United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
About This Court
Located in the western portion of Michigan's Lower and Upper Peninsulas, this district covers a geographically diverse area that includes major urban centers such as Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, and Lansing, as well as rural and lakeshore communities along Lake Michigan and the Upper Peninsula. The court sits within the Sixth Circuit and handles the full range of federal civil and criminal matters arising in its territory.
Grand Rapids serves as the primary seat of the court and hosts the chief administrative operations, while additional courthouses extend judicial access across the district's broad geographic footprint. The district reflects a mix of manufacturing, agricultural, and healthcare-related economic activity, which influences the nature of litigation brought before it.
Proceedings are governed by the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, and Federal Rules of Evidence, along with the court's local rules. Bankruptcy cases are handled by the companion Bankruptcy Court, Western District of Michigan. Appeals go to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit.
Divisions
Southern Division (Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing, Battle Creek), Northern Division (Traverse City, Marquette)
Caseload
The Western District of Michigan handles a significant volume of civil rights, Social Security appeals, and criminal cases, with the court also receiving matters related to the district's manufacturing and agricultural industries.
Bar Admission
Attorneys must be admitted to the State Bar of Michigan or otherwise eligible under the court's local rules, and must complete the court's electronic filing registration to practice before this court.
Clerk's Office
110 Michigan Street NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49503
(616) 456-2381
Active Judges 6
| Name | Appointed By | Confirmed | Law School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Beckering | Joseph R. Biden | 2021 | University of Wisconsin Law School |
| Hala Jarbou | Donald J. Trump | 2020 | Wayne State University Law School |
| Robert Jonker | George W. Bush | 2007 | University of Michigan Law School |
| Paul Maloney | George W. Bush | 2007 | University of Detroit Law School (now University of Detroit Mercy School of Law) |
| Janet Neff | George W. Bush | 2007 | Wayne State University Law School |
| Gordon Quist | George H.W. Bush | 1992 | George Washington University Law School |
Local Rules
The Local Rules of the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, which supplement the Federal Rules of Appellate Procedure. See the court's official website for the authoritative text.