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Court Rules
Judge Tracey A. Yokich
Judge

Judge Tracey A. Yokich

Individual Rules, Standing Orders & Policies

Rules last changed:
Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Macomb County

Limits & Logistics

Courtesy Copies

Motion, Responsive Pleadings, Trial Brief

Communication

Phone

Clerk

(586) 493-0357
Phone
Court-wide
586-942-0594
Emergencies
Filters:

Document Format Requirements1 rule

FormattingImportantCivil cases

At the discretion of the trial Judge, photocopies of completed SJI's are acceptable provided that blank spaces are completed and any alternatives in the instructions are chosen. Each instruction shall be on a separate sheet.

Applies to
  • Jury instructions

Formatting

  • Blank spaces must be completed
  • Alternatives in the instructions must be chosen

Document Filing Requirements9 rules

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

In jury cases, submit to the Court in writing special jury questions that counsel desire to be asked of the prospective jurors.

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

Fourteen days before trial date, supply witness lists in sufficient number for the Court and all counsel of actual and/or probable witnesses, indicating if in person or by deposition and, if medical experts, the hospital and office where the witness practices and his or her specialty.

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

Proposed exhibits must be marked before trial; attorneys must prepare an exhibit log and provide stipulations for entry or reasons for objections, with copies furnished to the Court and opposing counsel whenever practicable.

Court's wording

Have proposed exhibits marked prior to trial. In Judge Yokich’s court a video recording system is utilized. Attorneys are responsible for marking exhibits and preparing an exhibit log. Counsel shall have stipulations for entry or stated reasons for objections. Whenever practicable, copies of exhibits shall be furnished to the Court and opposing counsel for use during the trial.

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

If a jury trial, to the extent possible, have completed, typed jury instructions, including proposed jury verdict form for the Court and all counsel (not just by jury instruction number).

Filing RequirementsMandatoryCivil cases

Trial briefs shall contain a statement of facts, issues, theory of case, memorandum of law, joint schedule of assets, and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

Document
Trial brief

Must include

  • Legal argument
  • Statement of facts
Filing RequirementsMandatory

IF YOU WISH TO APPEAR REMOTELY, YOU MUST FILE AN EX PARTE MOTION WITH A PROPOSED ORDER 48 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR SCHEDULED COURT DATE.

Document
Ex parte motion

Must include

  • Proposed order
Macomb:bfdfbd59ee0a331346ee01cf · May 2022
|SectionScheduling days and times
Filing RequirementsMandatory

Brief Required: Yes

Filing RequirementsImportantCivil cases

Joint succinct statement as to what the case is about, not to exceed one paragraph.

Filing RequirementsImportantCivil cases

If cases or statutes are cited, a photocopy of the case or statute shall be attached. Prepare stipulations in writing, if any, to be placed on the record.

Filing & Service rules

Filing Timing and Cure Windows

Responses to deposition objections must be filed with the Judge and opposing counsel 7 days before trial.

with responses filed with the Judge and opposing counsel 7 days before the trial date.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

Motions in limine and trial motions must be filed and heard at least 14 days before trial.

Motions in Limine and/or trial motions shall be filed and heard at least 14 days prior to trial.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

Deposition objections must be submitted with supporting law and argument at least 14 days before trial, with responses filed 7 days before trial.

If depositions have objections therein, the parties shall submit to the Judge and opposing counsel no later than 14 days before trial date, the objections with supporting law including argument, with responses filed with the Judge and opposing counsel 7 days before the trial date.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

Dispositive motions must be filed and heard at least 28 days before trial unless the Court permits otherwise.

Unless otherwise permitted by the Court, all dispositive motions shall be filed and heard at least 28 days prior to trial.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

In a bench trial, the Trial Brief must be submitted at least 2 days before trial.

If a bench trial, submit a Trial Brief at least 2 days prior.

Civil cases

Page 1 | ON THE DAY OF TRIAL

Witness lists must be supplied at least 14 days before trial in sufficient number for the Court and all counsel.

Fourteen days before trial date, supply witness lists in sufficient number for the Court and all counsel of actual and/or probable witnesses

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

A request to appear remotely must be filed at least 48 hours before the scheduled court date.

IF YOU WISH TO APPEAR REMOTELY, YOU MUST FILE AN EX PARTE MOTION WITH A PROPOSED ORDER 48 HOURS PRIOR TO YOUR SCHEDULED COURT DATE.

