose said, citing U.S. Supreme Court and Michigan precedent on due process and notice.

In the memo Rose described for council staff, Michigan currently requires notices to be archived at a statewide repository under an amended statutory provision he referenced as “Mcl. 6 9 1 10 51,” but the controlling proof of publication remains a newspaper publisher’s affidavit. Path 1, Rose said, would require targeted statutory and court‑rule amendments but yield the clearest due‑process gains and the largest cost relief for courts, which he said spend “tens of thousands of dollars, each year in publication fees.”

Under Path 2, the portal would be usable by courts and indigent parties and would provide online notice that either supplements or substitutes for newspaper publication; after posting, notices would still be forwarded to the existing publishers’ repository for later search. Rose acknowledged that changes to court rules — and possibly statute — would be necessary and left detailed legal determinations to the council.

Council members did not take action during the public comment period; Rose said he would provide a written memo outlining the proposal for staff review. The council will accept written comments and review the public submissions as it drafts its strategic agenda.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Michigan Judicial Council Public Meeting - September 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Judge Avery Rose urged the Michigan Judicial Council to consider a statewide, court‑managed notices portal that would generate, time‑stamp and archive court publication notices and could replace or supplement newspaper publication rules to reduce costs and improve due‑process notice.","taxTitle","Supreme Court Judicial Rulings ( Opinions ), Judicial, Michigan","taxId",74552,"location","Michigan","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6460568,"Advocates urge Michigan Judicial Council to back reentry, sentence relief and funding reforms",2642,156000,2798000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4&start=156&end=2798","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4/thumbnail_156000.jpg","/articles/6460568/Michigan/Advocates-urge-Michigan-Judicial-Council-to-back-reentry-sentence-relief-and-funding-reforms","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460568-56a1b2a142df4ef24ebb744684e3e25d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773675893&Signature=CVlRT-mPDiWKbtWOqddXTtfqlPxm4q66WChAuNxi4Af1E7t-RSg9u9n4YION2kxZHJQnXjRW~srqiDIjaBvebkEYkkb5mU3z1B~GWniMVAoD~bPlii~ZASVM4ExUov2jFS~5gt-Zv3CTKTo-PwK7FTWq7hPsenp1NEPsbCKpsorCD9Q2e2dxhwZ-Reil~HTMLqz~JZIo7nYG4RQUacknscNE0vCXtnIiTlHGbSZ9BDz4ef5mUIwODdyXn8UQ3jr0dR8ULQDQ2t5JK~Uzc6A3HETDSKj3Ob4xD~IE5DGzkumDPAOP33D45dnNnpSI4neN7SAnCxLVXurvCD0TIlLkbg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several speakers urged the Michigan Judicial Council to prioritize reentry services, sentencing relief and funding reform.

Estrelita Bezine, a facilitator for the CLEAR reentry program, urged the council to keep funding for community and local collaborators that assist people returning from prison, saying the program “seems to be working very well for the ladies and men that are a part of it.” Chuck Worpachowski of the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration urged an end to courts’ reliance on fees, fines and forfeitures for funding and recommended continuing work on court data transparency and attendance notifications to reduce bench warrants.

Natalie Holbrook Holmes, program director for the American Friends Service Committee’s Michigan Criminal Justice Program, asked the council to create rules that make it easier for people serving long sentences to challenge questionable or wrongful convictions, and to support resentencing and bond procedures where investigations uncover problems. She also asked the council to engage community organizations in reviewing charging, plea and sentencing practices that produce extreme sentences for women.

Suvi Manor and other public commenters raised concerns about heavy corrections staffing hours and mental health needs for correctional officers. James Gamet of the Marquette County Suicide Prevention Coalition urged clearer rules of procedure to reduce stress and confusion at public meetings and recommended better compliance with parliamentary processes.

The council did not adopt any immediate policy changes at the public comment session but will consider written submissions as it finalizes the strategic agenda.","Speakers representing reentry programs and advocacy groups urged the council to support policies improving reentry services, ease resentencing and parole access for long‑term prisoners, and reduce reliance on court fees to fund operations.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6460573,"Families and advocates call for more accountability and oversight in Michigan probate courts",206,1339000,1545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4&start=1339&end=1545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4/thumbnail_1339000.jpg","/articles/6460573/Michigan/Families-and-advocates-call-for-more-accountability-and-oversight-in-Michigan-probate-courts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460573-d4b7cfeb30538ed6c231b73fe4ec8d4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773675893&Signature=T~7u27XfyGZGKbw~DzGCptlPyIUmV0ohbR2GCVYk-Eg~bsIE4eFKl7ybmOPdAtbBRS3Z6SPreNLO5UtG2yedPMf9csfvxDobaimm6GW5X23SuvZd9eTsLcMHJ8EB6UbJOuxWqMKoO3oOVVX9yj3PcSbQsn60gXdMBQaZx7PupHZnyLNP3Yi8ABwhJugSyqXTsgWg06k~YJjS4EstIWPMQ7lLFzLaBfbMODLoHxN80vue5PJ0zqRe~jYGzwEbvPmVnBluONZmiISXwH6vWL9278GBxSg0Aus7ShBbUGOEoPJVyRvtXqXJzM5XJFYZwqG23Fj4FyniXYpDd6OhzP1DFQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several speakers at the Michigan Judicial Council meeting described longrunning difficulties in probate courts and urged structural reforms to improve accountability and consistency across counties.

