Michigan Supreme Court urges ongoing funding to finish statewide case management system

Chief Justice Clements told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Corrections and Judiciary on Thursday that Michigan's statewide case management system (CMS) is central to efforts to make courts more data-driven, efficient and accessible, and asked lawmakers for $7.2 million in ongoing funding to scale staffing and support as the system is brought online across the state.

Clements said the statewide CMS "is so important and drives much of what we want to accomplish as a data-driven branch of government," and described progress and outstanding needs during a presentation to the committee.

The request comes after the Legislature in 2022 approved a one-time appropriation of $150,000,000 to build out a statewide CMS; Clements told the panel that roughly $65,000,000 has been spent or obligated and about $85,000,000 remained. The State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) also requested $38,000,000 in ongoing operating funds in 2022 that was not approved; the new $7.2 million request is a step toward that long-term need, Clements said.

Clements said adoption of the Judicial Information System (JIS) is well underway: "As of February 2025, 250 of 302 courts are using JIS," she said, listing 69 circuit courts, 107 district courts and 74 probate courts. She said SCAO has engaged discussions with additional courts, has commitments from several and is actively onboarding…