Page 1 | Scheduling days and times

Motions filed on the day of trial will not be entertained absent good cause.

Motions on the day of trial will not be entertained except for good cause shown.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

Deposition objections filed on the day of trial will not be entertained absent good cause.

Objections to depositions filed on the day of trial will not be entertained except for good cause shown.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

Courtesy Copy Requirements

One Judge's Copy of each motion, responsive pleading, and trial brief must be provided.

Please provide a "Judge's Copy" of all Motion and Responsive Pleadings and Trial Briefs.

Page 1 | Scheduling days and times

Adjournment & Extension Requirements

Motion adjournments must be arranged with the clerk before the motion day.

Motion Adjournments: Must be done with clerk prior to motion day

Page 1 | Motion day

Chambers Communication Rules

A party must contact the judge's secretary for an available hearing date before filing a Request for Hearing on a Motion form.

Contact Judge's Secretary for an available hearing date prior to filing the Request for Hearing on a Motion form.

Page 1 | Divorce

If deposition objections remain unresolved, parties must contact the Judge's secretary to obtain a hearing date.

If the parties have not resolved the objections, the parties shall contact the Judge's secretary for a hearing date regarding the deposition objections.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

The clerk or secretary may be contacted to schedule a special hearing time for motions in limine or trial motions.

Motions in Limine and/or trial motions can be scheduled at special times to accommodate counsel. Contact this Court’s clerk or secretary to schedule special time.

Civil cases

Page 1 | BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

The judge's clerk may be contacted by telephone at (586) 493-0357 regarding filing questions and related matters.

Judge's Clerk Filing Questions, etc.(586) 493-0357

Page 1 | Staff

Court-wide rules

Applies court-wide

These 125 rules apply across Sixteenth Judicial Circuit Court of Michigan, Macomb County. Where this judge's own standing orders above address the same topic, the judge's requirement controls.

Filing Requirements

All 35
  • Applies to
    Motion to show cause
    Must include
    proposed order

    The motion and order to show cause submitted for a party more than ten days past due must require that party to appear before the court.

  • Applies to
    Referee recommended order

    An administrative order giving interim effect to a referee’s recommendation must include a notice to the parties under a separate heading in the recommended order.

  • Applies to
    Referee recommended order

    An administrative order giving interim effect to a referee’s recommendation must include a notice to the parties under a separate heading in the recommended order.

Fees

All 24
  • Applies to
    Friend of court investigation

    The order permits the Friend of the Court investigation fee to be entered as a specified amount or marked as no fee.

  • Applies to
    Friend of court investigation fee

    The investigation fee may be paid by cash, credit card, money order, or check made payable to the Macomb County Friend of the Court and delivered to the Investigation Unit.

  • Applies to
    Combined friend of court investigation

    A combined Friend of the Court investigation involving two or more issues is assessed at $500.

E-Filing

All 15
  • All parties in Business Court cases must electronically file and serve documents through the court’s eFiling Pilot Project under Administrative Order No. 2010-6.

  • Initiating documents for case types other than PH, PJ, PP, and VP must be filed by traditional methods rather than e-filed.

  • Documents required to be filed under seal pursuant to court order must be filed by traditional methods rather than e-filed.

Formatting

All 14
  • The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.

  • The interim-effect notice must appear within the referee’s recommended order under a separate heading.

  • The notice should be printed in 12-point-or-larger boldface type.

About Judge Tracey A. Yokich

Judge Tracey A. Yokich was appointed to the Macomb County Probate bench by Governor Jennifer M. Granholm on July 1, 2003 and was elected to the 16th Circuit Court for the County of Macomb in 2004. She is a 1982 graduate of James Madison College at Michigan State University and received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1985. Judge Yokich subsequently clerked for the Hon. George Clifton Edwards, Jr. in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, OH.

Judge Yokich returned to Michigan and served as a Macomb County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, from 1986 to 1989, Macomb County Assistant Corporation Counsel from 1989 to 1990. She returned to the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney in 1997.

She has also served three terms in the Michigan House of Representatives representing the citizens of Eastpointe, St. Clair Shores, Lake Township and Harrison Township from 1991-1996. During her tenure in the Michigan House of Representatives, Judge Yokich served on the Appropriations Committee, Judiciary Committee, Public Health Committee, and the Conservation, Environment, and Great Lakes Committee.

Judge Yokich is a Michigan State Bar Foundation Fellow and a Past President of the Michigan Judges Association. She is a member of the Selfridge Base Community Council, the Michigan Air Guard Historical Association and served in the Michigan Air National Guard from 1995-2006.