Jody White said families she represents face years of unresolved complaints to the Attorney Grievance Commission and the Judicial Tenure Commission and requested a citizen oversight board for the JTC and AGC, fee caps for attorneys in probate matters, and broader access to courtroom video recordings. White said her family’s matter involved contested fiduciary conduct and asserted over $882,000 in requested attorney fees in a probate estate; she said the family has filed a petition for superintending control and will pursue appeals.

Rosalind Harris described lack of uniformity across probate courts and said judges should not oversee programs where interpersonal relationships create conflicts of interest. John Mitchell and other commenters described personal experiences of delayed or missing notice and what they called a “home‑team” courthouse culture that undermines trust.

Speakers asked the Judicial Council to consider reforms that would standardize probate practice statewide, increase transparency of complaint handling, and make courtroom recordings and other records more accessible to families. The council did not take formal action during the comment period and will review written submissions as staff draft the strategic agenda.","Multiple public commenters urged the Michigan Judicial Council to address perceived lack of uniformity, accountability and access to probate court records, requesting stronger complaint processes, fee caps, citizen oversight and easier access to recordings and case documents.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6460578,"Public speakers urge Michigan Judicial Council to expand public access to court audio, video and transcripts",239,1646000,1885000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4&start=1646&end=1885","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5844529-a9b0d7fe287799dc20dd22440165a7c4/thumbnail_1646000.jpg","/articles/6460578/Michigan/Public-speakers-urge-Michigan-Judicial-Council-to-expand-public-access-to-court-audio-video-and-transcripts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6460578-1b46b60286a0ad759837ae2762193c63/orig.mp4?Expires=1773675893&Signature=lpHQDa7pLwiGa24RUdfCN8YDFRv1sEvRz0DYS1O5UNzhkegAWP422Bq6Kya918eomxmjR84NgEWLLDK9CB7JzIiL0LiVEYPyZP9N-6URqH35TmPgwYzxPFNFU-XIqqrRbhgTPgYSQeQaHVzDVZE--SOQF8xeT23I1luO24eGlVb~niIr6Il9dwIDStOGHg9QCylkP6I~oo1ShNrnQCfodM~VeG5kQ-zm15TkH1zFfF2rSxeZdrB9cwoVYkQ-Q8Ln-BMS17BLl7EdnVj-Rq5~vJkwVIqp~YaabxumKhe1Dx9FfLIJM6Tnb3z5ZT8L4fWr2MInn2fUoBUpam2bzeGhuQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several speakers at the Michigan Judicial Council meeting urged the council and the Michigan Supreme Court to adopt policies that increase public access to audio and video recordings of court proceedings and to improve transcription timeliness.

Samantha Hallman, who identified herself as a voter and an educator and researcher, told the council that recordings contain information transcripts do not — “race, volume, tone, body language, and other indicators of judicial demeanor and potential misconduct” — and that transcripts can be cost‑prohibitive and slow to produce. “Transcripts are often cost prohibitive, and they take a significantly longer amount of time to receive compared to a recording,” Hallman said.

Rita Williams, editor of the investigative outlet Clutch Justice, said Michigan resists publishing comprehensive statistics on judicial discipline, case outcomes and sentencing disparities and repeated the call for recordings and open data dashboards. “Transparency should be the reform,” Williams said.

Other speakers urged practical steps: Greg Atkins and others said recordings and copies should be made available to litigants for a nominal fee (the State Bar previously recommended a low fee), while members of local bar associations and court stakeholders asked the council to explore technological solutions to transcription backlogs. Chuck Worpachowski of the Michigan Collaborative to End Mass Incarceration supported transparency but urged the council to include defense attorneys, formerly incarcerated people and other stakeholders in any public‑access plan to avoid retraumatizing people captured in older videos.

No rule changes were adopted at the meeting; council members said written comments would be considered as they finalize the strategic agenda. Several speakers said they will submit written testimony for the record.","Multiple speakers called on the Michigan Judicial Council to make recordings and court data more accessible, citing cost barriers to transcripts, accessibility needs, and the role of recordings in holding courts accountable.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Kent County probate judge proposes statewide judicial notices website to replace newspaper publication

Advocates urge Michigan Judicial Council to back reentry, sentence relief and funding reforms

Families and advocates call for more accountability and oversight in Michigan probate courts

Public speakers urge Michigan Judicial Council to expand public access to court audio, video and transcripts