16th Judicial Circuit Court, Macomb County Courthouse, 40 N. Main St, 2nd Floor , Mount Clemens, MI 48043 , Telephone: (586) 493-0355 Secretary: Mignon Cade: (586) 493-0355 Judge's Clerk: Filing Questions, etc.: (586) 493-0357 Court Officer: Richard Mueller: (586) 493-0383 Court Reporter, Video Courtroom: Mary Cimini: marytcimini@gmail.com

Common questions about Judge Tracey A. Yokich's rules

Are courtesy copies required for Judge Tracey A. Yokich?

Courtesy-copy rule applies for motions, responsive pleadings, and trial briefs. One Judge's Copy of each motion, responsive pleading, and trial brief must be provided.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Scheduling days and times

What must be included with witness list filings before Judge Tracey A. Yokich?

Fourteen days before trial, parties must supply sufficient witness lists identifying actual or probable witnesses, their appearance mode, and specified medical-expert information.

View ruleSource: page 1, section BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

What must be included with exhibit log filings before Judge Tracey A. Yokich?

Proposed exhibits must be marked before trial; attorneys must prepare an exhibit log and provide stipulations for entry or reasons for objections, with copies furnished to the Court and opposing counsel whenever practicable.

View ruleSource: page 1, section BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL

How may parties contact Judge Tracey A. Yokich's chambers?

A party must contact the judge's secretary for an available hearing date before filing a Request for Hearing on a Motion form.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Divorce

How do I request an adjournment or extension before Judge Tracey A. Yokich?

Motion adjournments must be arranged with the clerk before the motion day.

View ruleSource: page 1, section Motion day

What filing deadlines does Judge Tracey A. Yokich set?

Dispositive motions must be filed and heard at least 28 days before trial unless the Court permits otherwise.

View ruleSource: page 1, section BEFORE THE DAY OF TRIAL
Complete rules summary for Judge Tracey A. Yokich

Dispositive motions must be filed and heard at least 28 days before trial unless the Court permits otherwise.

Motions in limine and trial motions must be filed and heard at least 14 days before trial.

The clerk or secretary may be contacted to schedule a special hearing time for motions in limine or trial motions.

Motions filed on the day of trial will not be entertained absent good cause.

Deposition objections must be submitted with supporting law and argument at least 14 days before trial, with responses filed 7 days before trial.

Deposition objections filed on the day of trial will not be entertained absent good cause.

Fourteen days before trial, parties must supply sufficient witness lists identifying actual or probable witnesses, their appearance mode, and specified medical-expert information.

Witness lists must be supplied at least 14 days before trial in sufficient number for the Court and all counsel.

Parties must submit a joint succinct statement describing the case that does not exceed one paragraph.

If deposition objections remain unresolved, parties must contact the Judge's secretary to obtain a hearing date.

Proposed exhibits must be marked before trial; attorneys must prepare an exhibit log and provide stipulations for entry or reasons for objections, with copies furnished to the Court and opposing counsel whenever practicable.

In a bench trial, the Trial Brief must be submitted at least 2 days before trial.

Bench-trial briefs must attach photocopies of cited cases or statutes, and any stipulations must be prepared in writing for placement on the record.

At the trial judge's discretion, photocopies of completed standard jury instructions are acceptable if blanks are completed and alternatives selected; each instruction must be on a separate sheet.

In jury cases, counsel must submit in writing any special questions they want asked of prospective jurors.

Responses to deposition objections must be filed with the Judge and opposing counsel 7 days before trial.

For a jury trial, parties should provide completed, typed jury instructions and a proposed jury verdict form to the Court and all counsel.

Bench-trial briefs must contain a statement of facts, issues, theory of case, memorandum of law, joint schedule of assets, and proposed findings of fact and conclusions of law.

A brief is required for motions heard on the regular motion day.

One Judge's Copy of each motion, responsive pleading, and trial brief must be provided.

A party seeking a remote appearance must file an ex parte motion with a proposed order at least 48 hours before the scheduled court date.

A request to appear remotely must be filed at least 48 hours before the scheduled court date.

Motion adjournments must be arranged with the clerk before the motion day.

A party must contact the judge's secretary for an available hearing date before filing a Request for Hearing on a Motion form.

The judge's clerk may be contacted by telephone at (586) 493-0357 regarding filing questions and related matters.

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